MALVERN HILLS.

Lyttelton Times, Volume XLIV, Issue 4619, 3 December 1875, Page 3

MALVERN HILLS.

TO THE EDITOE OF THE IVTTELTON TIMES. Sib, —All your " old colonist” readers, and many who are more recent recruits to the Canterbury division of our army for “ subduing the wilderness,” are well aware that I have for many years endeavoured to impress the public with a knowledge of the advantages to the whole of New Zealand, and especially to this portion of it, of fully developing the mineral resources of the District, generally known as the “ Malvern Hills.” I hope you will give me room to narrate a brief trip recently made thither by a party of whom I was one. On Wednesday, the 24th ult., we started by train from this City, at 4.15 p.m. M? companions were Mr William Wilson, who had kindly invited me to be his guest on the occasion, Mr Neighbours, the manufacturer of, and dealer in, bricks and potteries at Hillsborough and Tuam street, and Mr Wm. Smart; Mr Deans, of Ricoarton and Homebush, Colonel Brett, of Kirwee, and Mr Stocks, the contractor for building the Bluff bridge over the Selwyn, and also that over the lower gorge of the Waimakariri on the proposed tramway between Waddington and Oxford, were also passengers to their respective destinations. The broad gauge took us to Holieston by 4.65—15 miles in 40 minutes, or at the rate of 22 £ miles an hour, including stoppages at four intermediate stations. Here we were shifted into the smaller narrow ■ gauge carriages; and, starting at 6.6., we arrived at White Cliffs Junction at 6.14—15 miles in 69 minutes, or at 13 miles an hour, including two stoppages. Just before reaching Kirwee, the last of these, the dreary view of waste plaip was relieved by extensive oat cultivations belonging to Mr W. B, Toss will, and a distantview of Colonel Brett’s house and plantations, on tho- estate which gives the name to the station; and here that gentleman got out for an unpleasant drive of two miles through the rain to his home. At the junction we again changed trains, getting into a yet smaller carriage, while the main train diverged to Racecourse Hill, Waddington, and Malvern (North). Near the Hawkins, we passed the late Bangor Station, now the property and residence of Mr George Holmes. Immediately across the Waianiwa, or “ Bainbow ’’ rivulet, we pulled up to let Mr Deans out at Homebush Station, At “the Bluff” Station, close to the bridge above mentioned, Mr Stocks got out; and a farmhouse and fenced ground appeared near the unfinished bridge on the South, while the plantations, buildings, and neatly cultivated fields of Homebush bore a cheerful aspect North-east of us. Here we enter the Valley of the Wakaepa, or Selwyn proper, between the soft Homebush downs and the longrugged ridge, crowned with volcanic crags, which terminates in “ the Bluff ” on the South bank. The valley is here about half-a-mile wide, and it is right across its entrance that Mr D. Roberta, Mr Travers, Mr George Hart, Mr E. Ford and myself hold the land on which we propose that the town of “ Coalgate ’’ shall be formed by those.who.are inclined to join with us in the enterprise. The station is thirty-eight miles from Christchurch, about sixteen from the Bakaia gorge by Bluff bridge through Hororata, and about twelve from the Waimakariri bridge by a cross road of six miles to Bacecourse Hill Station, and thence (by railway) four to Waddington and two more to the bridge. The latter is about seven miles from Oxford,where supplies or timber could for many years be obtained. Until that communication can be opened probably twelve months will intervene, and in the meanwhile sea-borne timber must be brought from Lyttelton. Excuse me for thus specifying the position which I, and those who may act with me, have chosen for the town-making adventure which we advertise in your business columns. About one and a half mile farther on we arrived at Surveyor’s Golly, a station on the site of Mr MTlraith’s coal-delivery shoot and brick-yard. Of that more anon. Passing through the Sheath property, with the pit recently excavated, and the Malvern (South) station on the township, established some time ago by Messrs Ford and Bobison, we finally arrived at the White Cliffs Terminus, 27 miles from Bolleston, and 42 from Christchurch, at 7.15 p.m.; having thus performed the whole journey, with its two shifts of carriages and numerous stoppages, in three hours. Here there is no accommodation-house for travellers; one formerly existing having been burnt, and none put up in its place. Owing, however, to Mr Wilson’s provident arrangements with Mr Lawson, the considerate Traffic Manager, and the civility and attention of Mr Pilkington, the guard (who also acts as Station-master), and especially of Mr Dorn, the engineer, and his tidy and obliging wife, wo fared better than we might have expected. We took our meal in the Stationhouse ; but as it possesses no fireplace, we were indebted' to Mrs Doon for a cup of tea then, and for a comfortable fireside and well set table during the remainder of our stay. Arrangements, which I need not detail, as they were exceptional, were provided as a special favour for our nightly repose. A man in Mr Wilson’s service ho<i arrived before us byroad with a spring dray and two horses, a tent, tools, and supplies; for we contemplated a trip up the gorge of the Selwyn to view a deposit of marble on another section belonging to Mr Wilson; but this we were doomed not then to accomplish. The forenoon was devoted to an examination of the strata of fire-clay, &c., exposed in the White Cliffs, and further indications of them at different spots on the hill side as we ascended on to the richly-soiled table-land, with a strong growth of flax and grass, on the summit of the watershed between Surveyor’s Gully and tho Selwyn. From this table-lahd we enjoyed a fine view of the great plain, stretching away to Banks Peninsula in the distance, dotted with many homesteads, and patched with a wide expanse of green cereal cultivations. The White Cliffs station, which is on and surrounded by Mr Wilson’s mineral land, is about 900 feet above the sea level; and the table-land probably as much more. We also saw the flats above White Cliffs, on which are situated Mr M. B. Hart’s and Mr Cordy’s coal pits, and the latter’s homestead and farm; and up a rich valley inside tho Bluff ridge, containing the “ 1000-acre swamp” and many accessible coal seams, we saw, across a very low saddle, the graduated terraces of the T?tdra.in below the gorge. A good cart-road is already formed for a considerable distance up that valley, and the extension of the railway to the Bakaia Gorge and Oakden’s anthracite coal will, in all probability, eventually pass through that valley and over the low watershed, saving some miles upon the present line of road round the South-east face of the Bluff ridge by bridging the Selwyn where it is now forded, opposite to Surveyor’s Gully. Having re-descended to our dinner at noon —not too soon after our very early breakfast —wo were afterwards carried to Surveyor’s Gully in Mr Wilson’s spring-cart, passing a Baptist Chapel at Malvern (South), and at the same place a house built for an inn by Mr Hobbs, who has applied for the grant of a publican’s license at the next meeting. For the comfort of travellers, it is very expedient that some such house should be established at some spot near tho diggings for fireclay, which are sure to be prosecuted at Malvern and White Cliffs, so soon as the narrow gauge shall reach Christchurch, and put an end to the fatal necessity for shifting goods at BollesIton. At the shoot we met, Mr MTlraith and three or four coal-laden trollies

