AN ENJOYABLE HOLIDAY.

Horowhenua Chronicle, 13 September 1937, Page 3

AN ENJOYABLE HOLIDAY.

A TRIP THAT INTERESTED.

(By F. J. Ryder).

Some few years ago, with my only sisters and brothers, I left this district for a trip to Eiwaha, the place where we were all reared and educated. All the old pioneers knew that at that time the lot of the early settlers was not a bed of roses. It was 51 years ago in November since I landed in Otaki, the Manawatu line having - been opened to Palmerston North a fortnight before. Much water has “gone under the bridge’ ’ since then and many old pioneers, including my parents and three brothers, have passed to the Great Beyond. The district of Riwaka, as well as that of Otaki, has seen many changes. In Riwaka the third road over the Takaka hills has been made. Many times have I taken the pack horses over the first one, many more times have I taken them over the second one. Now, in that district, like this one, the pack horse is no more—a good car road now connects Riwaka and Takaka, just the same as the Otaki bridge connects Otaki with Te Horo. The only roads in the district when I landed there was the coach road connecting the Katihiku beach with the Waitohu beach, Riverbank Road to Mill Road, also a very crude bridle track to Manakau.

The day following the re-union, seven of the family made a tour of Takaka and Gollingwood districts. En route wo visited the Pupu Springs, which are not only the largest fresh water springs in New Zealand but in the whole world, The water comes up with such force that a stone thrown into it cannot sink; the spring is so large and the quantity and force of the water prevents it from doing so. The water from the spring forms a river quite as large as the Otaki River when running at normal height. Prom there we passed along to tho iron mine, near Gollingwood, and here we saw huge works being built, and a very large amount of money has been spent—l think up wards of £1,000,000 — for building them. The work includes the construction of wharves, tramways, and a huge coke-making plant, but, alas, like many other works, it has failed to prove a success, but as I have no knowledge of mining I cannot state the reason. Prom here we passed on to the Pakawa, which is a little district near Farewell Spit, wher-e the ‘ ‘ Queen Bee ’ ’ and several ■ othei ships were wrecked during my boyhood days. At Farewell Spit spring tides advance at great speed, almost as fast as a horse can run. We afterwards travelled homewards, and having lan died at Gollingwood, we enjoyed a nice afternoon tea at Takaka. Here we proceeded to inspect the cement works and here, I am pleased to say, we found different conditions to those which prevailed at the iron mines. In place of desolation we witnessed a hive of industry. The works are quite huge and capable of turning out eighty tons of cement in a period of eight hours. It would take pages to give a vivid description of the works. The blast furnace where, by the aid of a piece of glass,' one can, look into the interior, and one can term the place as a “heli on earth. ’ ’There are the three materials in millions of tons that go to make cement. Only a small quantity of some animal product is required to complete the whole of the materials required. A nice wharf is in the vicinity', within a few chains of the works, and where the ships can load the cement, but it seems, I am sorry to say, that this fine work cannot, or will not, produce cement that can compete with the markets of the world. The handling and making of cement is something that I knew nothing about. I am game to say, in no place in the whole world, can any place be found that has better facilities than those that exist at these works. Cement in New Zealand should be as cheap as in any place in the world. The works are electrically' driven and work goes on night and day, Sunday included, thus making it continuous. After this interesting time, we journeyed homeward, arriving back at Riwaka just twelve hours from the time we started. One and all had spent a very pleasant and profitable time; it had certainly been an interesting day. While in Riwaka, I met many old friends, one of whom I had not seen for 59 years.

At Richmond I was taken some forty miles up the Alotueka River to give advice to. an old settler on how to protect the banks of his property from the ravages of the Alotueka River. Quite needless to say, after my many years of experience with rivers, that was no great task, and I feel sure that if my friend follows out my advice he will be rewarded with success.

We were very fortunate in having a very pleasant trip, both going and coming home, and on the whole one and all of us had the pleasure of spending a most enjoyable and interesting holiday.—K. J. Ryder; on benalf of the Ryder brothers.