NOTES OF A TRIP TO INVERCARGILL.

Temuka Leader, Volume 2, Issue 118, 1 February 1879, Page 2

NOTES OF A TRIP TO INVERCARGILL.

It is a notable fact in connection with the settlement of New Zealand that, go where you will, you always hear the settlers say their district is the best. If an Aucklander happens to visit the Canterbury plains, lie tells you they are nothing but shingle. If a Canterbury settler visits Otago he sees nothing but rocky hills. If he goes a little further and visit Southland, he could not live for the cold and wot; if, on the other hand, as we heard with our own ears the other day, a Southlander visits the northern districts, he tells you he would not live there for a thousand a-year. It is well that this is the feeling of our settlers, as it stimulates to greater industry when there is contentment with onc’» lot. On the occasion of the opening of the Dunedin and Invercargill railway wo took advantage of the opportunity to have a good look of the country, and shad give our impressions at the time. From the Orari to the Otaio, the land, as is well known, is equal to any in this island, and is already in a high state of cultivation. There Is, from the Rangitata to the Waitaki, a less proportion of shingly land than in the same acreage between the Rangitata and Christchurch. From the Orari to Timaru, on the east side of the Main South Road, the land is truly magnificent, and the division of fences remind* one of the old country. Near the Waitahi, on either side of the road, the land is poor ; but as the train enters the Oamaru district and approaches its pretty little town, mostly built of the native white stone, the picture is beautiful. The crops of all cereals are here good. Heavy land, with a good healthy clay or decayed rock subsoil, always ensures a good crop; and the reason that Oamaru wheat commands a higher price than any else in New Zealand, is doubtless on account of their subsoil causing greater returns to the millers. After leaving Oamaru, a wide expanse of country opens up as the train follow* its serpentine course. Kakanai and Otepopo, with their townships and well - cultivated downs, look equally well. In this district there are some excellent farm*, among them the New Zealand Company’* Tola; a Farm, and Mr Mcnlove'stmd Mr Reid’# look particularly well. Kakanui is a tidy, thriving little township. The township of 4 Herbert seems slow of growth. On rounding £ the low hill Moeraki Bay and the township of ! Hamplen opens up to view. Hampden is nob so wed supplied with good laud, and does nut seem to make progress. A considerable traffic in firewood from the neighbouring lulls gives employment to a good many men, and also makes business for the railway. Moeraki has some beautiful black land in its neighbourhood, but it is of small extent. Some very poor land now opens up to view before we come to Palmerston, which seems to be one of the most thriving of inland townships, and, indeed, seems to be the only one that is advancing in any way. It has a good country around it, and some very good scenery, the Shag Valley river being a prominent feature. Far away to the east is Coal Point, where considemblo shipments of coal are made in small craft. It is wonderful the steep bills one sees cultivated in every direction, but the rich limestone formation enables them to grow excellent feeding grasses. It is questionable whether Palmerston will now go ahead so fast, the railway going right through it on to Dunedin. Leaving Palmerston, we come to the Waikouati district. Here there is evidence of a considerable expenditure of money. One of the oldest settlers, the last of the Otago Joneses, still holds a large amount of fine land here, and at least one handsome residence, and well laid out grounds make a beautiful landscape view. Corner Bush, another large farm, formerly belonging to one of the Joneses, is now owned by Mr John Reid of Dunedin, who must have expended many thousands in reclaiming an incorrigible swamp alongside the old coach road. It doubtless pay him in time, but it would have ruined a man with limited capital to have embarked in such an undertaking. The house stands at the top of the sloping downs, quietlv nestling on the edge of the native bush." Land in this locality is very valuable. We now bid good-bye to any good land of any proportion until we come to Dunedin” The Blueskin district is most picturesque, and the country the train runs through exhibits a vast amount of wild grandeur. After rounding the curve that passes the little Blueskin township and Waitatl river, the train mounts to a tremendous height. One who traverses this part of the line for tiie first time stands aghast when he looks down upon the blue waters from the giddy height, and especially when he looks to the rails to find them in some places not more than two feet from the edge of this abyss. Some say it is the safest piece of the lino, but this is doubtful. It would not be any surprise to learn of some sad catastrophe occurring here some day. If it should happen none will be left to tell the tale. The slip of a stone from the hills above, or the act of any miserable miscreant placing an obstruction upon the line, would at once settle the matter. A small incident that occurred on another part of the journey would have been ample to do it. A gentleman’s portmanteau by some means slipped out of the one carriages on the return trip from Invercargill, and the bumping of the train as the wheels passed over this simple obstruction, convinced us that even that might happen, and throw the carriages oil the line. It is little short of a tempting of Providence to go " so near iho edge of this precipice for the mere' _ saving of a few thousand pounds. If tho cutting were made a few feet wider a protecting wall could be formed, that would at least give confidence to the traveller. As wo passed this dangerous spot, the knowledge that some three hundred passengers were all standing on one side of the train to look down was not reassuring to persons of weak nerves. (To he (Jantinned.)

The standard for recruits for the infantry of the line is to be raised from sft si’n to sft 6in, and that for the lloyal Engineers from sft Cia to sft G|in. 'The standard for recruits for rifle regiments, remains as at present—namely, sft 4ui. ' k