TEMARU TO RANGITATA.

Temuka Leader, Issue 234, 10 February 1880, Page 2

TEMARU TO RANGITATA.

SCOTS BURN. Continuing' our rv'o f-om the Graft Gorge Station, and crossing the Orari River, which bounds Mr Tripp’s run on 100 east and north, we t nt.-r upon. n soc- ■ tr,iii of South (A-d.rv b ‘vv called Scotsbnrn t so-nmne'd Com ibis part of the district hoi eg (irst settled by Scotchmen. Sir J. C. W Ison, short ly after landing inthe colony, sent Home fora few emigrants, offering (hern, as an inducement, a five Years’ engagement at 15s per week and found, mr Wilson, although an Englishman, seemed to irnfow well a Scotchman’s canny ways, and ’ their belief in the old maxim—“A bird in the hand is worth twain the bush —was able to secure the heads of a few fumil es, amongst whom \vc find the names of Irvine, Ra", Honey, and others. On landing these worthies were not ov< i-pleased with tlioir bargain. Nevertheless—as a gentleman remarked- “ A Scotchman, if ho makes a bargain, will stick to it, although he may growl at being taken in.” Using all Iris wits and wiles, as well as a o-ood many equivocations, it is not unnatural for him to feel riled nt being overreached ; but his. Highland pride will mot allow’ him to acknowledge iw Mr Wilson found, with one exception, these Scotsmen true to their engagement. Th*y settled down at Scotsburn, a brook or burn running through it, and so founded the district wdiich goes by that name. - The dimensions of the district are not large, and the settlers have ' not increased very rapidly. One of their remarkable ch a raster i fid cs is the great agree uent which has ever existed amongst them, wdiich led to meir being called “ The Happy Family.’’ The land is of middling quality only, bat the scenery is ino<t beautiful. The little wooden structuves, nestling in the native bush, have a most picturesque appearance backed up by the sloping downs, which forms a portion of Mr Jolhe’s rim. In tbe early days of this settlement hunting the wild pig was a great paslime, serving as a healthy sport of groat enjoyment, ns well as of profit, for it is well known that the flesh of the wild pig is most delicious. It is free from fat, and Jiving upon the native fern and bush berries, the flavour makes it a great delicacy, while the skin is us fnl as an article of export, ami ihe ivory tusks servo as orna * incuts.in the Jitile cots, as well as trophies of tb" huntsman’s prowess. The old boar is a formidable enemy to encounter, attack-’og mo d: fen.c ons-y any who dare‘s to approach him. Some narrow escapes are related by old settlers, who arc as good as the blue-jackets at spinning yarns. The Scotsburn district is surrounded by a run originally taken -up by Mr Joliie, who built a neat cottage and planted a garden and orchard on the sout h’of Put ! Forest, where, after many years’ set lenient in this beaut ful spoq he dh f after a long illness. The run then fell into ’he hands, of Mr Cooper, who sold out to Messrs Smith and Dunnistoun, about two years ago, and went Home to England, The present owners have cultivated a consider Ale portion of the run, which was freehold, as is now most of the flat land lying between the Rangitatn and Oran Foyers. Scotsbiirn pa:-s n ßses a small schoolroom, near Mr Citnon flae’a, wdiich also serves as a church for the Pcotslmrn se. tiers, who were, for tho most part Presbyterians, and a'so for the English Church people who lived near Ih r district. D ’.ring tho last two or three years Smubtourn ha- made considerable progress. A new schoolroom and school master’s house has been built ; also a Road. Board office for the Mount Peel Road Board. The average attendance at the school is about ST The mom is pi aril but lofty and well vonrilatod. The master. Mr John Murdoch, is a very painstaking teacher, thoroughly devoted to his work. Tho school mister’s ■honvo is a wooden building of two stories, confining six rooms, and is the only . instance whore the accommodation of the teacher has been mote studied than the ornamentation of the school mom. The Road Board offices are conveniently and substantially built. The Beam l consists of the following .-gentlemen:— Messrs Aehu.d, Trip)', Ik-nyy, M< Kav, and Wilson, and meet once a mouth. Tne Mount Peel Road Board district exun's from beyond Mesopotamia on 'he N.W. to fur back behind Four Peaks, including Rain cliff, and bordering on the Mount Cook district, much land bus been bought and a great amount of road-making lias and is fiiil going on at considerable expense. The Scotsburn district is , well supplied with roads, so much so as to merit the appelation, “ spider’s ’ web.” Nolwith-banding the great outcry against tho expenditure, of money on roads at tbeti o, : t is w iderful how ranch they are u> <ised; bat the traveller is sometimes puzzled how to steer Ids .course in sue'-, a network. The settl rs, being like a'l other settlers reel inconvenience from the large blocks of bind being held by a few, and'ascribe much nf the , w.-nt of greater progress in the district to there being no chance of acquiring land for cultivation, Tne owne-s (Messrs Smith and Dennisfcoun) are, however, likely very soon to throw their lands into the market, for at the high price that agricultural land is now held it will not pay them to keep it closed for slieep farming. If these lands were thrown open for sale, Scotsburn would soon become a place much sought after. No better place is to be found in South Canterbury for gentlemen’s residences. Mr Hawden, a gentleman who took up his residence for a time at Mr Jolhe’s cottage, is so charmed wuh the place as to have been induced to purchase a block from Mr Goodwin, ami is building thereon a , handsome residence of largo dimensions. It w 11 bo two storeys Irigh, with largo rooms of considerable height. The situation is all that could he desir'd. Mr S. liao also possesses about 80 acres, in a most healt -y and pleasant spot. Mr Griffin, also, has a most suitable section for g, suburbanresidence. ; The Rev. Mr Preston, incumbent of the parish of Geraldine, holds a monthly service in the new school-oom, and tho Rev Mr Barclay, Presbyterian uvnistcr of the parish of Geraldine, also holds a monthly service. Scotsburn po- senses also a Public Domain of 50 acres. The gentlemen who form tho Board are—Mersrs Tripp, Honey, Ac’amb Pitbie and Rae. At the last division of the Government grml; of funds, the Geraldine County Coum-il voted £290 to (his Board. The douiirin is now fenced in, and a plm of pbniing decided upon. M my complaints are made »t no .cemetery bring near Scotsburn. The Tug distance to go to Geraldine, or the Peel F< rest cmnctmv, to bury their dead, naturally make the people wish some steps uero taken o provide this very necessary accompaniment

