AN EASTER HOLIDAY TRIP.

Oxford Observer, Volume V, Issue V, 9 June 1894, Page 3

AN EASTER HOLIDAY TRIP.

r On reaching camp, I found the ocf cupants engaged m ' reading and the 1 f greeting -was, you had better see about ' getting dinner ; very likely • the [" Woman's Franchise" had something to do with the commanding, styly- inwhich the, order was given ; wellj'a drop of water over a little. ...fire, and some j searching among ijhe boxes ;• the order not so very great after. all* Dinner pver what is the Programme, well it looks as if a change m the. weather is about to take place, and as Mr M. Mur--chison could not certify that there were no slips to encounter, .also ■if those " clouds " should bring rain, -there is just a possibility that mountain creeks would make the fords impassable, sup* pose we make a move forward for four ft or five miles, that will bringju's nearto 1 the West Coast road, then the danger of being flood-fastened, will be . removed, "* having had an experience of being, flood-' * fastened," the above suggestion prevailed The drive is through the Valley that divides the Big-Ben blockj from the back country range, the land is of poor quality, but the drive is charming, first round the base of some hill, then up a narrow Gorge of some Mountain creek; continuing along a little flat with frowning heights on either side, then skirting along a small Lake about an area of two acres ; with a little group of " ducklings " enjoying a swim Oar journey now lies along-side a small stream that has cut its passage right along the base of a Mountain, having its rise nearly half way up Big-Ben on the other side of the valley ;it is quite. a sight to see the the waters gushing out from among the rocks and rolling "hurly-burly" over boulders into the valley below. Soon our eyes catch sight of a lovely sheet of water, with ho visible out-let ; such is Lake Lyndon, we agree upon staying here for the night. After tea, take a walk round one side of the Lake till we came to a point where the Lake is nearly divided into two parts, the division consisting of silt which seems , to accumulate at this point by the action of the water beiug driven hither and thither by the whirling-winds of a gale, there ?eenis to be about twelve feet between us and the silt, with the water running northwards, giving evidence of a subterranean out-let, my theory is, the springs two or three miles further on, are supplied from this source. Over head, we see the clouds are moving apace, hut we found w,e wei c m a fairly well sheltered spot, so while Oxford was experiencing a strong " north-wester " we had a tolerably calm night. Monday morning clouds, wind and spray, suggest au early move, its a case of hurry, so at seven o'clock we are on the move, windibg our way up Porters Pass, to say the least, it was blowing ; a3 we reached the summit of the Pass, we found ourselves m the teeth of a gale. Making our descant, one would think the winds m their fury had picked up the Sailors song with, gusto, " Give me some time and I'll blow the man down " m fact, I must confes3 to a fear that does not often overtake me ; tbe driving gale, clouds of dust, stones rolling from above, a deep valley of some hundreds of feet below its, the horse stopping and snorting ; it just made one feel anxious to reaeli the bottom, bat I must say, the horse behind behaved splendidly ; she ran the gauntlet without mincing or wincing. At last we readied the foot of the i Pass without any mishap, and ft was done just at the right time ; for just as we reached the foot • a mob of cattle ( purchased at the Oxford annual cattle fair) were commencing to make the ascent, there being nearly 200 m number, one may form some idea of the inconvenience ( to say nothing of the danger ) of meeting half way up the Pass, especially m such a gale as we had to contend; against. We are" now -fairly-on-our way home with a strong wind behind us, willing horses, m front, we make, pace down £6 the Kowai rwer-b,ed;,.-heve.we,wash the accumulated dust from our faces, straighten, up a, bit_and resume our journey through Springfield, Annat and Sheffield ; partake of lunch, and sum-

ming up matters, we see we have made a complete circuit of the Big-Ben block ; having thoroughly enjoyed ourselves and hoping, if circumstances permit at some : future date,; , to take another trip, to see xothesj charming scenes, which ate the ' pride and, boast of New Zealand;- 1&: -^- '■■■■■■*&: ' .-" „