A LONG RIDE.

Otago Witness, Issue 3886, 4 September 1928, Page 23

A LONG RIDE.

TO THE EDITOR. SIK, —In a recent issue of the Otago Witness I read with interest a reminiscence of the early ’sixties by a Air Beer. He relates a long ride-in one day from Clyde to Dunedin by Air James Hazlett on a horse called Captain Truby. 1 think that from Clyde to Dunedin by rail is about 121 miles. I was born in Clyde, or Dunstan as it was then called, in the early ’sixties, and knew Air Hazlett well as a storekeeper both in Clyde and Cromwell, as well as other notable men of olden days. The early pioneers did not think much of long rides on horseback. Air Peter Aluir, now living at Lake Hawea, rode through from the West Coast over very ro ( gh country, all mountainous with rivers to ford, 100 miles in one day with one horse. The longest straightout ride I know of was done by Sergeant Alorton, or “ Red ” Alorton, as he was called, there being another Sergeant Alorton later on in the goldfields. He rode from Invercargill to Port Chalmers with change of horses to serve a summons on a man who was leaving Port Chalmers by boat, and he executed ais commission. This will take . beating. Alorton himself told me of this some years ago.—l am, etc., W. Cassels. Papanui, August 31.