A HOLIDAY JAUNT.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume XLII, Issue 7395, 22 February 1902, Page 2

A HOLIDAY JAUNT.

if they could drive all the way. Mr Higginson left town to bring the party back at 7.30 a.m., and landed us safely at home by six o'olock the same evening. He spent two hours at the House and the time taken from the foot of tbe traok to town was only two hours and ten minutes. The Dawson's Falls' Hoaße is undoubtedly the best one to stay at, and all visitors from South of Hawera, say, from Wanganui and Wellington, can make very good arrangements with the local stable keepers for cheap and expeditious carriage to the Falls' House and back.

A WEEK AT DAWSON FALLS' MOUNTAIN HOUSE.

(by one who wbni.) A parly of ten Hawera ladies and gentlemen started on a recent Wednesday morning to spend a week at the Dawson Falls' Mountain House. ■ Starting at 9.30, and proceeding via Hastings road, Eaponga wbb reached about 11.30, and the foot of the track about 12 o'clock. Here a short stay was made and the billy boiled, and all hands partook of a good lunch. The ladies of the party were then started off, and, as the track was in good order, they all walked through to the house in two and a-half hours. The men folk watered the horses and packed the swags on them, and eventually got everything Bafely to the house by 4 o'olock, Mr Thos. Higginaon, who had so expeditiously and satisfactorily landed us all at the house; after giving bis horses an hour's spell and feed, returned to Hawtra the same evening. We had engaged the cottage, and found it splendid accommodation, there being two bedrooms with six spring mattrasses in each, and a large dining room in the centre. > The most beautiful water is rammed np from the stream close by into a constantly overflowing tank at the end of the verandah. The same ram also keeps another cistern full for the main house. The piano had only arrived a few days before, and, as the party comprised some first-class musicians, our evening concerts were of really very fine quality. The cooking utensils are very good, and Caretaker Lloyd kept us well supplied with firewood. During the week, numerous excursions were made to the many exquisite beauty spots, viz., to Dawson's Falls (top and bottom view), Hastie's Hill, Stratford Mountain House, Wilkie's Pools, and Fantham's Peak. The air was found to be extremely bracing, and everybody developed abnormal appetites. Several visits were made to Kaponga for fresh bread, meat, and vegetables, while friends in town sent us several cases of fruit, which were most acceptable. Our milk and butter we plaoed in jars in the cool stream, and we found them keep beautifully. The tea made from the melted snow water was as,; nectar, and loud were the complaints when we returned home to cityitea. All our party enjoyed the best of health, and undoubtedly a few days or weeks spent at that elevation does away with the tired feeling and creates an appetite that is good for grocers' and butoherß' bills. Our bill of fare was varied, and inoluded ham, tinned beef, bacon, boiled mutton, steak, stews, eggs, tinned fruits, stewed fruits, honey, jams, cakes, bisouits, plums, tomatoes, potatoes, parsnips, cucumbers, Devonshire cream, and bread and butter ad lib. All tinned fruits, meat, and milk, also biscuits, can be obtained from Caretaker Lloyd at the House at very reasonable prices. We had several visitors from town on Saturday and Sunday, as many as fifteen to some meals. The wet days, of which we had several, were pleasantly passed in playing ping pong, skittles, quoits, oards, piano playing, and singing. The only flies that bothered us were the sand flies, whioh seemed to prefer some people much more than others. We had a large hammook slung in the trees a few yards from the cottage, and only wished we had brought Beveral. Starting from Hawera, and going via ' Hastings road, the drive is through lovely oountry and full of historic interest. The grandeur of the mountain scenery and the espeoial beauty of the mountain bush, ferns, mosses, and flowers, the writer will not attempt to describe. All those who can afford a few days should see them for themselves. To the visitor to this distriot a trip to the mountain house even without getting higher will be a revelation in bush soenery. To those about to visit the Falls House (and no doubt there are many going) a word of advice re packs : Sew two strong sacks together about a quarter of the way down, and then fill up e&oh with equal weights of blankets, sheets, &o. These placed across the horses, and tied underneath, are found to be the very best way of packing things up the track. To those who can make up a party of from, say, eight to twelve persons, it is advisable that they write at once to the caretaker, and engag* the oottßge for a definite period. By bringing up stretchers from the main house, members of a party can sleep in the centre room of the cottage if required. Let me here suggest to the Board that they put a man on for a week or two, clearing away the overgrowth and levelling some bad places on the track between the house and the sooria. It has also been suggested that part of the immense reserve under the control of the I Board should be leased, and thus provide ample funds to make the road right up to the Dawson's Falls 1 House. There are separate bathing places on either side of the Mountain House, and the clear cold baths are a great luxury and very bracing. It is quite evident that wkere ten persons visit the Falls House under present conditions, one hundred would go