Tracking the Molyneux.

Clutha Leader, Volume I, Issue 39, 8 April 1875, Page 6

Tracking the Molyneux.

THE UtfJNCB THAT JMD NOT TAKE PLAGE-, THE CAISGO BOAT; THE KIYEIt AND ITS IMPROVEMENT. '

A newspaper reporter writes : — I was one of a party who visited Port Molyneux on Friday last. We 1 got there in a kind of orthodox style of conveyance — a one-horse chaise, drawn by a livery stable-keeper's nag, in whom there was no guile, barring the one lewd practice of bailing up his fares at the door of every publio npuse. There was no real good in trying to get out of it. No matter how wisely you -might charm him with the majic of a switch, there he would remain, as firm as a rock, until the conventional period for rest and refreshment had expired* Once that was done, there was no further parley on his part 5 he went right of? with a jolly kind of a snors, as much as to say — *nay, nay,

Not for Hoses, Not if he knows it : If you don't know your duty as a bona fide' traveller, then it is my duty as a good old roadster- to teach you ! Seriouslv speaking, this is a habit which is developing itself in the character and behaviour of livery stablekeepers horses to an alarming extent. It is a predisposing cause to liquor, and as such it is an evil which our friends of the Good Templar cause would do well to look into. Port Molyneux was, on Friday last, the scene of a grave disappointment. The new stern-wheel steamer " Balclutha" was to have been launched, The elements, however, con:pired to defeat that object. The tide did not rise high enough by at least two inches, and the wind being dead off the shore prevented it getting up as high as it would otherwise have done. In this dilemma, there was nothing for it but just to make a virtue of necessity, and allow the launch to remain over for a more convenient season. All things considered^ Port Molyneux and its numerous visitors took the disappointment lightly. They went in for impromptu sports, and otherwise conducted themselves just as rationally as places with higher pretensions to social attainment. A concert and ball followed in the evening, but as I happen to know you have got something to say about these two events elsewhere, I will now, without further preface, proceed to track the Molyneux. The "Lucy M'Farlane 7 ' is a trim little craft of some ten or twelve tons burden. She is a trifle rakish about the stern, but that is not astonishing, considering the predilections of the age in which we live. The crew consists of four — all told. There is the skipper, Duncan M'Farlane, after some one of whose family descendents, I take it for granted, the craft is named. I have no hesitation in saying that Duncan is a man who knows more about the river and its enviorns, between this and the Port, than any other man that could be named. On board the " Lucy " he presides at the helm. In that capacity he circumnavigates the intricate winds of the river with consummate skill. He rounds corners, steers clear of those great barriers to the successful navigation of the Molyneux — snags— and, figuratively speaking, steps through the treacherous currents with a precision- all his own. I should think that M'Farlane's counsel and advice wriuld'be invaluable when the question of improving the river becomes a question of the day. The second notable on board presides at the tow-line ; the third tracks the river bank, easing the rope in its passage over hedge-rows, tussocks, &c. ; the fourth — a lad — drives the horse. They are each useful men in their place, and I know of establishments wrought on the cooperative principle that might advantageously extract a leaf out of their book. Whatever Duncan, the skipper, says is law. It, is in pursuance of his advice the sail is set, and the towing, tracking, or oars resorted to. Runningdead on to a current, averaging four knots an hour, and it is easy to perceive that the last two named processes are not by any means free from difficulty iia a manual labor point of view. On the occasion referred to, the " Lucy " left the wharf, Port Molyneux, at 8 a.m. After rowing for aoout a mile, we got clear of the tyush through which the Puerua River joins the Molyneux. The craft was then " tailed " on to the horse, and we jogged along 1 for a time; merrily. The wind coming astern, th'ej sail was set, and the assistance of the, horse, for-tM' : time r Mng> ■ dispensed; with. Arriving at what is known asi the " Junction," we landfedy and before; long a breakfast was "prepared and; served up, of which^nb ? wa^aring man] need have been, asttamed. Between j the junction and/Finnigandi we tracked,; towed, and sailed??^ as occasion de-, manded— rrthe tradkiirg being done along' bdnks, thrdugh? 5 amongst islands?, 1 and at ptfi^M&ila^pl^ces^ w^r : e.'the! borjse wafjire^e^tejirbni apnrojacl^ng. ; Speaking: frijm ip^seigfattiqiij I should, say the river t]ius far: intolerably good, for navigable purposes,? r tA;few snags i would have to beclea^edfout^ttfid- thb j bank at spots where , the acts with partjpular force. 'isißsfassls protected, % ' The^e ; do ; Wt <%s> -9tss[s ever, ; asif they, would bja smfii^m^^ of great magnitudes ; $he. water ia^£ confined: in i one channel^ so i^that^xtiiG concentrate^ force prevpnfe any serous, acciimul^tionof ''debrfti'; 'OjyW& { 'oi^t ] hand ]ttfo tiffi is~ ( foU{s}j !*<*§& ' IffS

thereof, gets : diyerted.- by.:a.:snag that, the wash acts with any great force on the adjoining', bank. Between Ij'innigandand the head of Jnch Glutha, the chief difficulties exist., .Tiere .the. ■channel becomes so crooked and tortuous that a number of creeks or. bye-passages have been forced, forming a succession of islands, and creating a perfect j network of channels. : What is known as the main channel passing through amongst these islands is a nasty > foullooking passage.. The bed is literally chocked up with snags, which sends the current dashing along from one side to another with tremendous force. At many places the bank has been shorn clean away, causing gaps, which create a back-wash, Tendering the navigation of the channel even more difficult than it otherwise would be. At other places, where the surface of the. ground hasbeen interlaced by roots of trees, the bank is completely undermined. In course of time these will be washed down, thereby adding so many additional obstacles in the general obstruction. The question of protecting these banks is one of great and, I should think, pressing importance. It will.be, no doubt, a first point in the delibera-. tions of the projected Harbor Trust. No one who examines the river as closely as I did can fail to see the urgent necessity that exists for this Trust, The only wonder is that the thing should have been so long delayed. It is not so much the waste of soil, the amount of land carried away and destroyed, we have to look to, but the fact that the debris is rapidly choking up the legitimate channel, rendering the adjacent country liable at any moment to be submerged. Another essential in this respect is the passing of an Act prohibiting woodmen engaged cutting down trees from throwing the branches into the river. Nothing could be more injurious to the stream than this practice. lam told that up-country it is a very common thing, and I should think it is a matter requiring early attention. These were a few of the observations made during the time occupied tracking the river in a cargo boat, The process was a tedious one ; still, if these remarks be accepted in the light of so many practical suggestions, the time will not have been spent in vain.