BALOLUTHA TO CATLINS RIVER.

Clutha Leader, Volume I, Issue 11, 17 September 1874, Page 3

BALOLUTHA TO CATLINS RIVER.

As the time ie rapidly approaching for summer/ excursions and pleasure trips, perhaps a few remarks on the state of the road leading to one of the mostpioturesque and beautiful, although at present oue of the least known, spots so well adapted for a day's enjoyment, may not be out of place. I refer to the road through the Ahuriri to Owake and Catlin's River district The road from Balclutha; as far as Mr Begg's mill, is now in a very passable state, and in summer weather will he a very good colonial road. After passing Mr Begg's, how3ver, the road (for such we are forced to call it, being made by Government) is almost beyond description. Between the Glenomaru mill and Pol* lock's saw mill, where there is no metal, and where carting of sleepers has been going on all through the bad weather, is more properly a bullock -track than a road. The mud is up to your horse's knees, and of that tenacious nature which makes it so difficult for a horse to travel through. It is with great difficulty that a horse can get out his fore legs in time for his hind ones, thus causing that most agreeable of sensations known as "floundering." But however tiresome this kind of travelling is, it is not without its enjoyment and pleasant expectation of your horse landing on its nose, and you finding yourself comfortably plaoed head first in to j one of the numerous water-holes ahead lof him. After struggling through this part, and fondly imagining because you see some few tussocks ahead that your difficulties are at length passed, you arrive at Mr M'Donald's. And here allow us to suggest that something ought to be done to prohibit stockyards being made within at least three chains of any made road. Every one knows in what state stock-yards as a rule are kept. This, of course, is to be expected on account of the constant traffic to and from therp in all weathers of the cattle, but what the state of the road which is bounded on one side by the rails ofa stock-yard really is can be more easily imagined than described. The stock-yard in question having a fall to the road drains aU its superfluous mud and mire directly into it, where it lies and accumulates. On entering the bush if possible the road becomes worse. The water table being considerably higher than tlie level of the road, and no steps having been taken to prevent its draining itself into the road, the road consequently becomes the leading drain for the high ground round about. The road itself as far as we can ascertain, has never been looked to since its formation, and no surface men employed to prevent the scrub springing up not only on the edge but in the centre of the road. The large roots which have been left in the ground have decayed, thus leaving large holes, or are so rotten that they cannot sustain the weight of a horse ; consequently by treading on one of them your horses legs disappear to unknown depths, with the almost certainty of wrenching himself, it' nothing worse. The culverts on this road are like those on all country roads — far too narrow, and in a bad state of repair. Why culverts should not be as broad as the road has been an unsolved mystery to us for a long time. The bridge across the Owake is a great relief after* the monotonous sensation of feeling your horse dragging his feet out of the deep mud. But that pleasurable moment is soon over, qnd you are again knee-deep. This part of the road has been newly completed, but is no improvement. Tb.fi large amount of under water which used to be visible and therefore avoidable are now, alas, • buried, but not effectually. Soil has certainly been shovelled on the top, but is not firm enough to support any weight, consequently down you go, and wash your horse's feet in the creek below, with no small danger of breaking your horse's legs and your own neck. How men, with their wives and children, have managed to travel along this road during the past winter, as we are informed they have done, looking for work at the various saw-mills, is . scarcely conceivable. They must keep the track, as there is such & vast quantity of fallen timber and undergrowth at the sides as tp make it impossible to walk except on the road. How it is that the doctor has not been more frequently called down to set broken limbs and bandage sprains seems to us only to he accounted for by the fact that unless in a case of life and death no one ! would he fool-hardy enough to tackle | the road after dark. It seems a matter whioh those in authority should inquire into, and see if something could not be done to make the approach to the fertile pnd beautiful flats of the Owake and Catlin's at least safe for those whose business forces them to travel over what is at present a dangerous and disgraceful state of Toad. . -s______=—=_A heavy thunderstorm recently occurred in Canterbury, It nas not heavy in Christchurch, but it is reported from the northern parts of tbe Province that houses and other property were slightly damaged. No lives were lost.