A SOUTHERN TOUR

Te Aroha News, Volume VII, Issue 467, 30 April 1890, Page 5

A SOUTHERN TOUR

(Continued).

From Dunedin to Christchurch. In describing this journey my reader will bear in mind that I travelled from Christchurch to Dunedin, and that in giving the observations made on the rail they are for both journeys. After leaving Dunedin we crossed a part of the reclamation at the upper part of the harbour. Afterwards the railway winds in and out along the seabeach till we arrive at Port Chalmers. On this part of the journey we had a fine view of the harbour. The land side was composed of moderately high hills, very broken, with poor soil. At Port Chalmers the train had attained a good height, and from the station we looked down on top of the town. After leaving this town we entered into the hills, which were still broken, with poor, hungry soil. Occasionally we passed patches of native scrub just suited for firewood, bub no heavy bush. As we arrived at Blueskin, we again got a glimpse of the sea. From this point on to Oamaru we occasionally travelled near the sea. The line runs along the top of the cliff, and sometimes down near tho sea level. Occasionally we would traverse a small valley in which; the soil seemed to be pretty good, as shown by the numerous stocks of grain which were pretty thickly distributed over the parts which hud been under grain crop. Though most

of the land we passed through was broken and poor, although most of it seemed too thickly Btudded with what seemed comfortable homsteads, some of these farms reminded me of some of the hilly, poor farms in parts of Old Scotland, aud it also seemed that the owners had the pluck to cultivate them, although in many instances the grain crop which was in stock showed that the returns must be very light. _ As we approached Oamaru the small holdings were more general, and considerable portions were in crop with varying success, according to the quality of the soil.

Oamaru.

On arriving at Oamaru we left the last of the broken, hilly ground behind us. The town of Oamaru is a pretty place. Most of the houses and places of business are built of stone. The streets, as far as I saw, were fine and broad. On leaving this town, we entered on the first part of those level plains which stretch away up through the coast boundary of Canterbury. As we leave the town, the hills begin to recede from the railway. The plains are perfectly level, and there are some splendid stretches of first class soil. Some parts of this country are thickly studded with farms, on which splendid cropsof grain had thisseason been grown. Other crops were here also extensively grown. Occasionally wo would pass through a stretch of country on which there were only a few houses here and there ab long distances apart. This country seemed to be devoted to grazing of sheep alone, although a great portion seomed to be equally as good as that which was thickly settled and cropped. Sometimes as we travelled the hills would open out and show a splendid valley stretching for miles up into the hills. It was also curious for me to look on those hills, bare of every vestige of a tree or bush. The bold irregular hills stretched away into the interior of the country, increasing in height till they joined into the centre range of the island. Those hills were all covered with the natural native ‘ grass, and afforded good grazing for thousands of sheep. As we approached Timaru we again got close to the sea. In somo instances the line was so close to it thab you could feel the salt spray passing through the windows. The bulk of the eoil on the land side was also very good. In approaching the different rivers (or what in some instances might during the summer months be called only creeks) the soil seemed to be composed of light sand with a considerable quantity of shingle amongst it, very poor and hungry ; here and there small tufts of native grass, from which the sheep could get a scant living. Sometimes from terrace to terrace of what at one time the river had been flowing over it would be quite two miles. Now most of the rivers are confined to a bed of about three-fourths of a mile in width. In the summer time this river bed has a number of what might be called large streams winding here and there throughout the bed. None of the rivers are navigable, as the water is continually rushing at greab speed over the shingly bottom. When a flood is on the water will cover the whole bed for a width of about three-fourths of a mile. At such times it is impossible to ford them, and all traffic has to go on the railway. As we approach Timaru the hills, with their nutbrown covering of native grass, come down almost to the sea beach.