THE CYNIC ABROAD.

Otago Witness, Issue 2572, 8 July 1903, Page 85

THE CYNIC ABROAD.

SOUTHLAND IMPRESSIONS.

) Br Bengalee.

V.—MATAURA AND OTHER PLACES. Mataura is a little township, with a lieavy responsibility for its size. It ia threatened with a still more heavy load of responsibility, as some genius has decided that an annual picmio to Mataura in midwinter is the right thing in the right place. The general weather prevailing in Southland about the beginning of June is usually ideal for picnicking as long aa one is well armed with an umbrel'a and macintosh. The paper mills and the freezing works employ a good many hands, and they are well worfjn inspection. Gore is a place that fancies itself, and is decidedly ambitious. Many of the Goreites declare that it is a busier place tlian Invercargill. Possibly this may be correct, but the township is heavily handicapped as to its size, as a big hunk of the town is across the river, some bloated capitalist vrTy likely having started an opposition towm on his own. The losa of this portion makes the remainder more compact. There are some very fair buildings, and the main street is a fine wide one. The whisky disciples will have a bad time of it, and a drunk will soon be looked on as a natural curiosity, as the town is now being run cm teetotal principles. There ;s; s an element of danger, liowever, that some «ort of a tabloid or lolly will be invented, containing all the active principles of whisky, and instead of two men going to the bar and having their wants supplied by a smiling Hebe with frizzy hair, they will just pull out a match-box and swallow -a tabloid. The Gore people are canny and steady-going, with a sharp eye to the main chance, but jftre not likely to go up in a balloon. If you ask a Gore man a simple* question, such as, "Is this tho Mataura River?" ho will probably ponsivaly gaze at the pellucid stream for some time; then, when perfectly ccriain the Nile or sorrw other river has not come there- in the aught, reply, "Waal, it looks like it, anyway."

The dredging industry is in full swing near Gore, and several dredges ar© doing pretty well. Lignite of good quality ia got in the district, and there is plenty of excellent land round about, so that th© future prosperity of Goro is assured. Clinton ia chiefly remarkable aa the place where the passengers by the express got their dinners, amd you get a passable feed for your money. Milton, like Kirkcaldy, can be described as •- very long town. It 6eems a obeory place on a fine day whatever it may be on a wet one. The Government poultry farm is locaoed in thi» favourite spot, so buff Orpingtons and Minorca* are probably as plentiful as the more common] roosters are in other places. Wonder if these aristocratic birds are as sonorous in the small hours of the morning and kick up as much row as the common ones? The Milton ladies are goneraJly well dressed, and the sample as seen from the train is not bad by any imean*.

Lawrence ia readied by a Bhort branch line, that must have cost a fair amount of money to construct, owing to tunnels and other works. The one-time famous Gabriel's

Gully is near Lawrence, and a good few men made fairly big rises here in tho good old days. The claim known as the Blue Spur Consolidated is at work near the head of the gully, but it is not a very great dividend-paying concern ; still, it is well worth a visit if only to see the hydraulic lifts at work. The gold in the gully evidently came out of the c&ment, but where the immense belt of cement that runs right to Waitahuna comes from is the puzzle. Possibly the- action of glaciers may have had something to do with the formation. Lawrence has the usual complement of 6tor»B and pubs., and appears a fairly lively place as to business. Dredging, mining, and agriculture all help to keep the town going. Lawrence can boast, among other thingß. of a fine shady walk, where the youths and maidens can stray while they tell the old, old story. The coaches foi the country up tho Molyneux Valley etart from Lawrence.