ASHBURTON.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XVIII, Issue 24, 8 October 1886, Page 13

ASHBURTON.

(Prom our own Correspondent.) There are many of your readers who have heard of Wakanui, and who, perhaps, are under the impression that it is an outlying district of little importance in the vicinity of Ashburton. It might, perhaps astonish them to hear that it ia an agricultural tract of countryof wide expanse and second to none in the Colony as to productiveness. It is not very often that I can get out for a ride into the country, as you pay pretty dearly for a mode of conveyance here, and the go-round-abouts come in handy, especially when Tom, Dick, and Harry are to be attended to. This state of affairs makes you inclined to use Shank s mare, but then you cannot go far and what you see is hardly worth writing about. However, I indulged in the luxnry lately, and during the course of my journey jotted down a few remarks which may interest Borne of your readers. I rode out along what is eenerally called the Beach road, and my horse and I being anxious to breathe the country air, I was soon away from the dust of our inland city. The scene which presented itself to my view was a pleasing surprise. As far as the eye could stretch was a vast extent of land carefully cropped, and showing by the way in which it was laid down that the owners have a thorough knowledge of their business. The crop land was interspersed with grassy paddocks on which were some o. the best sheep I have seen in the Colony. There was also a good specimen of draught horses to be seen here and here, and a numerous sprinkling of pigs, which would cause you to think as you looked at the fences that it would be no wonder tif somebody had the " wrang soo" by the lug, sometimes. Further on 1 came m view of Mr. Liddy's farm, and by looking at it the spectator would have cause to think that wherever you place an Irishman, if you give him fair play, he will become one of the most persevering and energetic members of the community. I must say around Mr. Liddy s farm were strong indications of care and industry Boon after this I came in view of Mr. Fitzgerald's farm where well-gated paddocks and tidily trimmed fences were very conspicuous. I may here add that he is another Irishman, and worthy of note as a farmer. I then pursued my course in the direction of the Wakanui school, where the spleadid house erected for the master caused me to think on the fate of the Catholic teacher, who as a rule has to pay for his house out of his slender salary, and yet at the same time there is no one more pure, more elevated, or more deserving of recognition, than one whose highest ambition is to store the minds of little children in the knowledge, and to guide their footsteps in the path of duty Will the Government ever take into consideration the case of these men whose humble task involves all that is greatest in a State, and do justice to them and the Catholic body at large. I hope and trust it m * ay v having P assed tfa e Wakanui school I proceeded in the direction of the beach and soon came in view of the'sea. As I gazed on its placid surface, and listened to the sound of its heaving motion as it rose and fell like the breathing of some mighty giant in his sleep, Nature sent home a warning note to me in the feeling of a hungry pang, which made me think on the comforts of the tea-table and the chitter-chatter of the little ones, and suiting the very action to the thought I was soon flying away in th» direction of home. In passing my friend s place, Mr. Brankin, I felt inclined to trespass on hiß hospitality, but time would not permit of a delay. I was sorry that I was not m a position to call, as I was sure of getting a musical treat from his little daughter, who entertained me kindly on a previous occasion, and wbo can give " Home sweet Home," » The Harp of Taras Hall," and "The. Dear little Shamrock" with impressiveness and precision. I am sure, Mr. Eiitor, you quite understand how an Irishman feels when something prevents him from hearing these sweet melodies, which contain the music of his heart and 1 must say I arrived in town again, if not in a more pleasant mood, still, a wiser man than when I left.