NIAGARA

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume 2, Issue 171, 29 May 1879, Page 2

NIAGARA

[Described by a Waibarapa Settler,]

No doubt every peruser of the Wairarapa Daily has heard of the worldrenowned cataract of Niagara, but perhaps there are but few out of these numerous readers who have had the pleasure of visiting this natural wonder—therefore a slight description of it might not be out of pliice. Tho very best description would convey but a very vague idea of its grandeur and magnitude to one who had never seen it

Carlisle on bidding ono of his young friends good-bye, who was going to America, bade him be sure and not return until he had seen the Niagara falls and Chicago, the one a great natural, the other artificial wonder.

Niagara falls are situated in the river Niagara which separates the United States from Canada.

All the water coming down from the great lakes or inland seas, viz., Lake Superior, the largest body of fresh water in the world,. Lake Michigan, upon the southern end of which stands Chicago, also Luke Huron and Erie has to go over the falls and down the St. Laurence to the ocean. These lakes are the great outlet fur the produce of' the great north-west, consisting chiefly of grain. Of course the falls present an insurmountable barrier to the navigation of the river for many miles. To allow ships to go right out into the Atlantic without unloading there is a canal cut from some distance above the falls a little way round, then into the river below; through which ships can pass with safety. A great deal of grain is unloaded at Buffalo, on the eastern extremity of lake iirie, from which it is sent by train to the eastern markets. The first thing that attracted my attention when I got to the town of Niagara, was the number of hotels and their enormous size. It is impossible to get near the falls on the American side without paying, for Uncle Sam likes the tin, so lie has a park fenced in enclosing all the best views of the falls.

Of all the extortionate places in the world, A doubt if there is one that can come up to Niagara, your hand has to go into your pocket nearly every time you turn round.

There are three falls, but the centre 0110 is very small, the one on the States side is called the American, the small one Centre, and the large one on the Canadian side the Horseshoe falls, as it was formerly in the shape of a horseshoe, but latterly it Ims broken away and become There is a bridge across from the mainland on the States side over the rapids above the falls to Goat Island, which .divides the falls. This island is about a mile in circumference one side being bounded by the awful precipice, A spiral stairs leads down to. the surface of the water below, where you can stand on the rocks and watch the water seething and foaming, conie dashing down from above and fall on your right and left with the noise of thunder.

Guides are in waiting with water-proof suits to keep oil' the spray. If you like, fur a you can go right behind, or as it were in undor tins mighty torrent, as there is a kind of cave hollowed out in which you are quite safe. A short bridgo unites Goat Island with the little island which divides the water and forms the centre fall, it is scarcely moyc than a good mill stream and the island only a rock with a few trees growing upon it; it is very easy to stoop down and drink of the water, which in an instant dashes over the edge of the rock down into the awful abyss below, some 400 ft. It is about 200 ft. down to the surface of the water, and the water is said to be 200 ft, deep. fjjJGoat Island is covered with trees interspersed with nice shady walks, and here and there a seat for the weary sight-seer to rest his aching bones and comtemplate the wonders by which he is surrounded. It seems to me if all the water could be utilised it would have sufficient; power to drive all the machinery in the world. I believe the Horseshoe fall is about threequarters of a mile wide and 20ft. deep in the deepest place, the spray caused by the falling of the water is said to ascend a mile high. There is always a rainbow when the sunshines, often a perfect circle oil the river below. Prospect Park has nothing very attractive to look at but the falls, that is all people seem to care about at Niagara. An inclined railwav worked by water brought from the rapids above the falls, takes you to the foot of the American Mis on that side also to the ferry boat, which is continually crossing and re-crossing with passengers, The water is very'calm and

steady lip nearly close ttfViic falls. There: is a bridge across the river about a quarter of a mile below the falls, called the new suspension bridge—the longest of the kind in the world, Each passenger is charged 25 cents to go on to it, This bridge affords a fine view of the Horseshoe falls. Stepping off this bridge you are on the dominion of Queen Victoria, from which .'you c'an'see very little different, excepting the other side of the falls. You can aeo some distance down the river the old suspension bridge' with the train running over, and vehicles and pedestrians going through a kind of tunnel under the train,. It almost makes ones blood run cold to watch a train with its living freight and vast weight crossing so high over such a great depth of water. A few ftjjkbelow the falls is another place of intSfc.j the whirlpool rapids, it is made accessible from the bank abovo it by another inclined railway. The rapids aro almost as wonderful and awe-awakening as the falls; tho waters which for some distance below the falls are quite placid seem hereto have regained their wild fury with redoubled vigour, seeming to bid defiance to every thing, splashing and dashing here and there in the wildest confusion, like some great monster loosed from bondage trying to find something whereon to wreak his mad vengeance. It is said that the water coming over the falls descends below the surface some distance and runs with great force in an under current, but at the rapids it comes in contact with some large rocks lying in the bed of the, river, these impede its progress and cause it to rise to the top in such wild confusion—a regular chaos of waters.

No boat ever passed over the Falls and lived. A little steamer called the Maul of the Mist was steered with great peril through the rapids, amid the shouts of many witnesses, since which no person has thought fit to risk his life in so dangerous an undertaking merely for the sake of honor or being talked about, thinking, perhaps, that such bravery is not too well appreciated by the masses, as there is no good to be obtained by it.