ON TOUR.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1260, 23 April 1896, Page 26

ON TOUR.

By Alice Mitchell. It was beautiful av eat her Avhen my sister and I started from Gore for the Lakes at 11 a.m. oil Friday, February 28th, but by the time avo readied Alandeville it Avas blowing a strong head wind, and before we arrived at Pyramid it Avas pouring Avith rain. So we decided to stop at the lastnamed place that night, although on setting out it avas our intention to make, Lumsden, a ride of about 10 miles, our first stopping place. The rain continued to fall all through the night, but in the morning it cleared, and at 0.30 avo made a fresh start. AYe had only got as far as Riversdale Avhen it again came on to rain, hail also falling. AYe Avorc thinking of turning hack for home, lmt as the weather looked like clearing, avo decided to keep on. Tho rain and hail, however, continued to fall off and on all that day, and to add to our discomfort, there were no formed roads from about a mile on the north-west side of Riversdale. On account of so much rain, avo had a terrible lot of swamps to go through—indeed, avo had to walk all the way from Riversdale to Balfour, a distance of nearly 10 miles, and avo had a head Avind too. They Avere very good to us at McPherson’s Hotel at Balfour; they gave us tea and dried our clothes. As tho Aveather was so

had, avo did not attempt to go any further that night by road, hut took the train to Kingston. The hills from Pyramid to Cromwell looked splendid in their covering of snoAv.

AA r e stopped Avith Air Cameron, the station-master, all Sunday and Monday, taking the boat for Queenstown at 7.30 in tlie evening, Avhere aa'o arrived after two hours’ steam. AYe intended going across the Devil’s Staircase, but tlie Aveather being bad, it Avas not possible. At Kingston avo thoroughly enjoyed ourselves. I think it is a very nice place. 1 also like Queenstown very much. A\ r e stopped at Airs Mcßride’s Hotel on Monday night. AYo left Queenstown at 9.30 a.m. on Tuesday, arriving at Cromwell at 9.30 p.m. The roads Avere not as had as avo had boon over, although avo had rain the last 15 miles; and l believe avo Avallcod about 10 miles altogether, so avo Avere pretty tired Avhen avo got there. It was quite dark when avo arrived. A\ r o could not seo tho town; it is doAvn in a hollow. \Ye heard a bell ringing, and wo Avere afterwards informed it avms for brass band practice; just before avo heard the hell ringing avo saAV a house on lire, ami avo thought the hell Avas ringing for that. The first hotel we went to tho people looked at us from head to too; they did not seem inclined to take us in. 1 daresay avo did not look very respectable, as avo were wet and tired. So avo did not wait for an answer, hut wont and found another hotel—and not a very nice one, either. 1 would not like to say what 1 thought about it. Altogether, I did not liko Cromwell. I think it is a nasty place—neatly all Chinamen.

On Wednesday avo started from Cromwell at 8.30 a.m., arriving at Coal Creek Flat twelve hours later. AYo had terribly had roads—very hilly and sandy. The coach took us from Bald Hill Flat to Coal Creek Flat, a distance of 13 mill's ; they charged us 7s fid each for that 13 miles. AYe stopped at -Air John Tamblyn’s at the Teviot, where the fruit comes from. Our stay there extended over two nights and a day, and we enjoyed ourselves very much. We drove to Roxburgh on Thursday; it was a lovely day and the ride was very pleasant.

We started from Coal Creek Flat at 8.30 a.m. on Friday, arriving at Lawrence at 5.30 p.m. The roads Avere very had to Rac Junction, 35 miles ; a little better the rest of the journey, 15 miles. It was showeiy all the wav.

Next morning avo left at 7 45, reaching Dunedin at (i. 30 p.m. It Avas our intention to go t hrough Out ram, hut after riding two miles along that road we turned hack, as it was so had, and went by the Milton road. Here there are grand roads. We had beautiful weather the whole of ihe ride from Lawrence to Dunedin. The dist ance is GO miles, and tho two miles out of our road and hack brings it up to fit miles we travelled that day. That avrs the longest distance avo did iu one day, and wo were not nearly so tired as avo were on previous days,

At Dunedin avo spent a fortnight Avith some friends, and enjoyed ourselves very well. AVu rode out to Port Chalmers and took some vi.-ws there, ami also of Caversliam.

On March 22nd avo left Dunedin at fi a.m., arriving at Balelutha at 5 pan. When we wore about five miles out of Caversham my sister’s bicycle gave Avuy at tho neck, so avo had to walk hack to Caversham and get a blacksmith—Johnston and CraAvford —to fix it up a hit. It lasted very Aveli till wo got to Henley, when it got loose again. That is Avhat made us so long on the road; otherwise avo should havo got to Balelutha about 2 pan. AYe had grand Aveather and good roads. Somo of the members of tlio Balelutha Cycling Club met us at Clarksville, and avo were very

glad to seo them. AA r o made for Balelutha for the sports that Avere to have taken place there on the 23rd, but on account of tho bad Aveather they had to he postponed until Easter Monday. Leaving Balelutha at fi a.m. on AVednosday, avo arrived at Gore at 2.30 p.m. It Avas Avet to AVaiwera, and after that fine Aveather, Avith the Avind at our backs. I took my camera Avith me, and I brought home seven dozen views. I should have liked to have taken more, but the Aveather Avas against me. AVhen avo left Gore my sister Aveighed Bst Bib, my weight being 7st 31b; when avo returned my sister Aveighed Bst Gib, and 1 Aveighed 7st lib. Thus my sister gained 31b, and I lost 2Mb. Our machines Avere the ones avo rode lastyear ; they are fitted Avith cushion tyres, and weigh 451 b and lfilh respectively. My sister’s luggage Aveighed Blb, and mine 131 b. AVo Avere aAvay four Aveeks all but lavo days, and it cost Jl3 4: fid for the two of us. Ido not think this is at all out of the way.

I would like to take this opportunity of thanking all those kind friends who gave us tea during our ride. The scenery all along was magnificent, but the country is very lough and hilly. AYe had a very rough time of it to L.ravreuee, hut on tlie Avliole we enjoyed oursel res immensely.