coming from fan coal mine. As they were inevitably delayed, we walked up the tram, Mr Neighbours observing several varieties of serviceable clay and good indica* tions of iron as We proceeded. The mouths of the drives (four in number) are a mile and a half from the shoot. But, half way, we were surprised at having to enter a tunnel through a hill on the East side of the gully, whereas there seemed an easy line along the base of the hill. The necessity for this heavy and costly work, fifteen chains through a solid sandstone, and high enough for a man of ordinary stature to walk upright in, was explained to have arisen from a lamentable neglect of the Christian injunction, to “Love thy neighbour as thyself.” The lino outside the hill would have passed through a small portion of land adjoining the Deans’ property, belonging to the Sheath estate, and in which Mr Jebson holds some vested interest. I could hardly believe that a refusal on the part of those proprietors to allow a passage for the road had been, in various forms and for various reasons assigned, persisted in for so long a period, that Mr MTlraith had no alternative but to out the Gordian knot by also cutting the tunnel round the property of his obstructive neighbours. Arrived at the mouth of the oldest and principal drive, we again lit the candles which had been required in the tunnel, and began to penetrate into the bowels of the hill. Not far, though; for at only one and a-half chain from the mouth we were in the midst of brightly glancing coal, and turned up a Biding into one of the present workings. Progress now became irksome. The seam is three feet six inches in thickness, and the working is but little larger. The immediate roof consists of a false layer of shale, which is taken out easily in laminated slabs about two inches thick; and then a true, solid roof is reached, which has the appearance of a slate billiard-table, and stands famously. Timber props and rafters are, of course, used; but the slabs, loosely built up in the worked-out spaces, form an admirable wall of most reassuring safety. We saw a block of solid coal, from which half-a-ton had been already separated, while the remainder was estimated to contain at least a ton more. The drive extends six chains altogether, with several branch sidings. Mr Neighbours accompanied Mr MTlraith through the whole of this and two other adjoining drives, which the rest of the party declined, on account of the fatigue from stooping; and the fourth drive, on the western side of. the gully, was left unvisited. We now took our seats in empty trollies, and trundled down the mile and ahalf to the shoot in six minutes—fifteen miles an hour—by our own gravitation; old “ Star,” the sociable trolly-horse, who works without blinkers and has learned by a knock or two on the head when and where to duck it, being kept at a hard trot towing behind us. The we'igh-bridge and shoot, and a spring of delicious water, next engaged our notice; and after a biscuit and a drink, we viewed the brick works. Mr MTlraith has already built a stable at Homebush with 60,000 bricks made here; and a fresh batch was on the drying ground. Here a little friendly chafe ensued between Mr Neighbours and the foreman of the works, who, upon some imperfections in his bricks and mould being pointed out by the practical visitor, good-humouredly jeered the latter as taking advantage of having been “bom in a brick-kiln.” This was too sharp a challenge to be borne without retort; and the child of clay showed he was not to be roasted with impunity, by stripping off his coat, and, regardless of all consequences to the sleeves and front of a white shirt, making with his own hands a “barrow ” of bricks (22) in a style which even his interlocutor pronounced to. be first-class. But Mr Neighbours’ visit had a yet more practical result. Negotiations between him and Mr Wilson were concluded which will probably soon require the carriage of 100 tons per week of fireclay from Whitecliffs to Christchurch and Hillsborough; besides which, I heard him give Mr MTlraith an order for a truck-load (five tons) per day of his coal, for use and sale at Christchurch, to begin from the very next day. And as soon as ever he reached Christchurch on last Friday morning, he put advertisements in the Star and Globe that he would deliver the coal anywhere within the Christchurch town belt at 32s per ton. The price at the shoot is now 16s, but will be reduced to 12s so soon as an increased demand enables the energetic coal-owner to work all four drives constantly, instead of only one by fits and starts as at present. The carriage between the shoot and Christchurch is now levied at the high rate of 8s 6d per ton, or nearly 2£d per ton per mile; but this also can probably be much reduced when there shall be no break in the gauge, and a larger consequent traffic shall justify- more complete arrangements. So that we may hope to see the black diamonds at little over £1 per ton by next winter. 1 was much surprised to find that no attempt has been made to utilise the local coal for feeding the locomotive. A huge stack of coal at the White Cliffs Station, brought.l4oo miles by sea and fifty miles by land to an elevation of 900 feet, struck me as a great anomaly, in the presence of the hills full of coal, costing 16s per ton on the railway only two iniles and a-half nearer the sea and 150 feet lower down. No doubt MTlraith’s coal is not equal to that from Newcastle, New South Wales; hut I have good reason to believe, from a conversation we had with the intelligent engineer, that by a very little alteration in the bars and flues of the locomotives now used, the local fuel could be burned, and a great saving thereby effected in the working expenses of the line, tending to a reduction’in the heavy rate, of freight which is now required in order to meet then. I never saw so absurd an example of “ carrying coals to Newcastle.”

