WAIMAKARIRI GORGE EXCURSION.

Press, Volume XLVI, Issue 7258, 18 January 1889, Page 3

WAIMAKARIRI GORGE EXCURSION.

fBY A COBEESPONDKNT.I

A cheap railway excursion ■to the Waimakariri Gorge started away from the Metropolitan station at 8.80 yesterday morning pretty well freighted, there being about 356 persons booked for the trip. That mythical personage popularly known as the Clerk of the Weather appeared to have made arrangements for the keeping of the wind as well as rain in check, while the sun shone out in full brilliance, cheering everyone, besides revealing at each bend of the line —and it seems to be built in graceful curves—a lovely view of the agricultural country, which at this season, bearing its luxuriant crops, is exceedingly interesting. From town, with its smoke and din, to Oxford, with its pore air as well as oppressive quiet,, the journey was performed under pleasing conditions as the puffing locomotive drew its long train of coaches through the Papanui, Avon, Eyreton, West Eyreton, and Carleton districts. Upon one or two occasions we ran. into thick plantations as well as crossed some likely looking trout streams. Once fairly on the way. however, the constant buzz of conversation had for Its chief topic the crops. " Just look at that grand wheat) crop f v What fine oats;" " There's a yield of potatoes;" " How well the beans look, and what a rich perfume;"" How fat the cattle are," &c The aroma of new mown, grass more than once found its way into the train, causing one to wish for a day, in the hayfleld. Having run .out about twenty miles, the ladies begin to open the reticules and sundry neatly bound up parcels; children find their .appetites, have a craving for sandwiches, and the men folk, who have knocked out the ashes of the " pipe dige» tive" after an early breakfast, prepare to discuss a bit of a lunch. Short stoppages at one or two of the stations and at West Oxford, where we got rid of some horse boxes, as well as horsey men, for the races, enabled us to reach our destination at the advertised time. Here there -is scope for fern hunt ing, rock climbing, a walk, out on to the plains or petrified kidneys in . the river bed. Groups, are quickly distributed' in all. directions, enjoying the revivifying influences of cheap and abunpaut ozone which gives the impression while it lasts that liver pills will never be wanted again. A survey of the Gorge conveys to the mind some conception of the thousands of tons of water which in flood time is focussed at the railway bridge, raising the water fauge high up its butt cylinders. Bursting through the Gorge . the immense tract of shingle down stream is strikingly indicative of the devastating : iufiuence which inundations have wrought from time to time. A few puffs of wind serve to remind visitors how the blasts concentrated upon the railway bridge render it cometimes unsafe to cross it. With these and other reflections the seniors of the party pass the tim* away. .