A TRIP TO LAKE ROTOROA, THE OWEN, AND LAKE ROTOITI.

[BttG.T.H.J Oar party of five left Brightwater about 10 * a.m. on. Wednesday, December 28th, in two traps, having provided ourselves with chaff lor the horses (very little of which was used owing to the abundant supply of green grass at all dor campa, and the liberality of settlers), - provisions for ourselves to last 8 days, and two tents. I should have stated that in writing; this account I am actuated by a desire to induce many more Nelson people to pay a visit to our beautiful lakes in their summer holidays. The road from here to Botoiti via Top House is a good one, and no ladies need be afraid of the journey, but we decided to go via Motupiko Valley (the coach road) as none of us had been that way before. We dined on top of Spooner's Bange, and camped the first night near the head of Motupiko' Valley, where we slept but little ■owing to those enemies of mankind called mosquitoes. Next day, in about two hours me reached the Hope Saddle, and from thence in descending the Hope Valley we vero struck by the great difference (and improvement) in the nature, of the soil as compared with this side of the raDge. The country from this Valley down the Boiler and up the Owen and Kotoroa branohes of the Buller is ohiefly granite and limestone, and consequently there is a splendid growth of grass on the few clearings we saw. Throughout the abbre^inentioned valleys the bush is chiefly ' composed of silver and red birch. In the 'Hope Valley, we only saw one homestead, . and we afterwards heard that, owing to the ; height of the country, it is very cold there in winter. We reached Win's public house ' {situated on this side. of the^ Buller River, and about 1£ miles below the junction of <fche Hope with the Buller) about 11 a.m. Mr Win being away from home, Mrs Win very willingly attended to our w^nts, and . gave us all the information we required. ' . Jieaving -our traps and horees, we, with a flwag each, crossed the Buller river in Mr : Win's boat, and proceeded up to the Kotoroa JQake,; which we reaohed about 6 p.m. The distance from Win's to the Lake is said to foeoiily 7 miles, but it seemed like 14 to us • • wjth our awags on our backs. We would advise Intending tourists to take a pack ■ » ■; hbise;. from; Win's, as there is a good ford O r «$»«s the Buller, and the track up the . c ■ Rotoroa is a good one, thanks to Mr Ribet. V There are; hundreds of acres of rich J , level land between the Buller river and . .-the Lake, none of which has-been taken '■- jfeiap.,^ The scenery is grand, but the ' lake aa seen from this end is not so beautiful | ■VI aa Rotoiti. To us, Rotoroa Lake appeared to ! be about a mile wide, but it is really 16 miles -i -j^M aoroas. We saw some hundreds of teal on the ■A^'Wake, a few ore'ted-grebe, and two beautiful . ; ;;^ black awans. We found a very large (though C i, 2 .^Sa#aily. rotten) Jcanoe near the outlet .of the I '^Lakei iv which we all proceeded about four v'vfeJl : aailes up the Lake. About l£ miles up, on v5 (> *^bhe western side of the Lake, we found an >:%''>£jQW&$ ni X* J } < > wa *°- the Buller Valley aB The fr^^ffim|tt)) living under a piece of canvas BBVeral feet above the ground, and ; eptirely on eels and water. We C^;^n^»ffier«dh|m -bread and meat whioh he refused, V^ii^l^flh^viieclpted some; tea. ,/He asked us r>;^^j|at;ja»wfl. there was from •♦ the outßide .^JS-frlfprJd^^nd spoke Benßibly except on one ''#^^i^i^iry^ftf; v waa --tbal». -b 9' Imsiatocl. that, -go

where he would (even at the Lake), somo one 6tole his things. I wish he could I c removed to the Old People's Home in Nelson. 1 need hardly Bay that eela are very plentiful and very largo in both lakes ; we caught 18 in Lake Rotoroa, from one to tm lbs in weight eocb. We returned to Win's, go', our horses and traps' and started' for ih* Owen )63fa wbioh we reached about 8 p.m. after a four hours' drive. The road after leaving the Buller Boad at Mr Eibefc's is the worst cart road I have seen ; the ruts on the level portions of the road having worn so deep that the axles of a trap will nearly come in contact with the road. If the Government intend to spend any money on the road it should be done in the dry weather. Within about two miles of the Owen townships 'there is a seam of coal, which is very good for household purposes. There is a brewer at the Oweu who supplies beer direct to the men by the gallon. Meat is comparatively cheap at id to 4£d. Starting from the Owen on Monday, the 2nd, at 7 a.m. we reaohed Botoiti about 8 p.m., having stopped about 3 hours by the way. A large party had left Botoiti that day for Nelson ; but the next day another large party (most of whom come from Blenheim) arrived. I should have stated that on our way up from the Owen we saw Mr J. Kerr's bridge over the Buller. For about a quarter of a mile above 'the bridge, the road is in a dangerous state, fa fact one has to find his own road, and consequently I would advice intending tourists no j to go to Rotoiti that, way, bu 1 ; via the Top House Telegraph fetation, it is also necessary to call at tbe Telegraph station to engage the lake boat from Mr White,- who charges 2a 6d per day. Before leaving the Waimea we had (by telegraph) secured tbe boat from the 2nd to the sth. Mr H. Fanzelow (whose splendid property of about 1000 acres of rich level land lies ab the far end of Lake Ro oiti) is one of the most open hearted and obliging men that I bave ever met, Such men as he should reoeive every encouragement from Government for opening up the back country. On January 4th Mr Faozolow brought bis boat down to tbe Nelson end of the Lake to take the Blenheim party up to his farm, ia which we helped him with our boat, deeming it a privilege to be allowed to assist, the ladies, of whom there were tevea. On arrival at Mr Fanzelow'a we found that before leaving he had .instructed his cook to provide a splendid tea for the whole of us iv bis new wool shed. Tbe ladies Bleit that night in the wool shed, which, being new, was better than a tent. Of course there wbb plenty of singing. On the sth we left Mr Fanzelow's about 10 o'clock in the moruing, and on our way down tho Lake stopped near the waterfall and assisted the ladies up to it and we all agreed it was the most beautiful sight of the kind we had ever seen; We anived soon after 12 o'clock at the Nelson end of the lake, where we found a very large party, principally boys from the Bishop's School. The land at this end has been surveyed for a township. Having thanked Mr Fanzelow for his kindness, we left about 1 p.m. for the Waimea, camped that evening near Mr D. Kerr's and arrived here next day about 3 p.m. There is some land fit for settlement in and near the big bush, but we were told that with the exception of a Government reserve it is nearly all taken up. Mr John. Kerr, with his usual eye to business, has scoured a portion where the Blenheim line will join the Midland railway.