ORARI GORGE.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1448, 31 December 1885, Page 2

ORARI GORGE.

(By a Contributor),

In prospect of a picnic to Orari Gorge, a description of the situation will be opportune. Leaving Geraldine one fine morning we found the drive most enjoyable, and took the road up the north bank of the river. Driving along, one could not help admiring the ruggedness of Mount Peel, which towered just above the opening of the Gorge, every valley and spur standing out in bold relief against the blue sky. Entering at Mr Thevs’a gate the road —a very good one—led ns past the homestead, the paddock adjoining his house being that chosen as the place tor the picnic. We drove in at the top corner into a fine level hay-field, and, driving down to the bottom end, we agreed that the field, like the Gorge, had been well chosen as the place of rendezvous. Immediately behind it, and acting as a natural fence, rises the north bank of the Orari, clothed with a pretty band of native bush, making an agreeable shade to the intense heat. Through the field winds a stream of fresh water. We think a more suitable place could hardly be chosen: ample, level ground in

front for sports, and plenty of shady [ nooks for those of riper and more sedate I years, who prefer to watch the youngsters [ and be at ease, A walk up the Gorge is kwell repaid. A road leading through the ■manuka scrub (carpeted with grass, and I making nice spots for those who prefer to * picnic by themselves) comes to the river, and winding slightly to the right developes into a track cut through the native bush, which seems cut out for those ramblers sweet who love to get “ far from the madding crowd’s ignoble strife,” where two are company and three none —and though I had not the fortune to be in that blissful state I enjoyed my stroll nevertheless, enlivened by the music of the iTjakomakoa and tins above and the inqsy&itiveness of the wekas below. I ifeould recommend Messrs Williams and Sons to look well to their spoons, etc., s these gentlemen are as great thieves as London pickpocket, as I have often >und to my cost. The New Zealand T .olet was flowering in great profusion. Beautiful as they are, one feels a sense of Injury come over one when we place them to our noses and derive no scent; nature must have been forgetful in forming them. We then come out of the refreshing shade on to the river-bod, and lucky are they who have brought their fishing tackle, as the Orari abounds with beautiful trout, with which the pools are full, and many a spot did we notice that would make a fisher’s eye sparkle as we hurried along. Half a mile takes us to the actual Gorge, bounded on each side by high sandstone cliffs of a rich yellow color, caused by the iron separating out of the decomposing vegetation above. This cliff seems formed for the express purpose of people carving their names on it, at least it seems to have been used pretty well for that purpose, and which I cannot say improves its appearance. This habit is one of the worst traits in an Englishman’s character —no sooner does he come to a beautiful piece of God’s

work than he commences to defile it with

either hia name or his business. I re- ' member well my feelings of disgust when laboring in the train over the highest point in the Rocky Mountains in America, I looked up the precipice above ns and saw on the very top, in largo letters “ Rowland’s Odonto for the teeth.” The same feelinge arose when I saw these cliffs likewise disfigured, and I trust those who come there on New Year’s Day will not further m»r the beauty of the rock. Here wo noticed for the first time the mountain aster ( celmisia ), though it was tool ow for them to fiuwer to perfection, and they seemed to look up to Mount Feel abova, as if they longed to bo up there

once more. We noticed several other Alpine plants that should not have been down so low, but had, I suppose, been washed down by floods. Those who wish to procure them will find them on the far side of the yellow cl*ff. The cliff on the opposite side gives a very grand effect, backed as it is by the deep green of the bush clothing the valley to its left. Those who have horses I should recomUitnd to cross the river here, and just beyond the chff, at the mouth of the Gorge, they will find a small gate, which from the opposite side of the river looks like ths entrance to a tunnel, and they will have a lovely ride by a traca up one side of the Gorge through virgin bush, the trees meeting over their head. Their horses, though, must be sure-footed, and there is only room for one at a time, as the track is out out of ths face of the rock, and a false step would land one in the river quicker than expected, but the ride is the beauty of the Gorge. This is on Mr Tripp’s run, and the track leads along the face of the Gorge to a plateau, where stands one of the shepherd’s huts. We noticed a great number of Blue Mountain ducks, as stupid as ever. Boiling our billy at the river bank on our return, and contemplating through the cup that “cheers but does not inebriate, ” we agreed that we wanted to be a “ Cooper ” n a “ Gully ” to do justice to the scenery tuat lay before us ; Mount Peel melting away in the distant azure, with the hills clothed with green in front, between which the Orari rushed clear and cool, and then the yellow cliff, making a lovely foreground and a beautiful contrast, and my friend exclaimed, “ Well, if that does not ‘ fetch ’ Geraldine I don’t know what will.”;. We returned by Woodbury Crossing—Lloyd’* Crossing it is generally called—and through to Geraldine. This is, [ fancy, the beat way. Another, and which may be shorter, is by turning off a good way before you reach Woodbury, and striking for Ashby’s Crossing, and thence up the north bed ef the river. My friend and I returned home well satisfied with ear jouruey.