AN EASTER HOLIDAY TRIP?

Oxford Observer, Volume V, Issue V, 26 May 1894, Page 3

AN EASTER HOLIDAY TRIP?

Yes ; .Lake Coleridge ; a credit to any country, our first duty is to attend to the Horses, then the good lady of the homestead invited us inside to a drink of Tea, which we gladly accepted, afterwards, we walked down ;to the wa!>er ; and find the Lake with quite a ruffled surface, rolling its waves right to our feet, says one of our company, just like " Plymouth Harbour" sends his- thoughts back to the old country, and very likely to tbe time when he atfcj. some one else, used to take an evening 1 strcfll, ~or ah hour's boating, yes ; responded the other would'nt it be nice to be m a boa? and ride those splendid waves ; for myself I never had the pleasure, or fear of beating on waves like those, so I could not say.

Lake Coleridge is a sheet of water I about sixteen miles m length, (I am not sure about its widest' breadth,) but lam safe m saying five miles, with a smisdl Island near its centre, and a short distance from, the Island, . a sounding line of six' hundred fathoms, failed to find a bottom, and trout are thriving remarkably well m its waters. One cannot help but notice how chilly ihe wind blows over its surface, yes ; says Mr Murchison, (the proprietor of the & tation) to one of our party, you should see it when a strong " NorWester" is blowing, the spray and foaming waves are quite a sight. Viewing the situation, there are cvi r . dences that the homestead and the surrounding valley was at one time occupied by the waters of the Lake. North ahd Eastwards, she is hiemed m byi the Hills, looking towards the South-west, over the Lake, we see the river-bed of the Rakaiaj the whole scene put together, presenting a view,: 1 t^at enchants the son! of the beholder.

It was our intention of spending a whole day around a portion of the Lake, but we saw no convenient camping ground as regards shelter, and as I said just now, quite a chilly wind was blowing, which I believe is peculiar to the Lake vicinity; also, it has a reputation, m some respects, like the " Sea of Galilee" not only m size, but that the "winds are contrary," Furthermore, we learn there is a road to "Lake Lyndon," which brings us toward home, without retravelling the I road by which we came; so we tafie our seats, travel up the valley, winding our way among the Hills ; till we cry Halt ! theh we go through the previous evenings experience, but alas! when we came to make up the beds, it was then discovered that a parcel had been lost, containing articles for night use, but,' "what is the use of repining, where there's a will there's a way," So, what we had not got, we made up our minds to do without, just as sensible folks would do, thenight was pleasant, silence reigned among the hills, so we close our second day's trip, realizing, that time and trouble has been well re-couped, by the sights we have seen, and the kind jovial spirit that has prevailed among us. Sunday morning, what shall I- say! yes ! I'll say ifc : we are m nature's '•; Cathedral," to see the sun rise ; kissing the. "mountains tops" then throwing its strong warm rays upon the lesser hills, chasing the mists out of the valley's rejoicing as a "strong man to run a race," giving warmth all found ; But I see another fire, and steam rising from a small compass of water; "billy's boiled" is the cry, then we fall m to breakfast. Next, one of our party is told off to interview a certain individual to enquire and give instructions concerning the lost parcel if picked up, up to date, nothing more has been heard, so let us hope that some needy person, has a substantial acquisition to his scanty swag. For my part, lam going to climb one of those hill-tops ; so. three of us commence an ascent, but after a while the two ladies retire, but not till we have a good view of the lake we have left behind, making the ascent alone, now and again ; I take a look round and admire the distant peaks of the " Wilberforce range"; ultimately, taking my stand, one may well exclaim ; what a panorama i" ' ' " Sing my soul, some homely sonnet ; To tbe God; whose hand hath made Mounting tops, and rivulets," Glassy Lakes, and pasture's Laid." Here, the student of nature, (following up the theories of some Scientists; that most of our mountain : lakes* are but the seats of "extinct Volcano's,'* may throw back the mind to the period when the surrouading locality was a

scene of "natural force" and confusion. Look ; and see the "Crater" below sending forth tongue's of fire; volumes of vapour ; clouds of debris; hurling mighty pieces of rock long^ distances ; while the adjacent towering peaks, the Home of the snow of ages, commence to move and rumble, the ice cracks ; the snow melts ! and down come the "gigantic Glaciers ;" grinding to pieces the rocks of ages then i carried by the force of waters, and help to form the Canterbury Plains ; — but we live the past by imagination, to come to the present, what is there before ire, snowy peaks, sombre mountains, extensive plains, fiver, lake, and vale; while I stand on a pasture clad hill, with the famous " Merino Sheep* grazing near me, calling to mind that passage .of the " Psalms, He maketh the grass to grow, upon the mountains.' * Looking westward, I see a thick bank of cloud," while that dark sentinel (so well known to many of us) is sent along by general " Nor-wester ;" to take his stand upon " Mount Tqrlesse;'* and make a survey of the elements Eastwards ; also, the dust is rising m the Rakaia river bed ; the thought strikes me ; go down io camp. i ... - To be. continued. •