Two other things are urgently required on the part of the Government: earnest expedition in completing the narrow gauge to Christchurch, and a more convenient arrangement of the passenger traffic. At present, the only train comes from the White Cliffs at 6.30 a.m., and starts back from Christchurch at 4.15 p.m., every week day, except Saturday. On that day alone, it leaves town at 6.45 a.m., giving visitors six hours at the terminus, and returns at 4 p.m. But Saturday is the very day on which visitors from Christchurch can least conveniently get away; and it is also the best day for residents in the District to visit Christchurch and get back at night. Wednesday or Thursday would better suit visitors desirous of inspecting the town sites and other properties for sale, without need of passing the night where there is no sleeping accommodation; and if that more satisfactory arrangement were adopted, so many would, I feel sure, avail themselves of the opportunity to view the resources of the District for themselves, and to seek sites for residences and industries in the District, that one morning train starting from each end every day, and returning at night, would soon become an absolute necessity. The present arrangements are fatal to an extended acquirement, by business men of Christchurch and intending settlers among the mineral wealth, of full knowledge as to the natural resources of the whole District, whether for cheap and accessible residence or for industrial pursuits on the highly gifted spot. And a bitter sense of injustice is growing up among a large class of persons desirous of promoting its most active progress; almost amounting to a suspicion whether the importers of Australian coal have not combined with the pastoral tenants who dread the rapid advent of the vanguards of populous colonisation, in order to perpetuate as long as possible such “ heavy blow and great discouragement ” as an obstacle to the intimate connection of the agricultural and town population of Canterbury with an abundant supply of cheap fuel, and with the utilisation of valuable clays and stones in all their serviceable varieties. Let me conclude by expressing an earnest hope that other proprietors of land in the District, whether on large or small scale, may follow the practical-example of enterprise and liberality set by Messrs M. B. Hart, W. Wilson, and above all Deans and MTlraith, in the energetic development of the great aids to successful colonisation now placed within their reach. Our trip was abruptly put an end to by the determined set-in of- severe weather, and by a flood in the river, driving us home on Friday morning. Tour obedient servant, B. JEKNINGHAM WAKEFIELD. Oxford terrace west, Deo. 1.