“OUR TRIP TO THE AWATERE.”

Marlborough Express, Volume IV, Issue 155, 30 January 1869, Page 4

“OUR TRIP TO THE AWATERE.”

(Continued from January 9) Several weeks have elapsed since we left the reader at the flockowner’s dinner-table at the foot of the hills in the valley of the Awatere. The family, seated around the wide-spread board, ran from little boys and girls just able to help themselves, up to tall maidens, whose active hands had, no doubt, contributed to the supply of good things of which all were partaking. The eldest of the fair daughters clustered round their affable mother at one end of the table, whilst at the other end we ourselves and afriendly manager of another station sat next to the gigantic jovial squire, whose open ringing laugh e nried on:-’# imagination back to the hearty mirth of Horse cr

Danish sea rovers at their feasts of shells, before glass was cut. Town news is discussed, as well as tasty victuals, and the dinner comes to an end, when, under the guidance of our host, we look around the interior, pleased at the spacious hall and fine rooms, replete with those luxuries that contribute their quota to the pleasantness of civilised life—rich furnishings, handsome books, beautiful pictures, and, not omitt.ng those fashionable little mirrors of life, the portrait albums. Outside the building we paced the lawn, and viewed the front of this tine dwelling, with its large porch, its flowering balconies above, and vines growing against the walls. At a few yards distance from the house there purls o’er its stony bed a winding burn that has just come tumbling down a neighbouring ravine, seeking, as if by instinct, to gladden the plain below. During the exceptional heavy rain-fall of last February, this simple burn grew a roaring muddy torrent, and played some boisterous pranks upon the trim cultivations, a circumstance, however, not likely to occur above once a century. We strolled through the fields and gardens in the pleasant afternoon, and we saw how thousands of trees had been planted, fences erected, the soil broken up and cropped, the whole forming now a rich possession through early enterprise and perseverance. Tne view from this terrace, some 1,600 feet above the sea level, is very fine, especially looking up the valley to varied mountain shapes standing out clear, though distant, ami in their midst Tapuenuka, crested with snow, and with folds ot the like glittering di'apery extending here and there down its sides. On the opposite or Southern side of the valley was Weld's Mill, Mr. A. M’irlae s and the Station of Messrs. Stafi’ord a fid Hudson, of which we may have something to say on a future occasion. Below us, a glance into a deep ravine shewed many a shady nook, where beauteous ferns and mosses, with other rock-loving plants were lurking; while the nil from above ran musically on to fall into the Awatere farther down. Words are wanting on our part to describe the wondrous cascade close behind the mansion, which in murmurous streams and crystal columns of varying length and form, now glides—now rushes — from its exhaustless source, a reservoir high u ) among the mountain crags ; leaping and dashing from depth, as if unwillingly confined and anxious to reach the bosom ot it’s parent deep. The hours flew so fast witli Wcilk and talk that wg two excuisionists found it would be too late to i°ich Blenheim again that night with any com o t, so that we were in a measure compelled to accept the kind invitation to stay till next day The evening passed cheerily, public and other matters being made subjects tor taole-calk; and frequent allusions to the “ little ” Express, showed that it was received weekly with welcome, and a familiarity with its contents which surprised us when —mirabile dictu! Who should appear at a late hour, but one of the Blenheim “limbs of the law,” who tumbled in among us rosy and radiant, as if he expected a brief from each ot the company. Wisp man ! he an utter aversion to politics and such like kindred subjects, and soon made himself at home beside the amiable lady of the house, his dark eye rollin'* in smiles, and his apt speech shew , in- that he was master of the situation. We need scarcely add that his irnsistible eloquence and drollery, added to another topic kept us engaged till, what must have seemed to our kind host an unusually late hour. That topic was the arrival of a visi tor with the astounding news that the brilliant rich repute, and honorable membeiTofthe Legislative Council of New Zealand, h^llenjßßJhk^kfc * of his glory and higheiTate, and lifted to America, that refuge for the fast and the unfortunate. We all voted this as one of the. “wonders” that “never cease, and retiring to rest, slept soundly till the rising ' san admonished us thatanother day awaited v our pleasure. After breakfast and expression? of regret from our hospitable host that we could not stay a week ! we started off—ourselves, the law, and the manager, from Ardavvarlock till in due course , \ e reached Blarich, where we dismounted • and were ushered with cordial welcome in* ( to the house by the chief representa ive oi the Family- The dwelling is well sheltered and comfortable, and the well-furnished room wherein we sat, containing as it did* numerous Art Union and other works pictures, piano, &c., bespoke comfort, and the enjoyment of the amenities of life, which the beautiful hostess who entered soon afterwards, seemed so fitted to culti- | ’ V ate. After partaking of refreshment, we ; wereshewn through the garden and grounds full of fruit trees, and got our hearts coni'- tent of cherries and-other luscious fruits, just ripe. It was now approaching high i

noon, and we were soon off again. This happened to be washing-day, and as we rode past the tubs in full operation near a limpid bi’ook, it was evident that the rosy blushes of the fair mermaids had impressed some .susceptible hearts. A little below Blarich, we saw how a slight obstruction in the bed of the river diverted the water, and gave it a tendency to drive into the opposite bank, the real secret of the changes in the channels of the rivers. On account of the steepness of the banks, and narrowness of the valley, the Awatere River has no scope for such wild vagaries as are effected by the Wairau River. We kept on underneath the terrace, and reached Templeton’s Inn, which is in a quiet retired spoTlof a spfee, but is certainly not properly placed for being seen, or being 1 handy to travellers. The proper place would I have been on the bank above, where travellers fiom the Pass would find it, without seeking for it; and those going up the Awatere could call without going a mile out of their way. T 1 *s inn is presided over by a landlady, noted for her active and obliging demeanour. After partaking of some refreshment, we started off for Duiiigree, to see the new system of sheep-wash-ing j but we must leave the narration of the rest of the journey, and our adventures in the Maxwell Pass, till another week.