"THE LAND OF THE LOST TRIBE."

Colonist, Volume LI, Issue 12470, 22 February 1909, Page 4

"THE LAND OF THE LOST TRIBE."

On the third day. of my sojourn' l made an expedition -to the Horse Ter-: race— otherwise the "Land" of the Lost Tribe." By this soubriquet, no reflec-... tionis intended or. implied on the present worthy; resident's of -the locality; It is, I believb, the nickname- . that comes dowji' from the good old .gold mining days of the early sixties, and has some reference to a midnight sortie indulged in by some of the gay spirits of that somewhat convivial, and reckless period, 'lhey rushed put and got lost arter a wake, or a, wedding or a birtnday, or some otlicr festive gathering.. They were "The Lost •jL'ribe." The Horse. Terrace is.reachea. by way of the Aiatakitaki Valioy.' : Uu ine whole of- the route the sce'uery is' interesting, and at places vofy iine. 1 reached jyirT.D. p'Jttourke'shobel,!'! miles out. at noon timer— just in time for a substantial dinner. At this well-, known holteh-y, which is _ situated amid romantic aud historical surroundings, 'I was s'hownaround by the versatile proprietor. : 'He designed ana built the greater part of. the outbuildings himself, and has a compact little properly there. . The "Horse Terrace- is five miles further on, along a newlj'-metalled-bush track. I rode for a mile or two, but eventually: left the machine luider'a tree until my return. Several men were at work on the roadway higher Up, and sluicing operations were being actively prosecuted. The •bridge crosses the gorge, and the_rock. scenery 50ft below is wonderful. Here this large /river is coufined in a deep, rocky chasm only 3ft.. wide. A jarge r river compressed into"a single yard! I- should like to be pi that bridge at flood time ; the sight, must be a grand one. The rock and- 'mountain scenery on all sides is magnificent, and one could easily spend a^veek or inpw m this home of Nature's wonders. 'The settlei-s' : houses are binlt well up on. the terrace— the Rock'y Hiver runs 100 feet below— and although small, have a snug and cosy appearance. I noticed two stores, one of whichjbelongs , to Mr'McNee, of Murchison, who also owns considerable-property ' arpimcl: The return journey is comparatively easy, being -down.: hill mos^;pf the way, and I. coverecf the 20 iniles to Murchison within two hours. . Out beyond the- Horse Terrace, tho open country of natuTal clearings, I m told is of a more interesting character • and the hot' springs at Maruia, medicinally, are said to be much more powerful than those of Hammer. Bedling and cooking utensils aro,iwv providod for the use of tourists and invalids. All they have to do is -co. get there and bring 'their- own provisions with them. x The South Australian Government has decided to pay £500 compensation to the representatives of the late t,onstable Hyde, who was shot by ruthans at 'Knightsbridgo a_ couple of months ago; '