OUR RAMBLING REPORTER IN SEARCH OF MARES' NESTS.

Tuapeka Times, Volume I, Issue 5, 14 March 1868, Page 2

OUR RAMBLING REPORTER IN SEARCH OF MARES' NESTS.

I had just taken a peep at John Chinaman's township, and passed a few remarks upon the same, when the curtain dropped upon the first scene of my last week's ramble. Well, leaving this model township by the footpath which leads t~,-ti.e main road, and while cogitating on *Li* marked difference between Chinameu anc^ Europeans, their carious fashion uu'tivating pig-tails of enormous length -->vet, touching the floor — and as neatly plait-.^. and mounted as a maiden's locks, or the tail of a prize horse, my thoughts are suddenly interrupted by the grunt of an enormous pig close at hand ; and on looking round me, I see a large concourse of pigs and poultry. John is evidently a connoisseur in the feeding of pigs ; and I would recommend some of the farmers in the district who may have the ambition to carry off the brass medal — I should say the bronze medal — at some of our Provincial agricultural shows, to make a bargain with him, if they would be certain of success. A few steps further on brings me to Mr. Docherty's Hotel, where the road takes its course across the flat ; but before crossing, I might simply refer to the fact that the new road to Smith's . Bush branches off here, which, when once finished, will prove a great boon to the inhabitants of Lawrence, reducing the price of firewood some ten or fifteen shillings a load at the least. Having crossed the flat, I arrive at the creek— the muddy creek— where the footbridge, which the floods carried away, has been replaced. I wonder if it be true what I have heard of that bridge, namely, that it has already cost the Government about £50, whereas when originally constructed, it cost only some £20 ; if so, there is evidently something wrong somewhere, for the price of timber has not greatly altered, and labor certainly is cheaper now than when the last footbridge was erected. Be that as it may, the bridge will bear a heavier weight than mine, so I shall cross it, and leave the query to be answered by whoever can. The road from the creek to the top of the hill which looks down on Evans' Flat requires some attention from the Inspector ; it is getting cut up a good deal in some places ; at one place it is nearly i washed away, the cause again being veiy apparent ; for here is <i culvert not much over a foot square. Reaching the top of the hill, or saddle, I look down upon Evans' Flat ; and the pleasant cornfields, that meet my view present a pleasing contrast to the gravel heaps, and the i brown, weather-beaten, sunburnt, eternal tussick that one is so much accustomed to ! witness in this part of the country. Here on the left we have gravel heaps innumerable, and the land, in a measure laid waste, and unfitted for agricultural purposes ; while on the right we have the yellow, waving corn, the smiling fields and meadows green, the reproductive land, not robbed, but rather enriched by J its cultivation. Loitering along the flat^ 1 leave Evans' Flat Hotel on my righs,j and in a few seconds reach Mr. Hopkins' store, nearly opposite to which the track at present in use to Smith's Bush runs away over the hill. Turning round the flat by the end of the Thistle Store, I notice a paddock of oats, the property of Mr. Hopkins, which, for weight, and length of straw, surpasses anything I have seen this season. At the corner of this, paddock there has lately been erected a neat little "Wesleyan chapel, for the accommodation of all who are pleased to worship there from week to week. Opposite this chapel a party of Chinamen have succeeded in turning the creek, which brings down the muddy water from Munroe's Gully ; and they can be seen busy at work in a paddock ten feet deep. An overshot water-wheel and a Californian pump, both of John's own making, are lending their valuable assistance to enable him to earn a living. Here the flat contracts gradually towards Manro's Gully. On the other side, near the bottom of the hill, can be seen the unfinished lead, or water-race, which Mr. Doull was making, preparatory to building a flour mill ; but for some reason, only known to himself, he has either

mind, or met with some obstacle in the way ofcarryrS^iftitiJißLjjk? work. I have heard that he wished to combine a farm with his mill ; and as he could not get sufficient land for that purpose (although he might have got sufficient for the mill), he has given up the idea of carrying on the work. This, I think, is a pity; for agriculture, and especially that department of it — the growth of cereals — in the Tuapeka district is bound to become a more leading interest than it has hitherto been ; and a flour mill, independent of a farm connected with it, might, in a short time, prove a good speculation. Perhaps Mr. Doull is waiting till the 5000 acres are lopped off some of the neighboring runs ; if so, I fear he will require to wait a considerable time. A few minutes walk brings me to Munro's Gully; and to avoid diggera' holes, and other irregularities of the road, I take the bed of the cr^&or a path, and passing Mr. Drapper^Pl^e, I ascend the first gully on my right. Here I take the waste water from the sluiceboxes as my guide up the hill, and ascend till I reach the mouth of Williams and party's tunnel. Standing at the mouth of the tunnel with all the curiosity of a new chum, -one of the party invites me to enter ; and being desirous of satisfying my curiosity, I enter. Before going a dozen yards I find a cross tunnel to the right

and left, and five or six feet down. So, »fter descending into thi»one, and scrambling up to the one in **»**> one of &* party hands me a lighted candle ; and in a crouching position I follow him to examine the mysteries of this artificial cave in the mountain, which, to all intents and ,■■ eposes, reminds me of those BU*ofc< J - i&m- passages which are found l&tfiv^ fmia wine of the ancient castles ~', "the 'old country. After proceeding in , sis oont position for some distance, the leading tunnel throws out amis in various < £ r ections, till we reach the furthest extremity of it, when, striking off at a right angle, another long vault opens up before us, and brings us to a spring of clear water, which feels as cold as ice. We then turn a corner, and pass through a tunnel made to supply a current of fresh air, and then gain our starting point. There is a tramway through a good part of the tunnel, and small waggons are used for bringing the washdirt to the mouth of the tunnel, where the sluice-boxes and the water-race are conveniently situated. The tunnel, including all its branches, is between six and seven hundred feet in length, and has occupied four or five men constant at work some seven or eight months, to drive. The auriferous nature of the ground was discovered by sinking a shaft some twenty or thirty feet.