HOW I SPENT MY HOLIDAYS.

Otago Witness, Issue 2714, 21 March 1906, Page 76

HOW I SPENT MY HOLIDAYS.

By Mountain Rambler. Christmas morning dawned cloudy and rainy-looking, which sent a thrill of sadness through the hearts of us all. We determined to make the best of the weather, and hurried about to get dinner ready, but before 11 o'clock the rain fell in such showers 1 that all hopes of a fine day were gone. Dinner over, to our delight the r«in had ceased, and the sun was shining brightly on fche wet foliage of our mother earth, making the drops glisten like rare diamonds in every direction. We got ready very soon, and at 2 p.m. we bade good-bye to all at home. Paparoa, my elder brother, and myself constituted" the merry party. The sun was very hot ,&nd we were walking and felt its warm ray 3 very much. Ten miles ot » road winding in and out over ! hills and down valleys is before us, but we don't mind this, as we have often travelled . it before, and as Quago says, " Practice makes I perfect." So with happy hearts we walked I along. The scenery along this road is magnificent at this time of the year. The forest that lines the pathway is a moving mass of | red and white blossoms, the stately ratas and | pretty manuka mingling their beauty with the green foliage which surrounded them. Reaching Ahaura at about 6 p.m. we were greeted merrily by many friends and D.L..F. far too many to mention here. We made our way j through thi. silent streets to the hotel at ! which we intended tc stay for the night, and were soon chatting merrily with its kind ocj cupants. Tuesday morning dawned basking ! in sunshine, and everybody seemed to" 1 be astir, so we did likewise. At 9 a.m. we journeyed to the station, which is situated a mile from the town, and very soon were travelling fast away from that little paradise. There were eight 'D.L.F. in our carriage, so the time passed quickly, and at 11 a.m. we steamed into Greymouth, there to part with some of our chums. We got into the other train for Hokitika, and there was such a rush for seats : the platforms and carriages were all filled, and as we moved slowly out of the station with two engines on our train, ever so many people seemed to be left behind. Greymouth was soon far behind us, and we passed many places of interest as we travelled 1 on. All along the line one can get a magnificent view of the calm Pacific Ocean, lazily washing the shore and basking in the warm sunshine. How peaceful it looked, just like a mighty picture spread out before one's eyes — the white foam, the picturesque shore, the blueness of the water, and. away on the horizon lay a steamer tossing to and fro at the mercy of the waves. Unfortunately, she , had missed the tide, and the bar was dan- ( gerous until the tide came in. ; The country down here is very flat, and many farms may be observed, also sawmills, j dredges, etc., and the train passes over one of the longest bridges in Westland — the Tere- j makau bridge, a splendid piece of work. The j shrill whistle of the engine sounded, and we were soon entering the Kumara Station, and dismounting as quickly as possible, were lucky enough tc secure a coach to convey us the four miles to the town. The drive was very enjoyable, and we were not long before we arrived at our destination. As we alighted from the coach we were m«t by Scribbler, who had gone the morning before us to secure accommodation for us at the Criterion Hotel. After a few minutes' rest, and of course satisfying the " inner man," we drove to thp racecourse, where the Axemen's Carnival was in full swin^. During the afternoon we had the delightful pleasure of meeting S.R H C , and spent a few pleasant hours with her. I was very glad to meet her, as we had never met before, and our first acquaintance will long linger in my memory, and I hope I shall have the pleasure of meeting her soon again. The day passed very quickly, and at 6-30 p.m. we drove away to the hotel, and after doing v ustice to the good things provided fcr us, -we took a walk round tlie town, which was greatly crowded. At 9 p.m. we entered the hall where the ball wa« in progress, and there we spent an enjoyable evening until 1 a.m., when we retired to the land of dreams. In the morning we took a walk to a small suburb of Kumara, where some of the oMest gold-mining claims have been worked, a.nd great piles of tailings and stones, etc , may be observed everywhere. In the afternoon we again attended the carnival, and though the weather looked dull, it was well attended, and needless to say we had a good time. We went to the ball in the 1 evening again, and also enjoyed ourselves, J though it was not so well attended as on the j first night. _ I Next day dawned, wet, but it cleared off in . the afternoon, and at 4 p.m. we took our departure for Greymcuth, leaving Kumara by coach to the station, and arriving there in due time. Soon the train arrived from Hokitika, and after a tiresome ride we reached Greymouth at 6 p m , and were met by our cousin at the station. Greymouth is a thriving town, and can boast of a fine town hall, which is now nearing completion. There are also a goodJy number of other buildings in course of erection, the most prominent of all being the beautiful spire to the Catholic Church, which puts quite a finishing touch to the beauty of the town. It would take ud far too much space to describe everything I saw at Greymouth. We attended the races, sports, opera, and bazaar, etc., av:d. we enjoyed ourselves immensely On Sunday afternoon Barbara and I went down to the tip-h-ead and spent a very enjoyable afternoon along the shore of that mighty ocean, watching the sea breaking in sheets of white foam against the rocks of the break-rater. After tea was over we again wandered along the pieT, and ventured out as far as possible over the water until the foam almost came uo to our feet. After a while we journeyed back to the town, where the fireworks were being displayed for the honour of the dying year, and the band, which had turned out in full force, was playing on the Rotunda. At 12 o'c'ock the hefts pealed out meiiily, the

sullen ding dong of the big frrebell being distinctly heard above all "otheiv. sounds. I thought of Tennyson's beautiful poem, "Ring Out, Wild Bells," and how well each. word, suited the occasion. The sky was very cloudy , as we made our way through the crowded streets for home, and very soon were in bed. New Year's morning dawned raining heavily. The wind howled dismally outside, an 3 tha rain was driven in all directions. All sports were postponed till the 2nd, and all day long the storm continued until evening, when tha rain ceased, . leaving everything in flood. On Tuesday we attended the races, but the rain fell in heavy showers at intervals, thus spoiling the enjoyment of the day. Wednesday morning saw us bustling to the station bound for our homeward journey, the West Coast Queen accompanying us. At 9.80 a.m we moved slowly out of the station, bidding good-bye to the town once more, and ( speeding onward up the Grey Valley. We i passed, many pretty spots, farms, rivers, etc., : and through many a little town until at last, at 11 a.m., we arrived at Ahaura. Here we stayed for a few hours, and had dinner, and after bidding farewell to all our comrades, , we turned our footsteps to the ferry, and* ; were soon on the Moonlight road. No horses , could be got here, so my brother went ahead to Atarua, and got on© from a, friend livingthere, and met u"s just as we got on to the bridle track. In a, few hours we reached home, tired out, and all were very pleased to see our cousin, and 1 after al], dear Dot, There's no place like home." I • ~~~ " ~