HOW I SPENT MY HOLIDAYS.

Otago Witness, Issue 2707, 31 January 1906, Page 82

HOW I SPENT MY HOLIDAYS.

(By Harry) — Riverton Picnic. — Tuesday I kept free so as to be able io join all my Invercargill friends at their picnic &z Eiverton. The day broke cut beautiful — so calm, in fact, that I thought it a p-ty to spend a couple of hours in a stuffy railway carriage. I therefore hauled my &teed out from It? quiet resting-place, and at 8.30 set out to inquire th© road to Eiverton. Passing over the Waihopai River, I struck off on the road to the left — -what I think is called the Beach, road. For the first seven miles the road was level, and a very fair one for that part of the country. But just as I was congratulating myself on the ease of the journey, the road ran inio an area of sand, through which it was a case of hard pushing and walking. I caught up on another cyclist, who genially informed dm -that he was going to the regatta, and en hearing that I was . bound for Eiverton we struck up an acquaintanceship. In front of us was a small trap, in which were eeated a lady and a. gentleman, and this vre followed as fast as we could go On reaching the shore we found it wanted but a couple of hours of high tide, and were ive not blessing those waves! Vary little of the beach remained to ride upon Far aw«y in the distance, at one arm of the gigantic half-moon, could be seen the Bluff Hill, while on the other arm could be seen the hills above Riverton. The waters of Fo\eaux Strait roared on the beach, while across the strait could be seen the mountains of Stewart Island. Sand, sand, and nothing but sand for another 14 miles, — one can imagine how pleasing the prospect was! At times the wheels would sink in the sand, and at other times, to avoid being swamped in a mass of soft sand, we would ride far out on the wst sand. Ever and anon a wave would come rearing its crested head, forcing us back on to the dry sand, from which we returned as quickly as the waves receded. Sand, sea water, grave! — everything that we were forced to lide through left its impress upon our pooi steeds, while it sensibly diminished our energy, though not our enthusiasm. At last we came to the Waimatuku RiveT. I was just wondering how deep the stream was and how cold the water might be, when the trap, which we had left a few hundred yards behind, came galloping up, and solved the question. The lady jumped out, my companion leaped in her place, and together the two men rode to gauge the depth of the ford. The water rose swishing above ihe floor of the trap, but they managed to get to the other side. We then went high up the stream, my companion returned, and, taking the lady on ihe trap, held his bike above his head, crossed over, discharged his freight, and came over for me. Again we pressed forward . we were stiJJ some few miles off our destination. Tlie sand was very dry, and we could not ride over it, so again we had to get off and push. Riverton we could now descry at the base of the hill, and the signal station could bs plainly .=een. At times we came to some firm sand, over which we rode. Across two small 9tream3 we sped, while our bikes got covered with sand and salt At last we reached a well-formed road, and what tv as our joy to find it was actually rideable. After so many miles of weary toiling through sand and sea water, one can imagine our feelings whoi. once more bestriJing cur steeds, we pedalled the remaining hai 1 " mile into the township. It was a little aiter 11 a.m.. but I found a few D L.F. aliready clustered at the Riverton Station, having come in by an «arher train. The picnickers, however, were not long in arriving, and what a babble of tongues was there, and what a search after missing D.L.F. "Where is Ceres?" asked one. "Oh, here he comes." answered another, as Ceres was seen gallantly breasting his way through the crowd. "Who's got my basket?" was quite a general cry, and I think there is nothing more amusing and inspiring than a group of little folk on a picnic searching for their baskets of eatables, etc , which are generally to be found in the temporary possession of one of the " greedy sex." However, all the band managed to assemble. Willow Brook and Zealia and her sister led the way; I followed with Homa and Bolivar ; the rest followed in twos and threes. Wending our way over the bridge, we made a bee-line over a level road for the picnic ground The spot reached, we six looked xoxincl Jri vain for our comrades In a few moments one of the band came along with the news, "The others are tired, and won't come any further." "Where are they now?" — "Oh, seated neai the lagstaff " Certs was despatched to bring them along, and a little later Homa, borrowing my bike, sneedily disappeared on the same mission. In the meantime I went on a search hunt for water. Someone asserted that there was a stream near by. and acting on this vague information I did some trespassing on a neighbouring property. I crossed over what would have been a stream if there had been running water there, but, alas, what water was there had rather an unpleasant effect upon the olfactoiy nerves. Proceeding a little further, however I came across a stream It was not one of those cool, pure, crystal mountain streams that poets mention as Kingling over little stones ard boulders, glinting and sparkling in the =un. Kn, this was but a sluggish bu«h stream, which looked for all tlie world as if it had grown tiled o' Toaming and wc-anng the 'tones smooth, md longed for a quiet rebting-pirce, where neither poets nor -writers could parade it in the columns of a newspaper. Anything, however, is good for thf Uiii .iy, and ns it is a universally-iecc-gnised fact tlLl httle folk cannot be poisoned, I biought fome delicious (?) bush water to boi! foi tea. By the time Zealia had persuaded the billy to boil and had made the tea, the other picnickers had arrived on the scene; tea was served then, and once more all were happy and contented. A* least, one young follow was He avowed that the scenery was all that could be desired; that the manuka bush towering above him was just a beautiful sunshade; that the wind was just pleasant and cooling; and that the tea was good— ("Of course, 't -aeht i<- l»i considering who made it, he added) — and he paw no reason why the others should complain. "Gccd camp fare/ he would comment