io a settleim-uL A , lot of ground near Mr Rue’s, where tho o‘d ,■ choolrcom now stands, is pointed out as a very suitable place for interim-nt. Out on the pi ins Mr Gniness, manager for Messrs Smith and Donnish.un, has a block of good land uud-'r en’tivation, and a portion planted, Mr pithio also has a good secti. u in exccdlof.-t order, but from there to the Rangitnta Ilivor is one 'vast pavement of Stem sjajrer upon ’aver.asi loro as if i- w<>ro a price of antn’d workmanship. ye f , not-.viihaianding this, the thick tussock is proof that there ri abundant soil in most parts of the district, underlying these stones ; but fertile next half-century at least it will not pay to cultivate. How these stones chuio thei’e is a question that remains witnont an answer.

PEEL FOREST. Leaving Scotsburn, a short ride of a couple of miles along an excellent road brings nn to Peel Forest, so called from this n : ece of bush being in close proxhnity to Mount Peel, a prominent mountain from four or five-'miles north-west of the road. Jputil about three years ago, this disirictrimight have been termed " Terra incognita.” Now a snug little vil'age of about twenty coitages has been built, with a post-office and a little building that serves as a chnrch, in which tho Rev Mr Preston h dds service periodically. TJm cause of this innovation of tho solitude of the quiet forest, wh >so only inhabitants were the pigeon, kaka and wood-hen, was the arrival of an enterprising gentleman, who resolved to purchase a portion of this bush, and erect a saw-mill. Mr. Button, the gentleman referre 1 to, made a purchra! of 50 acres, afterwards rdded to, from Mr Rhodes, and erected die . pros-nt ■•• mill buildings. From, this-' s’pi'uig a village, which is cow seen, witn ita neat little gar dens and its groups of rosy ch Idren.Tiie scenery is most magnific-uc ; to tho north-east is the Rangiiata River, with ijp> steep banks, rising to a height iu some places of 70 feet, and a breadth of bed from.one to three miles. Tins turbulent stream has been the'- grave -of many a brave and ffseful colonist. Approaching Peel Forest from the south cast, along tho top of ds high banks, the forest op .ns up a field for contemplal on. On the one hand is the dashing streams, pushing their way through tho ponderous boulders towards fli • great Paci tc. On tho slopes the cabbage trees, and the vast depth of shingle formation. Forward to the north-west tne ponderous ridge of sh rp peaked mountains at the base of which lias grown up Peel Forest. Mr Button has already made great inroads upon this quiet retreat. Over two miles of tramway has been laid through tho hush, and logs of considerable dimensions are boruo along by that most enduring, often ill-used animal, the bullock, who is expected H • understand Scotch, English, or Irish, or a m xture of t e throe in a not very gramm trial form.

