NOTES FROM OUR RAMBLING REPORTER.

Wanganui Herald, Volume XII, Issue 7242, 3 October 1878, Page 2

NOTES FROM OUR RAMBLING REPORTER.

A BIDE TO PBNBY'S CAMP AT KAIWHIKI

Want of time compelled me to holtl over a notice of my pisitto Denbj's Camp, and the locality from which the stone is being obtained for the reclamation works, from last week. In company with a number of your townsmen I visited the scene of operations. After leaving town two of our number proved to be of the Johnny Gilpin style of horsemen, and went flying along the road like wildfire, leaving me behind in the early part of our journey. Arriving at Aramoho we came up with our fast friends, who had dismounted,and no doubt folt safer on terrajlrma than in the pigskin. Mr John Walker was soon found, and kindly showed us his string of racehorses, which consisted of Raven, Tamouri, Flora McDonald, and Foam, a filly of good quality which is to represent Wan^anui at the Canterbury Metropolitan Race Meeting next month. These were all the horses in the stable, unless we accept Tom Thumb, who belongs to the Lilliputian class, and is said to be the smallest pony in New Zealand. Tom with age has not forgotten his old circus tricks as he proved to our satisfaction. Several other racers were out'in the paddock, but we had no time to go and see them, so after having a beer at the old stand, now kept by Mrs Richardson, we proceeded on our way, the company with one accord being loud in praise of the way Mr Walker had stuffed a large variety of birds which he displayed on his verandah, and which where only seen jußt as all were leaving. After riding leisurely along for about twenty minutes, John Kennedy's well known hostelry came in sight,and some of us wished to cross the river and tap his beer, but the majority decided the question and we continued travelling, After passing the property of the late Captain Smith we came to a rather rough piece of road overlooked by a cliff, and on the rugged side of which a number of trees were growing* About twenty feet below the track the river Wanganui rana, and several slips having come down over the original track, it did not look very safe travelling in places. Our Johnny Gilpin leaders, however, did not see any danger, or if they did, they said nothing, but merely stopped their horses and became greatly taken up with the scenery on the opposite side of the river, which is truly beautiful, and any one who knows the property called Featherstori will not wonder at them becoming so suddenly struck with it. By the 'time we got to the end of the cliff track our friends had been so lost in admiration that we had left them some distance behind, but when fairly on the open they were not to be denied, and again held the premier positions of first and second, which they changed alternately until W9 arrived at the gato leading into Mr Charles Smith's paddocks. A little further on and our troubles commenced. There was no appearance of a road running along the river until we discovered a newly cut track which we followed for a short distance,till we reached a bridge only partly finished. There was no good risking superior horseflesh &'c the bridge, and there seemed to be little chance of getting across the creek at this point, so we strnck inland and at last came to an old track which had evidently not been in use for some considerable time.- To cross by this track our horses objected and would not be forced, so at last all had to dismount and tryjpersuasion which finally succeeded, and for about a hundred yards we got on well, but the next obstacle was a four rail fence, and- there was no gate or slip rails leading out of this paddock that could be found. A top rail was found to be loose, and was quickly pulled out, and, like sheep < bucking-over a straw our horses carried us over one by one; aud now came the chance for the amateurs to distinguish themselves. No 1 was persuaded to try, and his horse making a fine leap carried him safely over, thanks to a good mane* No. 2, did not take the same precaution, and was almost left on the wrong side of the fence ; but now, however, the worst difficulty appeared to be over, as we found a two foot track had been cut which would take us in the direction of the camp. This track we subsequently ascertained had been cut by Denby's men Souring £the week previous. We followed, its tortuous course in "single file, going gingerly down the gullies, and taxing the powers of our horses to climb up on the opposite sides, When we got to a part; of the track where the sinuosities and ups and downs became particularly inter* eating, amateur, No. 1, got down, and led his horse, and No. 2, followed suit, but from what each experienced I should think they would have done better to havo stopped where they were* No, 1, had the. misfortune to slip off the main track into a well grown stinging nettle, which plant grows in large patches on the, hills near the river. This was a case of grief and

ptfinj4ndeea' ! #0, 2, Rot off 1 lightly," as he only slipped dawn in the mud several times. We passed the sites of some old Pahs, which in. the early days of the Wanganui settlement, were occupied by the up river natives as strongholds against hostile tribes, so we were informed by an old representative of one of the up river tribes, who we "found at the camp. When • we arrived at our destination we found there were but ten men on the Works, and these were living in tents, some halfdozen of which were pitched on a patch of level ground fifty or sixty yards from the river, and within half a mile of the ' Kaiwhaike pah, which is on the opposite side. The hills nlong the side we came are covered with fern and small trees, and turther up on the snme side present a more barren and rocky appearance. On the opposite side are some fine patches of low, lying land occupied, and in places cultivated by natives, and iv the background are high fern clad hills apparently unstocked. The situation is a wild and romantic one, and the view from the camp would bo well worth the attention of an artist. Mr W. Taylor, who is at present in command, informed us that stores and other buildings will shortly be erected on the ground, aud .they will certainly be needed when some' hundred men or more are at work. The native name for the site of the camp is Potama, and further on where the stone ia being got, Kaikatoa.:;jWejfollowed vhe track on foot from the camp to the quarry, a distance of not more than a quarter of a mile, where wo were posted in all particulars by Mr Taylor. The face of the cliff has been cleared of trees and scrub, and at its foot a kind of ledge has been formed from which to load the punts (now being built near the Market Square.) Some large boulders of shell rock had been thrown or rolled down, and from appearances there is every probability of sufficient material being obtained from this place, without a fresh piece of ground being taken up. Mr Taylor says that he does not expect that much blasting will have to be done to get the rock away. This is a practical view, and entitled to respect, but a great deal depends on the men, and after carefully contemplating the material, I have come to the conclusion that there will be more 'blasting' done than Mr Taylor has^ reckoned on, as I do not think he considered the metaphorical process. If dove practically, however, there will be less of the latter. A little further up, beyond Mr Charles Smith's boundary, there is a fine patch of rock, and Mr Denby tried but failed to make arrangements with the natives for it, as they refused to sell unless an out of the way price were paid. We returned to the camp and were invited to eat, drink, and be merry by the cook, who had a wholesonie repast in readiness. I need scarcely add that all were ready to partake, and agreed to the invitation. Shortly after this we started on the return, and after two hours fair riding reached town, all hands being well pleased with their outing, despite the many little troubles by the way.