NOTES FROM A DIARY.

Otago Witness, Issue 1489, 29 May 1880, Page 13

NOTES FROM A DIARY.

No. ll.— On the Road to N&seby.

The first place of interest to a traveller on this route is Ravensbourne— also indifferently called Rothesay, or West Harbour — a municipality about two and a half miles from Dunedin : population, about 1000. This ought to ha\ c been the most attractive place of residence for business men and faioilies in the neighbourhood of Dunedin, and doubtless would have been, but for the mismanagement of local affairs by the Council, which is now composed of individuals who, judging from their recenfc conduct, are only endowed with mediocre talents— very. The best men of the district — 3uch as Mr Jackman, Mr Hart, Mr Da Lacy, and others— disgusted with the obstructive conduct aud ignorance displayed by certain members (some of whom cannot even read or write, but who unfortunately combine in their precious persons an inordinate^ conceit) have finally retired from office, loaving things to drift on at the sweet will of a lot of incapablea, who are unable to form an intelligent opinion of important matters. This is strong language ; but I write with premedita' ion, knowing that what I say is true. In proof, witness tho childish timidity with which tho proposal to borrow money for the improvement aud formation of roads was received, utterly oblivious to the fact thai the small annual outlay for interest would be compensated perhaps four fold by the enhanced value of their individual properties, induce further building, and consequent increase of population, beneiting generally the whole community. 1 understand they have now commissioned a gontlemau on a visit to England to raise £5000 there at five per cent. — a Utopian idoa, to say tho least of it : for what capitalist in England knows anything about Ravens bourne, and what security is the agent empowered to offer ? Another characteristic stroke of policy was the manner ia which those " learned Thebans " requited Mr Caldwell for his generosity iv sending a relay of prisoners to repair and widen the road between Logcn's Poiifc and Ravensbourne. Tho later wove performing tho work in a. most creditable m-inuei', when they wu'o vextttiously interfered with by some officious

members the of Council, causing umbrage ho Mr Caldwell, and finally the transference of the prisoners to a more congenial clime, leaving tho work broken up and unfinished, so that " the last state oE that road was worse than the firat" for all practical purposes. T am ioformed, however, that Mr Caldwell has been conciliated, and that the prisoners are again at work. Many sensible suggestions have been made afc various times for the improvement of the place, such as the erection of swimming baths, for which Mr D. White, the late proprietor of Ravensbourne House— the hotel— had secured tbe right; a promenade alongside the railway line, &c. ; but owing to the want of unanimity and public spirit, chiefly on tho part of the Council, they have all fallen to the ground " still-born." Ravensbourne therefore remains in a comparativrly stagnant condition. But I do not despair of its being yet a prosperous and important suburb. There is a spies, lid hotel, in brick, built by Mr White at a cost of over £•4000, which is now in the hands of Mr Farquhar—late storekeeper at Ravensbourne — at a mere nominal rent ; a public hall, also in brick, built by Mr Jackman, where concerts, Council and other meetings, are held ; a dyework j a Presbyterian church (Mr Niven, minister) ; and schoolhouse ; and 1 understand provision is also made for a weekly Church of England service. There is also an excellent store afc Ravensb mrne, kept by Mr David Thomson— late of Balclutha — where all domestic requisites can be obtained "at town prices," non to spaak of daily visitations by spring. oarfcs from the principal grocei'3, bakers, and butchers' establishments in Dunedin ; so that the gastric requirements of the inhabitants are abundantly catered for,

An important desideratum for intending settlers at Ravensbourne is the liberal railway passenger arrangements. For £3 per annum, or rather less than twopence per day, an adult can obtain a first-class contract ticket for one year (or for a shorter period at a slightly enhanced figure), entitling the holder to travel i? he choose, by every train ; and as the latter run. on an average every hour, and the j jurney to Dunedin occupies only tea minutes, no more need be said on this point to show the advantages to be derived by gentlemen or families residing in this salubrious and beautifullysituated spot. In conclusion, I believe special provision is made by the railway officials for children attending school in Dunedin, so that the outlay by parents on this head is merely nominal.