TRIP TO LAKE PUKAKI.

Temuka Leader, Issue 2709, 8 September 1894, Page 4

TRIP TO LAKE PUKAKI.

(Concluded.) Wednesday, 29th August.— After a rather disturbed sleep—for where so many are camped in one place it is difficult to sleep soundly—we got up at daybreak. The rain had ceased to fall, and the sky overhead was clear, but a * thick fog still hung over the lake, hiding its magnificent grandeur from view. The air was now sharp and keen, as a slight frost had set in. As the sun rose in the horizon the fog began to disperse, .and we felt certain of better weather during the I day. To anyone who has seen it on a | clear day Lake Tekapo presents a sight not soon to be forgotten. The wild, ragged mountain scenery is something grand, and I was told that there are plenty of fish in the lake, too, and also in i a smaller one between the hills, about a mile and a quarter from the hotel, called Lake Alexandrina—so that anglera should not fail to have plenty of sport there in the fishing season. After a hearty breakfast, we started again on our journey. The roads were still very wet, which made our progress slower than it would otherwise have bejen. To our right was the famous Mount John, which is easily distinguished from the others by its very •teep and rugged sides and sugar-loaf ahape. About four miles further on we forded the rapid -little river Fork, and passed the beautiful station of Balmoral. Now the road became much worse, as it h»d never been formed properly, and was lowest in the middle, making a nice drain to carry the. surface - water. After, .travelling about twelve miles we stopped for and took advantage of the Warm sun to spread out our clothes to dry, which were wet from the previous day. These soon got dry, and we started • off again, passing the "Wolds and Irishman's Creek stations. We passed through a vast plain of good looking, dry, and level tussock land, which I have no doubt will have to give place to the plough and narrows of the agriculturist. After travelling several miles we reached Simon's Pass station, which is without a doubt the snuggest-looking station I have come across in my travels through Mackenzie Country. Here we find that the squatter has been trying his hand at breaking up the soil and growing some oats.. ,1 saw some of. the oats, and I must say that in my opinion it would be very hard to get a sample to equal it on the Canterbury plains, .this year at any rate. I also noticed some fields of English grass on the same station. We were soon out of sight of the station again, winding our way through boulders of enormous Bize and over hills, the road being very rough indeed. After journeying thus for some time, from the top of a rise on the road we espied a glimpse of the longed-for ■ight—Lake Pukaki; and on turning a corner, lo! there it laylike.a beautiful mirror, at our feet,,the,snow-clad mountains reflected on. its surface making a picture that will long linger in the memory of those who saw it. Ere we reached the Pukaki Hotel it was quite dark. The road at this stage has been out along the side of the mountain, and is rather dangerous in the dark. Mr Riddle,, the proprietor, showed us great kindness, and we soon felt at home. . The men from Timaru and Pleasant Point had arrived before us, and every available was;. occupied. Some slept in a tent, and some, with the kind permission of the proprietor, stretched their weary limbs in the dining-room. Thursday morning broke rather cloudy, but in spite of the clouds one could not fail to perceive the beauty of the place. It is here that the Waitaki river rushes out of the lake and down the mountain ■lopes, dashing its Bilvery Bpray over enormous boulders as it careers along. After breakfast we got the horses and Cirt and all hands onboard the punt, and were soon floating across, the stream. It is near this spot where the Pukaki bridge is going to be built this summer, and I I have no: doubt, it will be of .great benefit here, and will be highly appreciated by travellers. We were soon ashore at the other side of the lake and ou. the road again, but we had hot gone' far before soft; sleety snow began to fall, which made travelling miserable, the roads all the time getting worse, and making the work much harder for the horses. All along the sides of the road, and sometimes in the middle of it, were numerous rabbit burrows, and occasionally we got a glimpse of a bunny as it scampered out of sight. About midday we reached our destination, which is the old site of the Glentanner Station, at the top end of Lake Pukaki, riot very far from where the mighty Tasmau river empties its snowy waters into the beautiful lake. Here and there I noticed a few a tinted trees and ferns in the gullies •round, and the site for the camp is a ▼cry pleasant one. We had not been long there before the Timaru men arrived, and the place was soon astir, gome boiling the billy for dinner, and others starting to build the " calico township" by erecting their tents. After dinner I started on my way back to Temuka again, reached the ferry just before dark, crossed again in the punt, and put up at the hotel for the night. Next morning I started again, and reached Burke's Pass late in the evening, „ and put up for the night. When I arose next morning I found there had been a fall of snow during the night, and the rugged country around looked beautiful, clothed in its winter mantle of white. Shortly after nine I started again for Temuka, and, the roads being good, I got along splendidly, and reached home shortly after six in the evening, thus covering a distance of over 200 miles of mostly rough road in six days. Owing to the cloudy weather, I failed to get a glimpse of the famous Mount Cook this trip. I may here mention an incident or two which raiher amused me on my homeward trip. On the road near Fairlie I noticed a lady dressed in a tartan plaid, and wearing a pair of gum. fishing boot. 0 , which seemed a very suitable dress for the cold weather then prevailing. On crossing a river near Albury my attention was attracted by a boy of, I should think, about ten years of age, who kept shooting after me until I stopped to see what was the matter. Then the young urchin sang out: " Have you got any cigarettes 1" Of course I had to answer in the negative. This little incident shows how.the habit of smoking is growing, even in out-of-the way places like Albury. Although tho weather was not very favorable, and tho roads bad, I enjoyed the trip very much, aud anyone wanting to spsnd a few days iu New Zealand's wilds 1 am sure would enjoy a trip to Mount Cook* John Clouston.