OVERLAND TRIP.

Colonist, Volume LII, Issue 12768, 14 April 1910, Page 1

OVERLAND TRIP.

f FROM TIMARU TO MURCHISON. A WEEK'S JOURNEY. A Timaru party of three — Mr. A. Beswick, Mr J. King, and Mr. H. , Newton — drove from Timaru to Nelson and though they enjoyed the novelty of the experience (says the "Herald") they would not care to undertake the trip in the same way again. Mr Beewick went over with the object of taking requisites of various kinds to his holding of 1000 acres in the Murchison district. These requisites included three half draught horses, and instead of railing and shipping them, he decided to drive them over. Accordingly a four-wheeled express with. a hood, waß secured; into this various farm, implements were packed, and stores for the journey, and the horseß were driven .three abreast, the total weilght of their load being about a ton. This Mr. Beswick says, is where the mistake was made. If they had taken a light vehicle, and a light load they would have experienced very little difficulty, but the heavy load, on narrow tracks, often very rough and steep, made the travelling difficult, especially as the tracks bad in a good many instances to be looked for and found before they could proceed. After leaving Lake Coleridge the road seemed to end at the station, and they had to begin to enquird '.their way. This was by no means ail easy job, for the people they met were few and far between, and each one seemed to have a different idea of the loeali- ; ties, while in the matter fo distances , the ideas varied in an, astonishing degree. How far are we from so-and-so? would be asked one man, and he would reply : Oh, about 14 miles. After travelling the best part of the day another man would bo mot, and on putting- ,the question to him, he replied: Off you're not far off now, only about a dozen miles. On one point the people were all agreed, and that was that the party would never get through,. They said it was impossible to take such a load up and down the steep, rough tracks. They very soon lost the track after leaving Lake Coleridge as it ran through . tussock country. After cutting some time to waste in this way thejy kept mounting and, climbing until they cam© to a finger post directing them to Craigieburn. A •narrow road had been made here at one time, but it had fallen into disuse:, and was not fit for vehicular traffic. In some parts it was so narrow, and the sides so steep, that they had to set Jp work with pick and shovel to widen- it/ before it was .safe to proceed: They fortunately had both pick and shovel in the express. Craigieburn was reached that night. The* only people they could find were - three shepherds belonging. to the station, but ail they could get from them was a gruif

jiThey said the strangexs must see "the ! young master," whoever he might be. As .there was no other fit place iv which to camp, they entered into possession without permission, and they met "the .young master" on the road just after they had started the following morning. During the night the shepherds referred to made an attempt to disturb them, but on the dog being set on to them they were glad enough* to make themselves scarce. After" a night's comfortable rest at Craigeburn, the nomads were up with the lark, and with their caravan pushed on to the Cass, the* country seen en route being very beautiful from * a scenic point of view. At the Cass they saw the railway works in. progress. There was a big hill to climb here, so they gave the horses a rest and had a look round. The Cass is the furthest point to which, the railway has-extend-ed from Christchurch, and there is a good sized canvas" town there at the present time, and some wonderful work has been accomplished in taking the line over the Waimakariri and running it alongside the river. They crossed the big river in their vehicle, and found it n. preitty stiff pull. From the river they entered on the Bealey Gorge- stretch of country and here again they were struck with the magnificent scenery. They developed magnificent scenery. They endeavoured to hire two extra horses to help them over the Otira Gorge, but it being Easter timei extra coaches were running on. the road, and there was not a horse available. They never halted for dinner- that day. but went straight ahead over the Otira, and on until they got to- Bealey Flat. Here they were able to hire two fresh horses ; from the storekeeper.. and started early next morning on the big climb over the long steep hill on the Bealey-Otira I road. Here another canvas town was seem, in the tents .of the big gang of .men 'employed by 2iicLean Bros., contractors for the construction of the big tunnel. Here they met with the first wet weather. Their tent was soon wet through, and though McLean Bros, had plenty of empty huts', their manager declined to allow them the use of pne for the night. Next morning they rose early, and prepared for the descent on the other side of tha hill, Much," in zig-zag fashion extends over seven miles. They examined their brakes, and had an iron shoe fitted to one wheel to give extra brake power When they got to' the bottom of the Obira hill the iron shoe referred to was worn through. Onei rode on ahead

of the conveyance to see that the road was clear, as there is not room on it for two vehicles to pass. Going down ho met some of the coach passengers walking up, and they asked: "Are .we half-way up?" For answer, he replied; "Am I half-way down." One knew as much about the position as the other, and between them they knew nothing. However, they got safely down the hill, and they bad to get th^r worn-out brakes repaired., j The brakes were worn through before they reached the foot of the hill, and the latter part had to be covered with one wheel tied. One of the Worses was now showing signs of having strained herself, so he telegraphed to Reefton for two trucks to convey them there. The trucks were sent all right, but they had a difficult task in loading them, as there were.no conveniences :or loading af Otira. But eventually jorses and waggon were got aboard ust as the express was about to start. Chey reached Keefton at 10.30 that light (Saturday) and slept in the railvay carriage, as it was impossible to ;et ab ed in the town. For supper ihey* managed to get some hot pork )ies, and though these did not arrive mtil midnight, they were very weliome. On the following morning Easter Sunday) they set off at dayight for Lyell, which place they •cached after a rough journey of 25 niles. From Lyeil the travellers had. to sross the Dublin Terraces. They were aid that they would never be able to 3o this. There was only a narrow track,, so one went in front of the vehi-:le-to see that all was clear, one walkjd behind in case it might be necessary to block the wheels, and the other one drove 5 They negotiated the terraces safely, and reached Fern. Flat and the Buller river. After lunch at Fern Flat they pushed on again, and reached Murcnisbn at 4 o'clock on Monday afternoon—exactly a woek from the day of leaving Timaru, the distance cover, ed being about 300 miles. „ Next morning they reached Mr. Beswick's section at 11 o'clock, it being IS miles distant from Murchison. Mr. Beswick was well -satisfied with the condition in which he found it, grasses and clovers flourishing, and making better feed than any he had ever seen anywhere before. Of the 1000 acres, 100 acres arc cleared, and the rest w

bush, easily felled, and when tho land is grassed, itis said to be easily capable of carrying two sheep per acre, ! besides cattle. There is a good market on the West Coast for all fat stock, and growers have no difficulty in selling all they can fatten. "While in Murchison, Mr. Beswick let a. contract for the erection of a house on his holding. On the return journey, ho left Murchison at 8.30 on Saturday morning, and travelling by boat reached Timaru at 11 o'clock on Tuesday morning.