ZEALANDIA'S COAST.

Otago Witness, Issue 2241, 11 February 1897, Page 52

ZEALANDIA'S COAST.

VIEW OF TE WAEWAE BAY FROM THE SOUTH-EAST. Can Nature hold a scene more beautiful '.than that which bursts upoD the enraptured gaze As, passing through a lovely lane, we stand Entranced, spellbound, upon a gentle slope And feast our eyes trpon what lies beyond ? Ab I how shall tongue tell or pen portray what lies beyond I—On1 — On the right hand, on the left, and on before, for all that is beautiful in Nature is there. Multum in parvo in very troth, for within range of oar vision there stretch undulating fields. No wide level plains — having a beauty of their own certainly, yet trying to the eye from their even sameness, — but green fields, whose regularity is broken ever and anon by sharpturning gullies, down which they dip, to rise again on the other side in all the loveliness of spring green — that tender living green which tpeaks to us so strongly of reviving Nature, of bursting buds, of wreathing flowers, of awakening trom the thraldom of winter's sleep — speaks of Hope, of Faith, of Resurrection. Nor i 8 the beauty of the fields less when the sombre hue of the ripening grasß waves over them, while every here and there one " white unto harvest " ib seen. Even in the garb of a winter's day they are beautif nl. Then as we turn onr gaze further to the right we see the dense bush skirting the pasture lands, rising as a dark wall around, seemingly impenetrable, yet in the reddening foliage of come tall pine or kSrmavi which has ieared its head i above those of its brother trees, we read the ' story of man's devastating hand, which, puny as it may seem, is fast laying low the pride of the bush on all sides. Bight on before we see the towDship of Orepaki. Very picturesque it looks, with the smoke curling up from its snug homes — its inevitable hotels risiDg high above all other buildings, its railway station, its dairy factory standing away to seaward, and to the left — ah ! we did well to look round us first, for bow could we take our eyes from that fascinating ocean seene — beautiful Te Waewae Bay— beautiful always, and in every varying mood. Whether in storm or calm ; whether seen through misty shroud, or gleaming in the clear radiance of the sun's sparkling rays ; whether lashed to stormy fury, dashing itself against the cliffs, which stands, bold and defiant, frowning scornfully on its helpless rage, or serenely, peacefully beautiful, as like one great sheet of glass it shimmers in the still gleam of a summer's day. I love it always. j The ocean, in a peaceful mood so calm, serene, i and bland, Or else by fatorm to fury lashed, in anger stern and j grand, " \ Is there in Nature aught to chain, to fascinate the eye — Liktt wave on wave successively appearing billowine high, ! Till it gains its crown of silver froth, then, melting, inland sweeps ? To me there is no grandeur like the grandeur of the deep. But this lovely bay iB not without its story. Hearts have bled for those who went out upon its placid waters — went otft never to return. Young wives have stretched their yearning arms in vain for the husbands over whom those cruel waves shall roll until they hear that voice which all must heed exclaim, " Restore the dead, thou sea." Daughters have waited and wept for the return of the fathers who ! found there a watery grave ; mothers wailed in vain for the sons so suddenly engulfed rhere. Alas I Te Waewae Bay, that such a tale should be told of thee ; and I have heard yet £<axksr whispered. We have not, however, taken in all the wondrooa b^aut/j of this ecene. Away beyond the sea — away beyond the fertile vale of Orepuki ("Crumbly Oliffa") — tower the magnificent mountains known as the Princess Range. Would that I could describe them as they are. They, too, are always beautiful with a grandeur and magnificence that hold one spellbound — it matters little whether they are looming near, dark and sombre, oppressing the soul with that nameless unrest which seems to whisper dark forebodings of unknown danger, of a God whose face is turned away in anger — even with that deep gloom upon them they are darkly, silently beautiful. Again, they are radiantly beautiful as seen with the Bun gleaming full upon them, revealing: each peak, | each cleft; dazzling, shimmering, glowing I with light, the snow with which, even is midsummer, they are partially covered sparkling like radiant crystal, in bright contrast to the Bhadowy pathways wbich appear to wind in all directions up their steeps. Tier above tier tbey rise, and our intense, entranced gaze reveals mountain behind mountain, stretching far as the eye can reach. Perhaps they are even more beautiful still wuen we see them on some dim, shadowy eve, when all \'\s so still that not a breath seems to stir the j grass at our feet or the leaves overhead. , How intensely restful tbey 100k — restful as with the rest which follows a mighty Borrow whea it has accomplished "the thing whereto it was sent " and leads the chastened soul into a sure haven of rest. What shadows lurk in their crevices, what forms seem to rue and disappear in the hazy mist forever hovering over the spot where the . mighty Waiau thunders its waters into the yet mightier ocean. ; Does not this one view, then, comprise all that is most beautiful in G-od's beautiful I world. Violet.

On* man makes a fortune to eight that become bankrupt in England. Sir George Turner is the first native of Melbourne who has received the honour of knighthood. A robbery, which for meanness must establish a record, took place at Blthamon Sunday (Bays the Hawera Star). Mr Christie, the builder of the new Anglican Church at Eltham, discovered that during the night someone had removed the foundation stone laid a few days ago, and taken all the. coins of the realm placed beneath, ranging from a lovereign down to a farthing. The parchment and other record papers were left. Sir John Power and Son, Distillers, Dublin, Established a.d. 1791. Special Pot Still Whisky. Perfect purity intured. The fine flavour and delicacy of this whisky are well known to the trad« and to consumers. Protected by the guarantees of the Government and the Distillers, and being in all cases shipped from Distillery Warehouse, I Gases, octaves, and quarters. — Hackerras AND I Hazlett, Agents, Dunedin.