TROUT PONDS AT BEACONSFIELD. (From Our Own Correspondent.)

Otago Witness, Issue 1927, 26 October 1888, Page 28

TROUT PONDS AT BEACONSFIELD. (From Our Own Correspondent.)

Having heard some time back that a gentile* man residing at Beaconsfield (in which piece of high country, by the way, are comprised Kilmog, Merton, Seacliff, and other settled districts) had ingeniously utilised a hill stream by conveying a portion of the water into specially contrived troub ponds, I made an appointment to visit the place, and now have the pleasure of placiug before your readers what I trust may be con. eidered a brief description. Those interested iv fish culture, especially at this season of the year when all disciples of the geufcle art are on tbo gui vive trying to emulate the doings of the famous Isaak Walton, will at any rate read the notes with interest. A bright, not over warm, calm, and lovely morning saw me en route over the district road, now easily travelled on, past the Warrington station and the prettily sequestered little church, half -hidden by foliage, dedicated to St. Barnabas, and up the rise be* yofld to the country residence of the Hon. George M«Lean, M.L.C. A little on the other side of this property I met with the gentleman I wished to see, Mr Elias Jones. We strolled up to his residence, where, not far away, Mrs Jones was waiting for us. After the usual hearty greetings which pass between old friends when they meet after some lapse of time and some welcome refreshments, we strolled over the grounds. Iv passing allow metomakea remark or two on the taste displayed by the worthy couple in choosing the site fixed for their homestead and outbuildings. It is a flat piece of ground, or nearly so, say a couple of acres in extent, on the top of a rise. The spare ground is planted with fruit trees and bushes of different descriptions, ornamental trees, shrubs, and flowering plants ; indeed, horticulture in all its branches has been well attended to. From the front of the orchard there is as charming a piece of scenery aa anyone need wish to view, embracing the ocean, the jutting rocks on the Seacliff coast, and to the right Blueskin Bay, the sand spit, and cliffs and indents stretching away to Port Chalmers heads, with a back-ground of gullies and spurs culminating in a round prominent mass of rock, called by the Maoris "Mopanui" (an ancient burial place of theirs), and the rocky elongated ridge named Mihinaka, Mouut Cargill being the crowning point. This description is of course very incomplete, bub perhaps enough has been written to outline what in reality is, as everyone who has seen it admits, a charming view. Proceeding from the back of the house, we ascend by a short path and are at the ponds, of which there are five. The largest is about five chains in circumference. A low terrace or bank of some extent (considering the locality and the fall the water has from the high hill above and beyond) had been formed by tlio creek in past ages. When Mr Jones purchased the ground some few years back it was covered with heavy timber and scrub, with a plentiful sprinkling of bu3h lawyers ; but the only memento of former days to be seen (which gives a visitor some idea of the difficulties which had to be contended with) is a large black pine stump 3ft 6iu by 3ft 6in diameter. Observing that there was plenty of water in the creek, and that of the purest nature, in the driest of seasons, running over a clear, rougb^ gravelly bed, Mr Jones formed the idea of makiug the ponds. Iv this he has been thoroughly successful. The two lowest are fed by the creek, the finny inhabitants being Loch Ltven trout ; and 60 well have they succeeded that I was assured thoro are specimens in the ponds measuring from 18in to 22in in length. At the time of my visit, when admiring the rcs'ilt of Mr Jones' perseverance, some monsters rose in the water to confirm ray host's statements. The Loch Leven fish Mr Jones will place at the disposal of Mr Deans to strip whenever that gentleman may choose to visit the place. The other three ponds are higher up towards the boundary, and supplied with water by a pipe* with wire netting over ifc, run into the creek. They contain brown trout. The water is carried away by an underground pipe protected by wire gauze, so that the different sorts of fish are kept separate. All tbe ponds contain watercress, which is found to be a shelter for the young fish, besides which ib supplies food, although with what the creek brings down and that given by the family I imagine the fish are otherwise well lookc-d after in that respect. The debris excavated in forming the ponds has been made into a bank, planted with shrubs, evergreene, and flowers. Some fine specimens of tulips iv full bloom are at present very prominent. I scarcely required the assurance of my host that to Mrs Jones belonged the credit for all the flowery adornment. Should any readers of this sketch take a fancy to inspect the ponds, I am sure they will be afforded every opportunity of doing so by the worthy proprietor, who upon acquaintance will be found to be most unassuming and hospitable. I may venture a further remark and state that any stranger who may pay a visit to the place will always remember tbe day he had the pleasure <» making the acquaintance of Mr and Mrs E11& 3 Jones, of Warrington.