The Oxford Observer. PUBLISHED WEEKLY. SATURDAY MAY 5th, 1894. AN EASTER HOLIDAY TRIP.

Oxford Observer, Volume V, Issue V, 5 May 1894, Page 2

The Oxford Observer. PUBLISHED WEEKLY. SATURDAY MAY sth,5 th, 1894. AN EASTER HOLIDAY TRIP.

So, we took the road bearing to the left, which is the Western boundary of the famous Estate referred "to above till we reach the Rakaia Terraces. At this point close to the rond, we observe there has been a huge slip of shingle out of the terrace, quite sufficient to form a paddock at the base, and upon which the renowned tussock is growing, ( But I have seen a slip of grander dimensions, at the Broken river on the West Coast road. ) Soon we are making our decent down a well formed road, cut out of the terrace for nearly a mile in length. Travellers cannot but be thankful to the Selwyn County Council for the good state in which the terrace road is kept, quite a contrast to some terrace roads, in other districts At the foot there is living a settler who I am informed has lived there with his good wife, for the last twenty years, while the Rakaia is a good place to visit, I think the majority of cur Oxford house-wives, would regard it. as a solitary place to live in. Moving along with the picturesque . terraces on our right, and the light bluish stream rolling along its course on our left, in front of us, we see the bridge nestled in a point of the Gorge, admirably adapted for such a well constructed piece of engineering. But above us, the folds of evening are gathering in, and we have to erect lodgings for the night. So looking round for a suitable position we unload, build our lodgings, boil the billy, feed ourselves, attend our horses, read Ally Sloper, and a little of other books, talk over the pleasures of the day, trusting that those we have left behind are all well, and amid the gentle sound of an evening breeze, the evening song of waters and pale noon-light Sittings we say Good Night. Delightful, having had a good refreshing sleep, feeling the effects of a change of atmosphere, it need be no wonder, that we did full justice to a good breakfast, and then feeling ourselves competent to inhale, enjoy, feast our eyes and the desires of our- hearts, upon the works of nature as tabled here. Passing over the, bridge, which (by the way ) is built in two sections, the division being a small Island in the bed of the river, to which is attached one end of each portion of the bridge, We have here a good object lesson, not only of the valuable services of the designer, but the skilled workmanship and the powerful nerve, which are 1 all called into requisition. Surely the labourer is worth his hire. The -river at this point commences to show its snake-like curves, its rocky sides, here and there covered with charming, bits of bush, its iramence shingle Terraces scooped out of {heir .sides gigantic, and fantastic slips, setting forth variations of colour,'while looking up its northwestern course* • -there ; y arises- terrace" upon terrace, with the. noisS of rolling

and foaming waters beneath us. The The finely situated homestead of the Murray-Aynsley family, lying at the foot of Mount Hut, while between us, we see a foaming little stream dashing down from the regions of snow, showing its silver line in the Mountain side then joins itself to the many waters of the river Eakaia and then amid it all we see the well curved lines of the hand of man, who has made a good high-way in a solitary place. But Mr Editor, I would suggest to your readers, go and see for yourselves. I say ! let us return to camp, yes ; I suppose we must, but truly this is a magic spot where the poet, the artist, the over worked brain, and the anxious ; mother of failing health, may all come, and find a retreat, wliolesoms and instructive which nature is able to teach, all those who sit and learn at her teet. Wending our way back to camp, partake of lunch, a busy hal f hour is spent pulling down and re-packing for another move, seeing a finger post at the bridge pointing to Lake-Coleridge and making enquiries as to the cuttings being clear, we comirence to . make, an i assent, which took the horses about three quarters of an hour to reach the top, giving them a few minutes rest, we take a good view down- wards and our. conclusion was, look .at the Eakaia Gorge from what point you may, it gives full cm pensation to any lover of natural scrnery, who takes the trouble to go from Oxford to see the place. Oar journey now lies through (what. l. shall term.) the Rakaia uplands, with Mount Hut On the other side of the river, presenting to an observant eye fitful changes which gives an additional joy to the journey, remarking upon the quality of the land around us I should say if our Oxford plains possessed a soil as rich, Oxford would be far more a productive district than it is. After some four or five miles journey, we came upon the maincoach road leading to the Lake, having a fair run, we spin along till we reach a tributary called the Achron creek, here we have a delay, a waggon loaded with bales of wool with six horses attached thereto are stuck in the stream going to the spofc I spoke to one of the horses and was going to give hiui a touch with the whip,, stop there ! cries a voice", or I'll put a stone through your head. Of course I stopped, not careing to have a stone so near my cranium, I preferred to go back to the trap and quietly await events. Ultimately having a clear course, we find for the next three miles it is up hill work, then a decent right into the hills winding through a vale, Holloa ! a pretty homestead, a magnificient sheet of water, and we find ourselves at Lake Coleridge, To be continued.