1 between the mouthfuls of cake and tea, and his optimistic way of viewing cur troubles ' kept us all in good humour. But a' things ! ha'e an end —even a picnic feed. I must pdmit that I fairly amazetl my Invercargill chums by the amount of cake, tea, and lemonade I succeeded in disposing of. They s&erned to take that as a matter of course ; but really, to creat a terrible thirst arid a good, h&artj appetite, let me commend a good bike ride. i On the word being passed round that ! games were to be the next item on the programme, we all rose as one man, and ran down. Chinese fashion, to a level patch near the beach, where we started a game of "Fill-the-gap. ' I do not know whether the Invercargillites had.a poor opinion of the Dunedinltes for running, but quite a number of them made me the victim of their energies, especially Willow Brook and Casino. I was not m very good form ; what with bike riding <md that good, hearty picnic dinner, I thought they might hsve given me, poor chap, a rest. A game of twos-and-threes followed, and then they afforded me a speil, when I started an auto-exchanging bureau with" other prominent m-embers. (By the way, any Invercargillite who wishes my auto, can receive one from Willow Brook on handing him one of theirs.) At this juncture some of the picnickers confessed that they had a secret desire to see the regatta, so we shifted our camp to a quiet little nook near lie bridge an«l < ;ivenient to the station. *\VJ- lie shifting qiui'ii rs, whom should we eno jurist but conivsde IMy. from Mataura, and. ne?dle.-s t • s.-.v. fi-a -.s,s ha-artily welcomed. After introductions round, we went to the hill to view the regatta, and pretend that that gave us much pleasure. The banks were swarming with people. Stornimg the heights, we earned a position, and settled down comforlab'y for a good old chat. In front was the Riverton bridge, black with people At the nearer end of the bridge was a somewhat interesting personage sitting upon a box and holding two large wooden balls in his hand. His personality was very striking, and his colour — well, it would have passed for a healthy colour had there been less of it. Nary a shadow did his big slouch hat threw across his ccuutenanc-o Ever and anon he would make the welkin ring with his "Four shawls a shullm' '" with entreaties to any v.-averers to "Come on, sir, and try your luck. Four shawts wan shulhn' '" I am afraid we on the bank were little in sympathy with either him or his calling We mocked him at intervals, but he seemed to take no heed. In a little while Homa, the little fun doctor, leaped from his lofty perch, and was, for once in his life, perfectly contented and peaceful. There he was, his straw hat ti>ted forwards, busy examining the modus operandi, and with a look of keen interest on his little face. I really believe that was the first time during the picnic that I saw him stand atill for five minutes upon end. We too, however, got tired of sitting lazily there, so decided to make- a break and reorganise the picnickers. Just as we were, about to shift a great outcry arose on the bridge. People rushed about excited]}-; one chap in his eagerness climbed ever the bridge railing, and lowered himself down one of the big wooden piles. Crowds were leaning in aW sorts of attitudes over the edgi of the bridge, and we, of course, vent down to inquire the cause of the hubbub. D.L.F., you know, are ever curious in such matters. I"t was only a boat — an ordinary everyday open rowing boat — which, gliding down the river with its full load of people, had swung broadside on to the current, and was doing its little best to stem the current by .sticking between two piles of the bridge, side on to the cunent, to the imminent risk of a ducking for the ocupants. However, by dint of much. p-usbiDg and shoving, she wi3 saiely swung out, and glided down the stre?rn. On reaching our picnic ground, it was discovered that in our haste we had left the indispensable picnic billy behind at our former ground, and as one and all of us felt lazy, I determined that we should not again nsk a coroner's inquest. Accordingly, commandeering Ceres's handbag, which was lying handy, I hastened to the township to procure some cooling drinks. Judging by the many comments that were passed, I must have presented a comic appearance on the return journey. The handbag, full of bottles, was in one hand, some bottles were m the other, while under one arm gently re.posed a bottle of raspberry vinegar. It was this latter which aiotised most of the comment. "That chap requires a lot to quench his tliiist- he must bo a beach orator, or some'hmg of (hat sort," one young chap exclaimed, giving a longing, envious glance upon my littlo stock, which had just about c, eared out the shop I patronised "Oh, I say. ma," chimed a httle maiden in a childish treble as I passed, "just look at 'hat boy wi'h the bottle oi beer." "Hu^h, dear.," was all I heard, a.?, hurrying with longer stride I tnrd my best to look as | gentle and as lamb-hk*> as pos-sible. Further t n I could hear a male voice, evidently belonging to someone who delights in prying into ether people's affairs as hit. audience seemed to be composed of nothing more lifelike than a bn of «crub, "What a pity prohibiticn is not enrned in Wallace County." And me a blue nbboncr, too' Why, I was heartily f.lad that mv conscience was at ease on that score, and that my Invercargill friends had no FU"h doubts. Collecting all the little folk, -wo again pou«ln recreation, ar.d organised more games. ' The minister's cat" received quite an enormcus burden of adjectives; each one of us in turn wa« "rejected" ; while other games kept us all going. Then I had regretfully to bid farewell to the othev picnickers. Tlie train was timed to leave at 6.30, but as I wished to cover the 2G-mile return journey in good time, I left ■at 5.45. Picking up the read from Rrverton, I pedalled my way through level agricultural and pastoral country. The plain extended all around me. and how I longed for a hill. Further and further away glided the Riverton heights, till at last I reached Waimatuku. The <vind was slightly ahead. I dismounted at -a railway crossing and .sacrificed a couple of minutes to mm king up in blue pencil the atunerraph of the mysterious Quago. Wallacetown was leached in good time, and, lowering my speed a little, soon after 730 I v.-as evehng through the city, whistling "I've had a good day to-day, hooray." After meeting the train on its arrival, I got rid of as many traces of the picnic as possible, and proceeded lo the re«i<]encp of the Invercarpil) Club's patron. That evening will ever remim one of mv most cheri = hed n^cmones. and to say that I was made welcome — that I sp?nt a very enjoyable evening chatting with both him and his wife, — is but faintly csprp=e ins )r y feelings, and I shall Irok forward with keen pleasure to the day on which I may havr- the pleasure of again ha\ing a chat with them both. — Wednesday — The Wednesday dawned— the last day of ray Christmas holidays at 1-avt arrived. What » sigh of Tegret involuntarily escape* one as ihc 'pst day of the holiday dawns And T was i.o exception That I mu=t submit to be earned nrarlv 140 miles towaids home: that I mu<i h" at work the fol'owing morning that I had but a few hours left in which t~) pack up my belongings and take a last long look at the city — these imparted a tmije of sadness to my thoughts. But hoh-

