A TRIP TO MARTINBOROUGH.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXVIII, Issue 7930, 2 January 1906, Page 7

A TRIP TO MARTINBOROUGH.

(Contributed by A.P.K.) My first visit to Wartinborough and the impresaiona it gavo riae to may possibly interest some of your readers. Martiuborougb is reckoned some 12 miles from Featborstou, the mail (a three-horse coach and generally two others) leaving the latter place about 11 a.m. daily for that township on arrival of the express train from Wellington. As myself and frieud bad come from Masterton we did uot Sad things so agreeably timed; failing to get any reliable information we left Masterton by the 7 a.m. train for Featherston, the result of wnicb was that we had to stroll about fully three mortal hours in a fruitless endeavour to kill time until 11 a.m., that being our first chance of leaving for Mar tinborough our avcwed destination. True a goods train with one small passenger car, affording scarcely sufficient room for a honeymoon trip, coupled to the guards van at the tail end of the train succeeded in reaching Featherston from Masterton about 10 a.m. We might have come by that: but then she is slow, uncertain and erratic in her movements, not being bound by any "regulations" to any Darticuar time, provided she is not in the way when the express comes; and so far no apparent cause that I could ever disuover she is prone to linger at some of the way-side stations, where the engine not infrequently is let loose and allowed to run down some of the side lines, butting at quiet inoffensive looking trucks, and giving vent to its feelings by fiendish yells which by-play soon loses interest with a passenger who may be a sttanger in these parts—has embarked under the impression. that he was travelling by the express instead of the "Wild Cat!" To render our three hours' waiting more tedious the day was dull and gloomy, windless,, yet chill relieved ky an occasional drizzle, eo that Featherston looked damp and uninviting. Featherston strikes one as something unique in the way of a township. What 1 suppose is really comprised within the borough are several, what may be termed tovvnlets, or rather hamlets, detaohed and at considerable distance from each other, the inverrening spaces being occupied by apparently suburban residences with occasional grass paddocks and plantations of sombre looking trees. There appears little go or , sign of life in the plaqe. Looks as if it had a history—rather an ancient one—bad had an ambition in its younger days; had made an effort to give a reality to it; had overgrown its strength; discovered its weakness when too late, and sat down ever since, concent now with looking picturesque, bringing to 1 one's remembranfce those lines of Tennyson—"And they came into a land that seemed all afternoon"— although we arrived there in the morning. It is moreover full of quaint surprises. Taming into one street, and judging by the classic groves of cypress, expecting tu come in view of some moss-grown cemetery, we find ourselves con : fronting a theatre! In another by-street, luring us by its air of modest seclusion, we find ourselves •in dangerous proximity to a hotel! But the express having arrived from Wellington, the mail coach is now preparing to start for Martinborough. Myself and friend clambers 'inside to escape the drizzle outside, and we are soon travelling a, to me, unknown and unfamiliar •country. The road we traversed ia •remarkably good, and N the whole distance, with caa exception, where •it winds down from a plateau or terrace of no great height, runs through comparatively level country. It is here in this depression that we cross the Ruamahanga river, which, like theMississipi, though on -a smaller scale, might claim to be called the "Father of Waters," at least as far as the Wairarapa is con•oerned, for within 'its bosom is here ,oontained the waters of the Waiohine, Waingawa, Waipoua, Taueru •and Wangaehu, besides numerous lesser ones. For some three or four miles from Featherston the land is, generally speaking, ofindifferent quality; but ■as one approaches Martinborough it rapidly improves, and one finds oneself running through a rich pastoral district that, to me, on this,' my first visit, proved quite a revelation. Martinborough IB picturesquely situated! on an open plain or slightly elevated plateau, with level .or undulating country stretching for miles in eVery direction, looking green and verdant. The township is 1 laid off in rectangular blocks with a small square reserved in the centre, planted with trees, from which radiate four roads as from the spokes of a wheel. The fault is only the main roads are one chain in width, the cross streets being three-quarter, which, as regards the latter is a grave mistake. Most of the houses look neat acd clean as if freshly pairted, two large doublestoried hotels, with veranahs, looming through the mist faoing the main and cross roads are plainly visible long before you approaob. The Government has already purchased the late Mr Charles Bidwell's property within a short distance of Martinborough, comprising some five thousand acres at fourteen pounds per acre, 1 was informed, and have surveyors at present engaged in cutting it up into small farms, 1 presume for dairying purposes. From the township one has an extendeded view in every direction, and a glimpse of uake Featherston stretching away for miles, whilst extensive lowlying flats formerly marshy and covered with dense bush, matted' undergrowth and large patches of cabbage trees, have been cleared and drained, and % now form soma of the richest and most fertile land in the distriot, and are uesd for fattening purposes, judging by the appearance of one large mob - of cattle we passed on our, return, and which had just been herded, their destinations being Wellington, I presume. 1 never saw such a fine sleek mob. There are still large belts of native timber remaining on these flats, with wide openings befcween and they apparently continue the shores of the take. (To'be Continued).