A VISION OF ROXBURGH.
( Communicated.) I was sitting down the other evening by a cheerful log fire. My camp was situated in a very lonely and secluded gully, between the Waikaia River and the Dome Creek ; my clay's toil was over ; a dense fog was quickly surrounding all objects in darkness; the wind was howling through the forest trees ; and I everything betokened the near approach of a snow storm. I had just refreshed my inner man with a pannikin of tea and a cold doughboy, and after lighting my pipe I sat by the fire and gloomily watched the glowing embers. Suddenly to mv vivid imagination they assumed various forms and localities ; all the phases of my chequered career passed in review before my eyes — scenes and faces long forgotten once more greeteJ me, causing mingled feelings of pleasure and regret. As I gazed, I thought a xerj pretty town presented itself. In parts it seemed familiar to me, but I was utterly at a loss to tell the name of it. The streets were crowded with people. At last I met a venerable looking old gentleman, and I inquired of him the name of this romantic looking township. " This," said he, " is Roxburgh — the garden of Otago." Feeling bewildered, I asked him, " What year are we living in ? " If is benevolent eye scanned me with a look of pity as he informed me it was the year 189-1. No doubt, fancying I was a stranger, he at once offered me his services to show me the principal objects of attraction. As we walked along, he first directed my gaze to a beautiful edifice. I enquired the name of it. " This," said he, "is the Christian's church." I asked of what sect. A feeling of horror seemed to pervade his countenance as I mentioned the word _" sect." "My good sir," he exclaimed, "we have now but one church and one pastor, the Rev. Mr. Lovcall." With a look of pride he next directed attention to another handsome and spacious building, which, he informed me, was the Good Templars' Hall, from the building of which he dated a great deal of the prospei'ity of Roxburgh. I looked around for some of the old familiar landmarks, but they had all disappeared. I inquired of my friend what had become of all the hotels. The subject seemed distasteful to him, but he told mo they were bought years ago by the municipal council, who had them all pulled down. " Yonder," said he, pointing to a very stout and gentlemanly person, "is our worthy mayor, who was the main mover in that very laudable object. The next places of interest which my friend showed me were the • Athenseum, the Grammar School, and a magnificient stone bridge, which spanned the Molyneux River. I inquired if thcro was murh farming done in the district; and I was told that tho farms extended from Roxburgh to Tuapeka. " Why," I exclaimed, " what has become of the squatters' runs ? " My friend replied that tvveuty years ago a meeting was held, called, he believed, the Holloway meeting, at which the leading men of Roxburgh agreed to bury all party feelings, and unite together for the purpose of denouncing the action of the Government in selling large blocks of land to the squatters. The Government seeing the determined attitude of Roxburgh, bought up the squatters by paying them heavy compensation, and soon afterwards they laicl off the land in sections on the deferred payment system ; so that now, instead of a sheep-walk, we have a thriving population of several thousand human beings. My friend now informed me that he must say good-bye, as he had to be in Dunedin in two hours. " How will you be able to reach Dun- \ eilin so soon," I asked. "Perhaps," said he, I " you are not aware that we have a railway here." I confessed my ignorauce, and agreed to go with him. We went to the station called the Tuapeka Grand Trunk Terminus. I paid my fare ; the steam was up ; the guard blow his shrill -whistle ; all was bustle and excitement ; in haste I opened a carriage door, and was just putting my head inside, when I felt a cold hand laid on my shoulder, and a familiar voice exclaimed — " Hulloa ! I'm blowed if yer aint let the fire out ; and been sleeping with your head in the campoven."
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Tuapeka Times, Volume VII, Issue 340, 21 March 1874, Page 2
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737A VISION OF ROXBURGH. Tuapeka Times, Volume VII, Issue 340, 21 March 1874, Page 2
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