j days cannot last forever — one has to obey the | mandate, and to be back at work, patiently I to wait till the next holidays arrive. I had intended to leave by the first express, but was detained by "circumstances oveT which I had no control" — viz , that patent tired feeling. I wts wakened by the loud pealing of the ! breakfast bell at 7.45 a.m., so I decided that j all that was left was to take the second express Willow Brook called on me, and proposed that we shou'd inspect the new municipal buildings and theatre together. This is one of the buildings of Invercargill. and when finished will be an ornament to the city. It has a wide and imposing frontage, and its spacious, fireproof staircase, its convenient ticket-boxes, its wide exits and entrances, its patent improvement in ventilation — all should make it popular among patrons; while its rows of dressing rooms, its wide stage, and its convenient passages will make it popular among the theatrical fraternity. The municipal offices are in the front of the buildings, and consist of a large council room and public room, and a fine Mayor's room, together with ail necessary rooms adjoining. I sow wlvat is likely io be the future room foi the D.L.F Club there, and from all appearances it should suit them very well indeed. After inspecting the whole building, we repaired to the photographer's, and had our photos taken together. The hour of my departure was at hand, so, hauling my biko and my luggage down to the station, assisted by my kind host Willow Brook, I boarded the express, bade farewell to those who came down to see me off, and was cnoo more speedily travelling across the grer.i plain to Gore. "From there the country was more hilly, and the railway wound in and cut like a gigantic serpent. Past splendid crops, past flocks of sheep and herds o( cattle, m and out we wound, past Balclutha, across the wide waters of the Molyneux where a paddle stera-wbeeier was lazily plying, past Milton, and then into Dunediu, where I found Bert waiting on me to assist me home. And now, in conclusion, I must thank all my land friends in Invercargill who did so much to make my stay in their city such a pleasant one To Willow Brook especially I owe a debt of giatitude for so lndefatigably showing me round and rendering my visit to the southern city so full of pleasant reminiscences. (To be continued )