OUR HOMELAND.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20306, 13 July 1929, Page 4 (Supplement)

OUR HOMELAND.

DOWN THE MAIN TRUNK LINE

BT HL3SB t MOBTON

Drawn by Gwen Tancrcd, 14, Lndlcs' Mile, Remucra (asc 15)

THE RANGITIKEI VALLEY. The bleak tussock land and desert of Waiouru passed from view of the voyagers, and tho .Silver Piano followed tho shining line of tho Main .1 runk nulway to Taihapo and tho Hangitikei Valley. Here Pixie and Pat saw country quite different from any over which they had passed before. Instead of broken forest land and vast expanse ot tussock there were wide pasture lands, comfortablo farm houses, and picturesque patches of bush and set in tbe midst of a pleasant landscape, tho township of laihape. But what the interest of tho children was tho towering while cliffs of tho river running just beyond the town. Tho level grass land above the valley was cut away as love as thou oh shorn with a knife, and straight down-to Ihe river bed, 200 ft. below, fell tho sheer white limestone banks. Tho picture made by these river prccip. e shining liko walls of carved marble in the bright sunshine with the Rang, tiU Hiver winding like a blue ribbon through tho green valley beneath, was ono of striking beauty, and Pixie and Pat cast lingering glances behind as the plano spcc on its wav. Over rough and broken country lay tho way, with dark patches of hush on tho hills, and mighty ravines dropping down, down, to, tho winding river, which had worn its way through the heart of the coi ntij, leav in„ it rent with deep gorges, ridges and mighty cliffs, as it fell level t° lc . T,o ;lr«t P o 8 f &, chi&cn ms held by yet another » ™d»ct »»S across a deep ravine, with tho river dimly seen as a thread ot silver 240 ft below Ttris was the Makohino Viaduct, 750 ft. long, and last of that chain of gieat steel lS E "s' wSch h° ™ m°d. t!.o building ot'th. Main Trunk I,no „ notable on treacherous papa cliffs, which in winter time so often send great slips thundering clown on the railway me, and so. out to tlio plenaant pasture lands, orchards, and sheep country bordering on i . " What is tho next town wo shall come to? ' asked Pat. » I'al mors ton North," said tho guide, " and then down the coast to Wellington.