A RURAL RAMBLE DURING THE HOLIDAYS.

Otago Witness, Issue 3489, 25 January 1921, Page 58

A RURAL RAMBLE DURING THE HOLIDAYS.

By

Geo. M. Hassing.

In response to many hearty invitations I set out, early in January, to visit friends in Winton, Balfour, and Uarston. On a bright morning I started from Otautau, via Thornbury, for Invercargill, and, notwithstanding the variable spring weather and late summer experienced in Southland, the country along the route presented a beautifully productive appearance. Crops, grass, and stock all testified to the careful husbandry and fertility of Southland, while substantial, comfortable homesteads, neat plantations, gardens, and orchards evidenced a general prosperity among our agricultural population. After spending a couple of days in Invercargill, where I visited the pretty publio gardens, the museum, the Athenaeum, and my esteemed old friend, Mr A. Macpherson, and family, 1 took the train to Winton. Though the crops along the route looked promising, still they appeared more backward and stunted than those in the Western District, excepting, perhaps, the turnip ciops. Winton, being the centre of a large and fertile agricultural district, is making steady and substantial progress. This is especially noticeable in the many attractively architectural residences erected during the past few years, the greatly enhanced value of building allotments, and the wonderful display of motor cars. On visiting the cemetery, I was surprised at the numerous additional graves and memorials erected since my previous visit. The fatal influenza epidemic left its mournful record of many an old friend and acquaintance. I also noticed with regret that no effort worth mentioning has yet been made by the corporation to lay out neat, decent paths. It is quite a struggle to wade through the rank, tangled grass reaching above one’s knees. It is indeed surprising to find the rulers of such a progressive town so utterly indifferent to the melancholy condition of “God’s acre.” After paying a visit to my esteemed old friends, Mr Thomas Clark and his worthy wife, late of Ileddon Bush, and Mr Wm. James, an old colonist and one of the earliest settlers in the town, I passed on to Lumsden. Here the country, especially about Limehills and Dipton, presented a most pleasing aspect, giving promise of an abundant harvest to the industrious husbandman. Lumsden, which during many years has made but little progress, now seems to have awakened into activity. Several new buildings were under construction, the tourist traffic brisk, and an air of prosperity pervaded the town. Here I visited my old friends, Wm. Cummings, Peter MTntosh, and the Crosbie family. My next stage was to Balfour on the Waimea Plains. Here I was heartily welcomed by Messrs M. and A. Rasmussen, whose splendid farms near the township cover a large area of fine country. The land about Balfour is of a light nature, especially suited, with a good dressing of lime, for growing excellent crops of grass, so sheep-rearing is the principal branch of farming on the plains. A noticeable feature is tne almost entire absence of noxious weeds and rabbits in this district, an evidence of careful farming, while the substantial homesteads and outbuildings, surrounded by well-kept shelter plantations, are unmistakable signs of general prosperity. What a contrast to the state of affairs 40 years ago, when settlers on the Waimea Plains _ were agitating for a reduction in the. price of their holdings by means of a Fair Rents Bill. I spent a most enjoyable time in the hospitable home of air' and airs M Rasmussen, where a large family circle was gathered. These people were mostly all. Danes, and a typical type of the real scientific Danish farmer—systematic, thorough, and hard-working to a' degree—hence their success. They are all musical and fine singers, so we had such grand evening entertainments as I have not experienced since my departure from Copenhagen nearly 70 years ago, an enjoyment that will linger in my memory for the balance of my days. Amidst kindest greetings I parted from my hospitable friends at Balfour, and passed through Lumsden to Garston, where Mr Geo. Wraytt’s buggy was in waiting to convey me to the truly elysian home of Mrs C. Wraytt, who, with her kind daughter, gave me a most hearty welcome on my arrival. Hera I enjoyed perfect rest and pure mountain air,^and one cannot but feel the utmost contentment and happiness in such genuinely homely company amidst sylvan and poetical surroundings. Here I was joined by Mr Smith, late °of Otautau, but now representative of Mackerras and Hazlett; Mrs .Melton, teacher at Hastings, late, of Winton; Mr James Leggat, naval engineer; and Mr E. Butson, just returned from the North Island. Mr George Wraytt. being busilv engaged on His Balfour farm, was unable to join our happy company. With the late Mr Geo. Wraytt I was intimate for over half a century. and, seated under the vine-covered verandah in the gloaming of the balmy evenings. I related many of our youthful adventures in the early days of Wan aka before the discovery of gold brought se moment to that district. It was with regret T learnt that the Garston-Fairlight Fruit Association’s fine plantation of 50C0 young fruit trees had turned out a failure and a dead loss to the shareholders. No doubt the cause of this failure, in a district noted for its successful fruit culture, is attributable to the fact that all the young trees in the plantation were reared and imported from the Gisborne Nursery, and therefore were not acclimatised to resist the severe frosts of the Garston winter. My few days’ sojourn at. Garston will ever remain as a pleasant memory, and I left for mv own home invigorated physically and mentally through this happy holiday outing.