A TRIP TO TAPANUI.

Otago Witness, Issue 2812, 5 February 1908, Page 54

A TRIP TO TAPANUI.

A -stranger landing jn Tapanai 'for the first time under the inducement of a race gathering would wonder why a meeting was held in that part of the world. An ordinary train ride lands one at Waipahi. From thence a run inland taken in proximity to v a stream which strongly appeals to a fisherman of the reel-and-rod. order halte one at a station which appears to 'be a lon* journey from anywhere. The immediate vicinity is purely agricultural, but a few coaches and traps gathered *t the statkmside quickly arouse^ one to the fact that the journey by rail oarries a tail, of which the end has to he reached by means of more or leas comfortable looking chariots. A coach ride over about a. mile and a-half discovers Tapanui township As the arrivals, with -the noise of hoofs and wheels, herald their approach head, of perhaps two, by the roadside is partially turned in a demi-semi-interested "mannter. A shopkeeper with more time to kill than business to overtake looks from a doorstep with a tolerant and half-suspicious eye on the people who form the list of incoming 1 paseengera. Tolerant, because there is a possible customer contained in their number. Suspicious, because racing folk are after the money in the district, and their success may mean & tightening of the local money market. The -arrivals are subjected to a further and closer scrutiny by the good lady who is to act ac hostess, and who -with practised eye quickly grasps the situation. She asks Jones an a take-it-or-lease-ii tone of voice if he will share a bed with Smith. They promptly agree to do so, knowing that they are comparatively lucky in being occupants of a room which carries iwo inhabitants only. Smith, Smythe, and Small axe invited to share a *'double bed," whilst Biggs and Digge also promptly agree to "top and; bottom on a "stretcher" in the same room as the aforesaid trio. Then oomee "Mr So-and-So," for whom a "room" has been kept, but does "he mind if Mr Such-and-Snch chares the other bed." "Certainly not," responds "Mr So-and-So," -with a hearty acquiescence that is more assumed -than real. Then the late-oomess or tolerated parties are dealt with. They .ar« invited to partake of shakedowns. The billiard table is at their service, a sofa is a luxury to grab at, or a camp in a room which holds a dozen "steetehers" or folding beds permits one to make the best of the -circumstances and pass a more or less -comfortable night if all the other inhabitants are too tired to talk or eing, or have the happy knack to snore in unison, -<ir at least sufficiently piano. At long last all the available space is alloted and a small mountain of • luggage, consisting of 21b saddles, the ■hag- containing \ a clean collar, a shirt, and pyjamas, ana, the big of the luxurious individual who travels with a "complete change" vanish. A 10 minutes' stroll exbauste the sights of the town. Nowhere to go. Nothing, to do, except read the literature composing one's travelling impedimenta- A dillydallying,, kill-tiie-fchne conversation) is finally terminated by the welcome sound of . a bell which calls one to a meal of simple menu, 'which has the compensating feature of plentitode. The conclusion of am early evening meal finds one witfa a long interval to put in before bedtime. A walk to the foothills of the Blue Mountains finds the evening but half exhausted. A possible game of cards, a "read to sleep," and one's waking -thpunntß are by noise and bustle soon made fully alive to the fact that we are :— "Here .you aie, sir ! Off to the races, sir! Right away, sir! Just one more to make a load, air !" and another day of a sporting scribe's, work has commenced.