FROM CHRISTCHURCH TO TIMARU AND BACK.

Globe, Volume I, Issue 83, 5 September 1874, Page 2

FROM CHRISTCHURCH TO TIMARU AND BACK.

As I have no doubt that many of your renders will be interested in.the advancement of the manner in which the public are conveyed from the capital City of the Plains to Timaru and back, I shall, with your permission, give them a short description of the journey I performed the other day. Leaving the railway station at Christchurch at 6.80 a.m. on a rather hazy morning, savouring somewhat of the mists of Scotland, we reached Dunsandel on the broad gauge line, without experiencing anything very extraordinary with the exception of the stoppages on the way, which are to say the least of them " voluminous." On arriving at Dunsandel we were called upon by a Guard of the most polite calibre, and in the most polite manner to " change for the Selvvyn and the Rakaia." I " changed" accordingly and found myself riding upon a species of half room, half carriage, which however did its duty and carried me to the Nelwyn, the Rakaia, and the Ashburton respectively, on the narrow-gauge principle, in safety al- i (hough it was accompanied with a pretty considerable amount of shaking ; apropos of I

this—l do not think the Press is far wrong in thinking that more " ballast " is required on the line between the Rakaia and the Ashburton. I must say, however, that the time in which we accomplished the journey was excellent, but for comfort give me the broad gauge. On arriving at the Ashburton I "interviewed" Me Orams' Hotel (the Somerset), and although I did not partake of any of the " trout" of which he boasts so much as gracing his breakfast table, yet I think I and my fellow travellers did ample justice to what we were thankful to receive. After doing justice to the good things of the Ashburton, we were transferred to the tender mercies of Mr John Crambnd who " does " the coaching from Ashburton to Timaru, and I must say that he does it well. I may say that >I have travelled in the old country in the old coaching days, and I have travelled considerably in New Zealand, but I do not think I should care to travel behind better teams than Mr Crammond puts on the road between the Ashburton and Timaru ; in fact, a gentleman sitting on the coach beside me —and who was no inconsiderable traveller in Australia and America —informed me that the horses were second to none he had ever travelled behind. Mr JohnNichel, or shall I call him " Jack," having assumed the ribbons, we started on our first stage of 13J miles. Having crossed the Ashburton there is a beautiful piece of road a short distance beyond the river which reflects the greatest credit upon the Ashburton Road Board as in. some particular parts it takes the horses up to their bellies, and the coach uoio its.body, and were it not for the careful driving of the Timaru Jehu, might result in a few Coroners' inquests. But seriously speaking, this part of the road is a disgrace to the Ashburton Road Board, and I was very pleased to observe a few of our legislative functionaries on the coach who seemed to be agreeably surprised at its dangerous state, and I was more agreeably surprised when I saw them ' make a note of it,' like the celebrated Captain Cuttle. After a rather stiff for the horses, we reached the stables and changed our team of ' five' for one of ' four,' making the next stage, 15J miles, in what may be termed very decent time. The drive from the Ashburton to the Rangitata is of the most monotonous scharacter, and in fact until you come within a short distance of Geraldine, there is nothing to see On approaching Geraldine, one cannot help being struck with thebeauty of this little township —the bush, the winding nature of the road, the neat style of the cottages, and the healthy appearance of the inhabitants, all tend to give the traveller a favorable impression ; but one cannot help regretting that, the township should have been so reserved as take in the principle' feature of its beauty—viz/ the bush, which no doubt will be cut down as the sections are bought up. After having partaken of the hospitalities afforded at the Hotel where the coach stops,, we proceeded on our jourqey, which now became enjoyable on account of the scenery, until we reached the Waihi Crossing Hotel, kept by Mr Young. After changing horses, we ; proceeded on the "even tenor of our way" until, arriving at Timuka, from thence to Washdyke, and reached Timaru at about a quarter to 7 p.m, accomplishing the journey from Christchurch in about twelve hours and a quarter, a feat which would have made some of those who have passed from