RURAL RAMBLES.

Otago Witness, Issue 1731, 24 January 1885, Page 26

RURAL RAMBLES.

TO MILTON.

Tha sun shon9 forth brilliantly on the morning of Saturday, 10th iust., giving promise of n glorious day, which was in every respect realised. Our original intention was to have wandered forth in a very different direction to that which was taken, but that mysterious fato which rules our destinies ordered otherwise. The decease of a very valued young friend in the full bloom of early womanhood, reft from her circle of loved and loving ones by one of those mysterious ailments to which a large number of mortals are subject, demanded our company at the obsequies in the quiet graveyard of Fairfax, where she now He 3 beside her mother, who predoceasod her some twelve years ago. Her presence will bo sadly raiHsed in the family of which ahe waa a quiet, retiring, affectionate member, but her remembrance will remain a treasure while memory lasts.

Taking the train at Dunedin at 8 a.m., and which was heavily freighted with passengers on different missions bent, some on pleasure, some on business, and others with varied objects in view, we passed very punctually out of the station. What a curious revelation it would be if the thoughts and feelings of all on board could be made known, but "the heart knoweth its own Borrows, and a stranger intermoddleth not with its joys. Notwithstanding the great power of the steam-horse it was taxed to its best to drag the train up tho incline until the c n nfcre of the Chair* Hills tunnel is reached, and although it is called an express train, the time occupied to reach Milton on account of tho numerous stoppagea is not very fast. To those who have baen accustomed to travel on the South road several very marked and important changes have taken placo since the railway system was inaugurated. Notably may be mentioned the almost entire absence of traffic on the liae of mad. Scarcely a dray or horse or foot passenger was visible all the way. Again, passing along the Kaikorai Valley to Green Island and the district beyond, one cannot but be astonished at the large and varied industries that have sprung up, some showing every sign of prosperity and succoss, others dying out or altogether gone. The Valley was formerly one of tho richest and most prosperous of our dairying districts ; now il is changed into one of manufactures. Emerging from the tunnel, the first industrial enterprise to be noted is the chemical works of the New Zealand Drug Company, which show unmistakable signs of prospority. Alongside is tho Burnaido cattle sale yards, opposite are the refrigerating works and slaughter yards, whilo travelling along we come rapidly to woolscouring works and tanneries, soap manufactories, and flour mills which all give proof of thriving active operations. Tho dark aido of the picture is seen in the brick and tile works, mr-at-preserving works, cement and concrete works, the burntout ropery and the dilapidated aud idle coal pits. N>t that this general and hurried description is strictly applicable to all tho establishments, as some of the wool cleaners are shut lip, and some of the coal pits are busily turning out. As a general rule, however, it is correct.

The natural features of the country may also bo arranged under the same description. The Green Island bush is almost entirely gone, r.nd is succeeded by rich pasture and corn fields ; while agricultural improvements are manifested on all sides, with occasional exceptions where weeds are allowed to grow where grass and grain wore wont to flourish. Truly the mutability of human existence is displayed on every hami.

The oye rests with peculiar pleasure on the wide expanse of tho Taiori, with its generally well-tilled and managed fields, teeming with flocks and herds, or laden with healthy cereals, its co3y, unpretending cots, and its handsome and well arranged farm houses and buildings, ifca neatly trimmed hedge-rows, and flourishing tree clumps betokening, at leaet, comfort and prosperity, if not affluence and independence. Them can be little doubt that tho reports of abundance of grass aud the promise of a luxuriant harvest are, along the whole distanfce travelled, strictly correct). All now depends on the woathor which is in store. Unfortunately, in Rome of the fields on the lower parts of the plain, indications aro given of too much wet and moisture in the past. Some of the corn fields are almost choked with docks — grown to a large extent, on tha railway enclosures, tho seeds being carried on to tho flaWs during floods, cnusiner tha farmer an infinite amount of labour * and expense in kejpirtg them down. The wet season has also told sorely on the turnip crops, particularly about Hfnley, aa they look Y er y backward and late. Without question a very great amount of improvement, has been effected in turning the original state of the nla'in to profitable account, but much yet remains to be done, arid a few of the sottlors will require to change their system of cropping if they intend to make any profit out of their land. At Henley a large number of the passengers left the train to enjoy a sail to the Taieri Mouth, paihap3 tho most romantic and picturesque scenery within easy distance of Dunedin, and which many of our residents ' and tourists fail to visit. The Waihola Lake continues to show its muddy wat'er — not any more inviting to bathe in or sail on than the Dunedin Harbour when stirred by a nor'-easter. The Clarendon or Horseshoe Bush Estate, of Mr' Driver, looks very well indeed ; the draining and other improvements recently carried out are now showing their beneficial effects. The limeworks of Mr M'Donald, at Milburn are apparently very busy, judging from the extent of face already shown in the quarries. In the Tokomairiro district the Bi'gns of agricultural industry aro widespread'; especially is this the case on the ranges up towards the North Branch and Canada. The land on the spurs is proving equal in quality, and is responding as generally to the labours of the husbandman as on the plain itself. And we are in duty bound to state that the crops in the district generally never looked better. In fact, it would take a close inspection to determine on which of the plains the appearance is best. We have now reached the town of Milton, which in earlier days promisod to be, and its residents tried to m.ike, the most prosperous of our inland towns. Perhaps the burgesseß were too s:vnguino and speculative, desirous of driving the town ahead too rapidly, and undertaking things beyond their means or requirements, aa it Buffered a serious relapse.' The' railway, which waa to make it, rather unmado it. The industries projected and established did not gain the prosperity they merited, the pottery work 3 being an unfortunate example. Still it'has not altogether collapßed, and there are proofs of returning prosperity. Alongside the railway lino the foundation works of a dairy factory are being proceeded with, which we earnestly hope will be entirely successful. However much the residents in town may enjoy their butter at eixpeuuo a

pound, it will never pay tho farmer to produce it at the price. The town of Milton is a nice, 'clean, well kept spot ; in fact, its denizon« are about justified in claiming for it the distinction of being the cleanest in the Provinco. The CUy Council borrowed from Milton the idea of utilising the gas tar in keeping down the weeds in the water channels, and ths mayor and councillors are now forming the kerbing of the footpaths with concrete.

About a mile from the railway station is the Cemetery, neatly laid out and kepi very tidy under the supervision of our old" friend Mr James E. Brown, who is in himself an embodiment of order and regularity. The adornments in the cemetery aro not any very great display, nothing ostentatious about them, but in keeping with the surrounding 3 j and comfortable 3eats havo been provided for visitors. Some of the monuments and tombs bones aro very beautiful and attractive, and the records on several show that the folks in Tokomairiro live to a good old age. Perhaps the one around which most interest is centred is that of Mr Dowbigging, who died at Lawrence in the early days of gold digging, and who was interred here. During the Crimean war the name of the deceased gentleman was rendered famous throughout the world by the celebrated tolegram of the late Lord Panmure, the British Secretary of War, to the Comraander-in chief at Sabastopol, " Take care of Dowb." Having passed through that terrible campaign, Mr Dowbigging came to Otago to rest his bones in the quiet graveyard of Fairfax, far away from the stern array of battle. 1.M.1.