die mill there sire two steam engines, which, between them, turn out. —with two circular ard one verti-.de saw—about 4<X)0to5000 feet of-timber' drily, when r, qirrivd. The timber is chiefly black prim, white pine, and lotava. There is also a planing, machine, which is " capable of dressing, an i groving over 2000 feet o. timber a day, iho price of wir'd; is, at the mill, 14s per hundred c eet. A sampri o! this flooring, _ to“ be seen at the mill, wJ‘ compare favoiivably with any to bo scan in tho district. Boards of from 15 to 20 ieet, wi.hoot a knot or swv! throughout thu : r whole length are -SCOP.

Tim number of hands employed in felli ig. tr'mming, and transoorting the timber torihe 'mil 1 , and the number of hands employed in and about the uni, is a matter 1 of huportance to this district. Everything seems to have ben got up by Mr Button with tho greatest car.- to secure economyin working. A saw-sharpening machine, pot often met ,with, is a novelty. Instead tb" too old fash'onod, way of file-s arpeniug. a circular piece of lilo-hardene 1 steel is placed upon an axle and pulley, driven by the engine, to which is introduced the tooth of the saw requiring sharpening. This hovelled circular courier attacks tho saw iu a most detmuined manner, files down the blunt member, which passes along amidst a shower of sparks, leaving tho next tootli to take its place, to go thruigh the same fiery ordeal, until tho whole is done, which does not occupy 7 many minutes. When the timber is re-dy for ti e market, another m c ine is at hand to transport it hither. Being over twelve miles from tho South R ngitata Railway S K riion, tho , cost of transport is a groat consi oration, to moot which Mr Button has purchased one of Aveiing and Porter’s traction engines. This momter can ho depended upon as being staunch, ami do s . ot jib,- even when a load of 20 tones measuring from 70 Ti to 8000 feet of ti mber is p it behind him. If well-groomed and abundantly supplied with water, and something to warm his stomach, lie wdl taka the road with a snort, and never make the least grumble all tho way. He requires no swearing at him ; indeed he would not stand it, for if not followed in every/ particular, he will kick up his heels and iash oi.it all round The Oxford and Temuka railway carriage will, wo hope, by-aud-bye, give him a holiday. The demand for timber just now is rather slack, and the price quoted is so low that there is no inducement to push business. Before leaving Mr Button’s residence we were tempted to have a stroll through his fruit gurden, which is well stocked with fruit and forest trees, but tho choicest spot tq our fancy is Mr Button’s greenhouse, the magnificent fuschias, and the rare ferns aiO well worth a visit of any amateur who may have an hour to spare. Tho choice geraniums also, and Other rare pAms. testify to M.s Button’s good taste in selection. A stroll through the bosh, and another look at the village, brought out another sort of'innovation—the pigeon and. kaka are gone, but in their place tho English iiare tlireatens to become a (vGouicr for tho surplus fruits of tho cottagers’ gardens. The wail of the house wife reminds ns of tho remark of a Highlander. when a good ciarae complained of him leaving without clearing oft his score, “ You will have to pay for that at the Day of J 1.” “ Och,” say 7 s John IBghlandman, l< that be long credit, so ye’ll just help me to a wee drap more.”

The hares threaten to be masters of the sitim(ion. No doubt a day of reckoning will come, bat iu tbe meantime they turn a deaf ear i o the wail and cry of the bouse wife when ac< using ihcisO intruders of helping themseives without permission from the owner. Pei'l Forest in our next issue.