amongst ns listen to it twice before they could credit It," Quantum mutatis from the olden days when. it took nearly a week to dp the journey, and how different the manner in which it waa done ! After arriving at Timaru I took up ' my quarters at the Royal Hotel, owned by Mr Sullivan, who, by the way, has built a very large addition to the hotel, and is likely to make it a first-class house of accommodation. As this hotel is immediately opposite Mr Cramond's stables, I found it most convenient, as I wanted to start in the morning by the return coach. I cannot say much about the citizens at Timaru, as I could see very little of them, it being quite . dark when we arrived, and not knowing my way about, I was compelled to keep within close; proximity .to my hotel. 'I certainly made the acquaintance! of a {bluebottle, whoasked more questions than I thought it was necessary for me to answer, and found the usual amount of redtape iq ,the.T.elegraph Department, but these are some of the 'little ills the flesh is heir to,' so I endeavored to let them " pass by me like the idle wind." I looked in vain for an old face, but " he came not," so I had to content myself with spending my first night in Timaru, alone in my glory. Awaking at the " breaking of the . i day," and partaking of the conventional " coffee royal," I found my friend. Jack Nichel ready to start at 6-30. a.m. Upon taking in large supplies of the T'wiaru Herald, we travelled homewards on one of the finest, although perhaps one of the coldest mornings it has been my lot to experience. What a pretty place Timaru is. I donotn, think I ever remember feeling ao : much ; pleasure in witnessing any scenery intheold country as I did that morning travelling - between Timaru and Geraldine. The sea to your right, the Downs and the pretty residences and estates to your left, and the snow-capped mountains facing you, -gives you, in my opinion, as pretty a picture as one would wish to gaze on, and on nearing Geraldine you are enchanted with a sight of what Mr Vogel is so anxious to preserve, viz, the New Zealand forest trees, and who/ on viewing them, can wonder at the mier's taste ? Several residences for the new chums have been erected at Geraldine and neighborhood ; also a house for the sergeant of police, and I see it is intended to have a telegraph station there. Having breakfasted in a substantial manner at Young's, the Waihi Crossing, we were pre-? pared for the dreary desert lying between Geraldine and'the Ashburton. After undergoing the requisite changes of horses, and " doing" that abominable piece of road close to Ashburton bridge without an upset, thanks to Jack, and not to the Road Board, we arrived safely at the " Somerset," where we found -'mine host" Oram taking his ease in his inn, and admiring the avalanches, The prandial arrangements accomplished, we resigned King Cobb Cramond, and betook ourselves to the narrow gauge, travelled at the rate of knots as far as the Rakaia, and there we had to halt for forty minutes for nobody knows what, except to " liquor up," which we carefully did. Perhaps Mr Maude, or the indefatigable traffic manager can inform your readers what it means, because I am sure I cannot tell you. There you might have seen about forty or fifty passengers kicking their heels about on the platform at the Rakaia for forty minutes, for no earthly rhyme or reason, a matter which surely could have been avoided, and cia be avoided with a little management. I missed the staid visage of the Southern chief on the platform at the Rakaia this time, but in his stead I was agreeably surprised ...: . I Aid U ft V 1

at seeing the namesake of the Psalmist King, whose genial smile took me quite aback. The increase of the traffic at this part of the journey was most apparent, the Carriages being filled the moment they were drawn ap to the platform. A start having been effected, we reached Dunsandel, and changed from the narrow to the broad guage, a part of the programme at which I was not at all sorry. After leaving Dunsandel we had a most agreeable journey to the City of the Plains arriving at 7.20 p.m., having left Timaru at 6.20 a.m. the sama day. I think no one can deny the fact that this is an evidence of our advancing with the times, and; that the. fact of any person .leaving Christchurch for Timaru, transacting his business there, and returning to Chrisfcchurch within 48 hours, is a marvellous feat compared with the journies of eight or ten. years ago. I see that Mr Cramond intends running a coach daily from the Ashburton to Timaru, so that this will increase the facilities for travellers. ; ' -' k ' ' VIATOR.