PICTURESQUE PICTON.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume VIII, Issue 42, 17 October 1891, Page 486

PICTURESQUE PICTON.

BY

'N.Z. GRAPHIC'S' TRAVELLING ARTIST.

Aetek leaving Wellington, the first port of call in the South Island is Piston, situated on the immediately opposite side of Cook Strait at Us narrowest part and within the deep recess of Captain Cook’s favourite haven, Queen Charlotte’s Sound, which he lias tersely described as * a collection of the finest harbours in the world.’ Passing through the Tory

Channel, we find the entrance to the Sound ample, the water deep, the tides regular, both shores indented with capital bays and coves, and fresh water an 1 timber abundant. No wonder that this magnificent inlet always stood high in the estimation of the early navigators and whalers. Had there been a sufficiency of suitable land around its margin, it would long ere this have been known as the site of a prosperous city. The scenery is charming. Forest-clad hills, plashing streams emerging from gullies and gorges resplendent with tree-ferns, palms, flowering shrubs and trees,

birds of attractive plumage Hitting about, and fish leaping from the placid bosom of the water—such are the constituent featuies of the <■««// d'n:il. An amphitheatre of hills locks us in from the outer world. The White Kocks, Motuara and Long Island lie within the entrance, and abreast of Motuara are three coves, the most southern of which is Ship Cove, familiar by name to every reader of •Cook’s Voyages.’ The double bay of Waitohi, on the southern side, contains the port and town of Picton, chief outlet for Marlborough, the smallest province of New Zealand. It was detached from Nelson in 1859, and has an area of about three million acres. Its physical geography may

be summed up as a succession of parallel valleys and mountain ranges, running generally north-east and south-west, the most northerly and westerly valleys being those of the Pelorus and the Rai, which are covered by valuable forests prolific in such marketable timbers as the white pine, rimu, matai, and totara.

Picton, a borough of about eight hundred population, is situated on a very pretty piece of water surrounded by high land, and forming a splendid harbour. The wharfage accommodation is at present rather limited, but will probably be increased considerably in the near future, owing to the rapidly-increasing output of produce from the Marlborough district by steamers and sailing vessels from this port. The principal exports are wool, barley, flax, and hops, besides meats, frozen and preserved in other ways.

Picton, like most towns of its size, is a quiet little place ; but the summer visitor must necessarily be very fastidious who could not profitably while away a month or so in the district, more especially if his tastes incline to the artistic in nature, as the scenery round about the Queen Charlotte and Pelorus Sounds is as beautiful as could be found in any part of New Zealand. Outside communication is, however, very frequent and easy. Blenheim lies distant about eighteen miles by rail, and there is a frequent train service, and coaches run also to connect with the boats from Wellington and Nelson. The Union S.S. Company’s boats also call at Picton four times a week, and Mr Fisk’s small steamers ply

daily between the town and Mahakirpawa and other places on the Sounds. The streets are wide, out of all proportion to the buildings, looking as if designed for a distant future when Picton shall be the favourite watering-place of the capital of New Zealand. The street leading up from the quay bears the name of Wellington-street. Hereon is situated the Customs

and Post-office, and immediately opposite Oxley’s Pier Hotel. A little further up is the Ship Hotel facing the water, and further on we come to Phillpott’s store and the Bank of New Zealand’s building. Facing Fell’s malt house on the next corner is Jinkin’s general store. In High street, starting at the seaward end, is the Ter-

minus Hotel, kept by Mr Falconer ; then come the U.S.S. Offices and Allport’s Boarding House ; whilst on the same street are situated the stores of J. Greensill and Co., J. Godfrey, Girling and Co., M. O’Donnell, and others. Here, 100, are the publishing offices of the bi-weekly, Marlboro’ Express, published by Mr A.T. Card, the agent for the New Zealand Graphic. Passing across the railway line to the

Wairau Road we come to the Borough Council Office, and in the vicinity of Nelson Square—a pretty level green square of about two acres, leaded and played on by the Picton Cricket Club (which, by-the-bye, has an exceptionally strong eleven, or has had in past seasons)—is the Church of England, an unimposing wooden structure, which is, however, beautified internally by pretty stained-glass windows,

those over the Communion table in memory of the late Mr Adams, of Langley-Dale, being especially beautiful. Close by are the Schools, Smith’s Timber Mills, and near these again the brewery of L. B. Jones. Across the Square, and facing the Cricket Ground, is the Clarendon Hotel, kept by Mr S. Eyes. In this connection we forgot

to mention the George Hotel, a good commercial house kept by Mr G. Harris on High street. At the end of the same street is the Court House and Police Offices. Picton has a compact little hospital, the resident surgeon of which is Dr. Scott. There is an establishment for the drying and curing of the famous ‘ Picton herrings ’ and other fish, just across the harbour, and a good many men are employed

in and around the neighbouring Sounds in fishing. Mr A. G. Fell (the present Mayor of Picton) has a large and very complete malt - house, and G. A. Smith and Co., have a timber • mill in the centre of the town. The R.M. for the district is J. Allen, Esq., and the member for Waimea-Picton, C. H Mills, Esq., who, however, resides at Havelock. The cemetery is situated on the side

of a hill a bit away from the town. In past times it was kept trim and neat by convict labour, but has, unfortunately been allowed to fall into a rather dilapidated condition. , Our sketch of Picton, which embraces most of the town near the water, is taken from across the Spit; that of the harbour from between the railway station and Terminus

Hotel ; and the view of (jneen Charlot te Sound from the headland known as ‘ The Snout.’ * If I were to commit suicide,' said Gus de Jay to his father’s physician, ‘ what kind of a verdict would the corwoner bwing in?’ ‘Justifiable homicide,’ was the emphatic reply.