SOME NOTES ON MY WAY TO WELLINGTON.

Taranaki Herald, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 8664, 28 December 1889, Page 2

SOME NOTES ON MY WAY TO WELLINGTON.

[BY " EGMONT."] During the fifteen hours' ride between New Plymouth and Wellington, at the reckless rate of eighteen miles per hour maintained by the bi-weekly express, there is sufficient leisure between the not unfrequent halts to refresh the engine to take a few passing observations along the way. The recent bush fireß do not appear to have had much effect on the district between Inglewood and Stratford beyond charring to a slighter blacker colour the numerous logs and stumps which strew the clearings along the line of rail, and singeing to a dirty brownish yellow the once beautiful native bush. It is not till the Patea Biver is crossed and you enter on the lands round Ngaire and Eltham that much change, during the last few years, becomes visible. It iB at Eltham that a rentable transformation scene has been effected. Where not three years ago was a dense forest there is now, not only a huge clearing, but housea and farms seem starting up in every direction. A prosperous future, by no means distant, evidently awaits this Land of Promise beyond the local Jordan, separating it from the nearer region with which your readers are acquainted. Hawera presented us with that cheerful and charming prospect long familiar to the traveller, whose drooping spirits are hardly revived by solid and liquid refreshments worthy of that Mugby Junction immortalised by Dickens thirty years ago. At Patea there was another prolonged pause — presumably to afford the fashionable denizens of that gay metropolis to inspect Mr Maxwell's latest imitation of a Pullman palace car, and at the same time to quiz arriving and bid departing friends farewell. Speaking of this Maxwell chariot, by the bye, might it be humbly suggested that its existing luxuries, for which every weary traveller must be duly grateful, might be increased by clean towels and soap being placed in the lavatory. In other respects, it is undoubtedly a vaßt improvement even on the previous inventions of that gifted mind. The appearance of large flocks — as yet for the most part unshorn — between Patea and Waitotara was such as to afford rich promise. The fertile and highly cultivated district — thick with settlement — between Marlon and Feilding, with its snug homesteads, its well kept fences, its clean paddocks, its numerous flocks and herds, its carefully preserved clumps of shelter bush — reminded one forcibly of that dear Mother Land, which, for peaceful beauty, has not its equal on this earth. Our stay at the breezy capital of th» Rangitikei was too short to allow of any notice beyond the evident marks of continued progress in assured prosperity. The late drought, however, seems to have in some degree affected the pastures round Palmerston. Changing trains here, at the same time were exchanged the row and rattle of the Government line for the quiet and comparatively smooth motion on the Manawatu railway, running the remainder of the distance, from Longburn to Wellington. There was enjoyed at the same time » very fair tea, with " fixings,"' in the " dining car " attached to the train. On the run through the bush as far as Otaki, the progress of settlement was chiefly observable at a station called Shannon. Here * very considerable clearing has been effected in the forest, and several settlers' houses, or rather huts, erected. So far as could be judged by so hasty a glimpse — as well as by a previou visit of greater length — the quality of tho land, thoAjgh sold, I believe, at a much higher price, is by no means equal to that round Inglewood or Stratford. Farther back, however, so I was told, the quality improves. It always does, you know At intervals, dotted along the line of rail, were sawmills and their belongings, evidently doing an excellent trade. The long train of etyhteen loaded passenger and freight cars, which slowly dragged us along past Paikakariki up to Johnsonville, and thence glided downwards along the steep incline to Wellington, was likewise evidence of the rapid growth of a district only a very few years ago covered by thick forest. EGMONT.

Owing to a misprint on Friday the attendance at the races was set down at 500, whereas it should have been just double that uumlwr. Certainly the best medicine known in Sander and Son's Eucalypti Extuaot. Test its eminent powerfnl effects in coughs, colds, influenza; the relief is instantaneous iv serious cases and accidents of all kinds, be they wounds, bums, sealdingb, bruises, sprains, it is the safest remedy — no swelling — no inflammation. Like surprising effects produced in croup, diphtheria, bronchitis, inflammation of the Juugs, swelling, &c. ; diarrhoea, dysontvy diseases of the kidneys aud urinary organs. In use at hospitals and medical clinics all over the globe ; patronised by His Majesty the King of Italy ; crowned with medal and diploma at International Exhibition, Amsterdam Truat iv this approve artigie, aqd reject all other*,