“SUNDRUM”

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXXIX, Issue 20065, 23 March 1935, Page 18

“SUNDRUM”

A PLACE OF PEACE THE STORY OF A DREAM COME TRUE This is a living story—the story of a dream come true. It is a story not told in books, but in the beautiful home and grounds of the late Major H. Spencer, at Woodbury. Twenty years ago, Major Spencer set out to create the ideal of a typical English home surrounded by typical English park-like grounds. To-day that ideal has fulfilled itself in reality, and you and I are able to enjoy to the full the beauty created by the idealism of this man. We can come back to city life, better men and women for the fulfillment of the dream of this man who devoted his life to the creation of a place of beauty. The magnificent home and grounds of Major Spencer, known as “Sundrum,” have now been converted into a Guest Home. Nestling near the foothills of the Southern Alps, it is but a mile from Waihi Gorge and is only six miles from Geraldine. The house itself is a modem brick home of 16 spacious rooms, delightfully furnished; has panelled interiors and large sunny windows—the whole suggesting the charm and beauty of an English manor home. From every window, one can obtain restful panoramas of the eighty acres of magnificent trees which surround the house. Amongst this splendid collection of trees are many rare and unusual specimens, for Major Spencer went to great pains to collect rare varieties from all parts of the world—there are weeping Macracarpas, weeping Totaras and many rare varieties of Oak trees. All over the grounds are cool inviting walks, and secluded spots of restful ease. Just off the entrance drive is “The Glade”—beyond the old orchard is “The Dell”—yonder down the track, where a spring gushes up fresh cool water, is “The Fern Grotto,” while past that cluster of Kowhais, where the River calms its course at the bend of a bank, is a blue-deep swimming pool. In this place of peace a veritable forest of native trees has developed— Totaras, Red Pines, Ribbon-woods, Kowhais, and other native trees flourishing in Westland profusion. Scattered at random in all parts of the grounds are thousands of bulbs—daffodils, hyacinths, and blue bells, intermingled with primroses and violets, form a waving pageant of beauty when warm spring breezes from the hills waft them back to life. The writer has never seen so many native birds as are to be found in this sanctuary. Fantails, tomtits, riflebirds, and many other native birds so seldom seen now-a-days are here in hundreds. In the morning, one is awakened to the tune of a myriad belllike notes quivering from the throats of a galaxy of bell-birds. Here, these heart-warming choristers have found happy security from their enemies, and are, in fact, fed by the proprietors. In the evening we strolled down a grass-grown lane under an avenue of arching trees. From the gentle slope which we climbed, all South Canterbury, cut into a million variegated squares from the hills to the sea, lay spread before our feet. Northwards, the tussock slopes of Mt Peel, Blue Mountain, and Four Peaks took on a burnished hue in the suffused light of a dying sun, while to our right, winding a serpentine course through the grounds, the Waihi River gleamed like quicksilver. Memories of such peace and beauty are things to treasure and to take back with us into our daily life of monotonous routine. The proprietors of “Sundrum” are Mr and Mrs W. Cole, well known in Timaru. “We aim to make this Rest Home a place of relaxation and of peace,” said Mrs Cole, “and for that reason we have kept the tariff down to the lowest possible limit—just 8/per day.” She also stated that, if desired, a car would meet any bus or train. For those whose nerves are jaded with the bustle of city life and who long for the freedom and the simplicity of the open spaces, this Guest Home is ideal. Good accommodation, excellent service, spacious grounds—scenic beauty which refreshes body and mind —all these await you at “Sundrum.”|..