BENNETT'S HILL.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume 5, Issue 1436, 21 July 1883, Page 4

BENNETT'S HILL.

(FROM A COHREBPONDKKT.)

A proposal to visit Bennett's Hill was made by a friend of mine, and was at once accepted on my part. On the j night before this event was to take place, preparation, for carrying out our wishes were made. Such things as a snack, with something more than cold water to wash it down. A good field glass also was got, with which to view tho grand panorama when >vo reached tho summit. As agreed upon, we left Masterton between 3 and 9 o'clock a.m. It was a pleasant morning, and not top bright, We had a dolightful walk past our prim little hospital to tho Ruamahunga bridge, then past the Maori huts to the tollgato. Hero a short consultation took placo, and ft resolution was proposed and carried, viz., to ask for the loan, not of a fiver, but a glass, for what purpose never mind, tliat bolongs to those more interested in its use. Tho kind-hearted tollman granted our request, and we were permitted to walk off with the glass, but it was distinctly stipulated that we were not to consider it as our own property, but to return it when we made homewards. This was agreed to. On wo journeyed, passing Mr T.'s on tho right hand, then a palatial looking building attracted our attention on the left, but boing new chums in this locality, we failed in trying to assign a name for it. We now came upon a something smouldering away, which turned out to be tho remains of a haystack, which, we were informed by a man wo met here, had been in a friendly way sot on fire, but whether by accident or otherwise it was not known. We now came to a bit of treachorous looking road. I will warrant that it gave road makers no end of trouble before it assumed its present form. One might fancy it had no desire to remain in its present condition from the number of stakes driven into the ground on both sides of the road, it was something to noto that the road makers conquered in the long run. Forward was the command, and in a short time we arrived at a gate nearly opposite to Bennett's station. A halt was now made, matters considered, plans proposed, and the best way to get to the top of the hill considered. Hero we made a great mistake. Instead of following the fence which lends almost straight to tho top, we got over it and climbed a spur of the hill, When we got to the top of it we found out, not to our satisfaction, that wo should have to descend to the other sido of this spur before we could make the ascent. A proposal to rest for a time ■was not objected to, for we were getting hot and thirsty. Here was a pleasing prospect to view from our elevated position. A peep at Masterton, being as it were in Sleepy Hollow. The sun shining brightly made the town appear liko a cosy spot in a New Zealand scene. But to sit here will never get us to the summit, so off we tramped, somewhat like the Duke of York's men—" up to the top of the hill and down again." Well never mind. "One man's folly is another man's fun," Making the descent in double quick titne, wo got to the fence, which we ought not to have left at the commencement of our climb, Now came a short steep climb, depriving one of us almost of the use of his legs, to say nothing of lungs. Hurrah! the worst part is passed. Now take it easy, wc shall soon be at the lop. What is this 1 Something like leather—what can it bo] Jet it is not leather. A close examination shows us how stupid we may be in having our curiosity excited by looking at the outside of a dried fuzzy ball! It was noticed that this hill had at ono time been clothed with bush to the very top, and from an examination of the rock which here and there projected, there are good reasons for stating that this locality was a warm shop some time ago. It does not surprise one to learn that an active volcano did exist at one time in this neighborhood. Now for the top-wo we soon there, Was it worth tho trouble to come to it? Just you go and Bee. If you do not give a positive to the question—well, my name is not Solomon, first to sit a short time and inhale the puro atmosphere. Next to scan the horizon, and then to describe what you can see. Oh, me I How to commence, where to begin, to picture in words this grand view, Can the imagination grasp and retain the landscape such as we see before us in all its beauty ? Perhaps so, but not by the the present writer. True, you may look ank admire, admire and look, but that is only an ideal way of penning- an eicuse. Well, was it grand 1 ayo, more than grand. A sight once seen, not easily effaced from the mind—a view ou which the mind is delighted to dwell, Now for an attempt to pen an outlino of the prospect before us. Looking down the valley, evaporation is seen in a whitish haze is seen in the distance, plainly pointing out the position of the Watrarapa Lake. Featherston is easily discerned by its long straggling length of houses, as if they had been engaged in a walking contest, and as each house got tired it dropped out of the race and sulkily settled down to repose in,its own shadow. Greytown was not presented to our view, and therefore we had no sign of either cricketers or footballers in our picture to enliven the view. Carterton, in die bush, was sending up a cloud of smoke: one could fancy this place is claiming for itself a distant relationship to the Blaok Country at, Home, Still nearer to us is seen Masterton, gleaming in tho sunlight, as if it were shrouded with a drowsiness retarding it progress towards becoming the city of tho Valley, Then the back-ground of this part of our picture is filled in by extensive bush on tho sides of tho spurs of the Tararua range, Next Opaki presented itself to our view, pleasant and happy in its position. Hills in all 'directions from it are covered mostly with bush. Now we discover Te Ore Ore, but without signs of its dusky inhabitants. Still more to ths north and north-east hills and hollows, hollows and hills without end we visible to our gaze, (not n pleasant picture to a farmer's notion of a country.) Noy we trace the road ac the foot 6f the hill leading from Masterton

to Castlepoint— not unlike a great sea-serpent in its tortuous winding among the hills. We now look towards tlio east, In this part of our picture one of us is much disappointed at not getting a glimpse of Brancepeth —a name dear to one of us, It is liush everywhere; homesteads none on which the eye can gaze. An inward thought came over us: What a bush to get lost in I We have now imperfectly attempted to describe our picturo, and if our readers are not satisfied with it wo will only say: Go and seo for yourselves, for that only will give you satisfaction. Time came for lunch, which was eaten with great relish, and no inistako about it. On the top of the hill is a post standing in a socket, presumed to be a trig-station, on which wo found many initials of persons who had visited tho spot. What must we do but follow their example, and leave some trace of our visit to this place by calving our initials on it, which will be silent witnesses to our visit to this delightful spot. Another sweep of the horison in all directions brought our visit to an end. The descent was soon made. On our way we had to act the part of the Good Samaritan in liberating a sheep, which had got entangled in a creeper, and set it free. Wo soon arrived at the toll-gate, left the glass, and landed at Masterton safe and delighted with our pleasant journey.