HAREWOOD FOREST.

Lyttelton Times, Volume 1, Issue 3, 25 January 1851, Page 6

HAREWOOD FOREST.

To the Editor of the " Lyttelton Times."

Sir, —As many may be preparing to take Oxford in their exploring journeys through the plain, and as the subject must be in some degree interesting to all Canterbury colonists, I venture to submit a few of the joltings of one fresh from the place.

There are two routes to Oxford, or Harewood Forest, as it is with more propriety named ; the one by the pah of Kiapoi, or the Native reserve, the other, and the straighter one, being a direct line, by the passage of the uncertain and dangerous Waimakaridi, or river Courtenay: tourists would do well to go by one, and return by the other, —but, unfortunately, the route is at no man's option, a flood rises, often and generally on the finest summer's day, with the N.W. wind, which melts the snow in the mountains," a flood which it is impossible to ford, and which may detain the traveller for days on the banks. The river should never be attempted without a Maori guide, who will lead the way across the safest passage of the streams. From Biccarton to the right bank of the Courtenay is a distance of about ten miles of indifferent walking through tutu, flax, and high, fern, for about five miles; through good grass the remaining half. There is no clearly-defined path, but if the day is clear, the summit of Mount Torlesse is a sufficient landmark. At the Courtenay, supposing the river to be low and fit for fording, there is a wide bed of shingle, through which flow the thirteen streams that form the river. Of these thirteen, three only are difficult to cross. They lie near the left bank, and are for a man 6 feet high, about mid-thigh deep. The danger is not in their depth, but in the uncertain footing that the loose round shingle in their bed affords. The river crossed, the traveller may follow the staked road-line straight away, for 18 miles, to Oxford. The number of miles from Christchurch is marked on posts, and a passage, easily seen at four or five miles' distance, is cut by the surveyors through the Manuka bush, which lies on the line of road about midway. This tract of country is barren-look-ing and ungenial. The soil is for the most part covered with stones, and vegetation is not vigorous. One who suffers from thirst on his walk would do well to take bottles of water from the Courtenay, as there is no water along the march till he arrives at the Creek, a branch of the Eyre, three miles from Oxford. On a clear day, the wooded heights of Harewood become so distinct at about eight miles off, that the weary traveller is deluded into the belief that his journey is nearly over, three hours sooner than he will find it to be. No delusion is more deceptive than this appearance of a distant wood on the level of these plains. The appearance of Oxford, as'we approach, is that of richbut simple beauty. Two white wooden houses, used by the surveyors, are set against the dark back-ground of forest which clothes three high and gracefully shaped hills. The wood covers the spurs of the bills, and in the slopes between meets the green fern, <which looks at a distance like the rich swards of grass that one is accustomed to see in the forest scenery in England. About three miles from the surveyor's houses —about a mile to the inexperienced eye —lies the bed of the Eyre, dry in the summer months. There are here nearly two miles of difficult shingle walking, most tantalizing to the lips of him who not having slaked his thirst since he crossed the Courtenay, is teased by the sight of a place where water ought to be. Three miles through some good grass will bring us to the Surveyor's wooden houses, which will supply lodging, firewood, and plenty of water from the wood behind the house. No one can be too weary to admire the view if he approaches before sunset. The beauty of the wooded hills is that of some noble dame, sumptuously, but simply attired. The small white houses are scarcely sufficient to set it off; but imagination cannot fail to revel in the glorious picture which another generation of Anglo-Saxons will surely, with God's blessing, provide. The soil is not in my opinion,!sufficiently good to invite the tiller of the ground—the distance from the capital too great, indeed, too uncertain, to tempt the peaceful lover of the picturesque alone. We may expect to see it for many years to come, the abode of the shepherd and herdsman. The sooner hese apt pioneers of civilization arrive to " disturb the ancient solitary reign" of the wild pig,

and the koko, the sooner will this fine district be ready for whole villages of Englishmen. In returning from Harewood by the Courtenay, the peak of Mount Pascal, on Banks' Peninsulars an excellent guide, or if the day be obscure, a course of E.S.E by compass, will lead straight i into the Surveyor's road-line. On another ] opportunity I shall attempt to describe the / longer and more interesting route by Kiapoi. ■.!; I am, Sir, your obedient servant, Planipks.