REMINISCENCES OF A WALK ON THE CANTERBURY ANNIVERSARY DAY.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XVII, Issue 36, 27 December 1889, Page 11

REMINISCENCES OF A WALK ON THE CANTERBURY ANNIVERSARY DAY.

(From a Correspondent.)

December 16, the anniversary day — long may this day be honoured -has cume again and gone. Thirty-nine years sioce.on this day— which was a true New Zealand day, bright, warm, and sunny — twu of the first four gallant ships which brought the first seitlei a arrived at Port Lyttelton. Tbe Cbarotte Jane came about two noun before mid-day, and tbe Randolph during the afternoon. The Sir George Seymour arrived next day, and in ten days after the arrival of tbe first vessel the barque Cressy. Tbsse ships at that time brought to a then wild and desert shore, seven hundred aad fifty-three wanderers, known as the '■ Canterbury Pilgrims." From the first the day was made a public holiday, and celebrated witu gam s. This year there was quite a saturnalia on the occasion. Tbe vanous fire brigades aad beuefit societies in great numbers mustered in Litimer Square, where the Anniversary sports took place in former days, and tuen marched in procession througn the city and finally into Hagley Park. Many of the tab.eaux and specular representations to symbolise the objects of the various societies were pre.ty, and rendered the processions interesting. During the afternoon there were thuusauds of people in the Park. In the port there was the regatta, which, too, was more than ordinary,and not only t be port, but also New Brighton and Samner were fr«qoented by great numbers of pleasure-seekers. But a few persons thought that a walk to Governor's Bay, along the road commencing at tbe end of Colombo street, to wind over the hills, would be at pleasant as tbe public games. Deponent was one of these. This road, from the base of the hills to the summit at Dyer's Pass, is thrte miles long, and the Pass is computed to be ovet nine hundred ana thirty -seven feet above the sea. From a short way up tbe road a grand view is obtained of the city and the Convalescent Home. Tbe city has a very level aspect. The Catoedr.il towers high, and around it there is a dense cluster of grey aad blue-roofed edifices. Tbe buildings become scattered, trees more numerous. Dark green blue-gums aud pines, and trees of lighter shades, deeply em* bower many parts. In the city there are about twenty- three thousand people. The late Mr. Robert Rhodes left a donation of ten thousand pounds to erect t an abode tor sick and destitute persons, and tkis money mostly or wholly built the splendid edifice, tbe " Con* valescent Home. What a noble way of expending wealth I Many a world-tossed and fortune-wrecked person will enjoy the home and scenery and fresh air around the place, and will honour the kind donor's memory. Tbe home is made of brick, and has wLite sioue around the doors and windows, and, though in one, consists of three portions, besides a two-storied duubled-frouted central structure, there are two wings. Tbe building is well uigh three Hundred yards above the plaits and on a prominent spur of tbe hills. A more pretty and healthful site could nut have been chosen, fo form a site, also an esplanade, much levelling was requisite. The Windows in tbe middle part tspecinlly, command a grand view of the plains, city, alps, and sea, near New Brighton. About fifteen acre* of laud, with piLe trees around appertain to tha home. A hydraulic pump, moved by a small water-wheel on the river at the foot of the hills, supplies water. The place is also connected with tbe telegraphic office in the city. The home, when lit up and been from atar on a dark nignt has a very pietty effect. After passing the Home, Cashmere, the late Bir Cracroft Wilson's fair estate, is Been. Tue home* stead is at the entrance of a rich, level eemi -circular vale auout a mile wide and right behind a spur which forms a Bide of the valley. Many high and rare trees shade the buuse and other buildings. Through tbe garden and past tbe house the river Halswell winds. In the /alley and on tbe plains in front are mjre than a thousand acres of land drained and divided into large and licb paddocks. This land many years since was a dense swamp inhabited by bitterns and swamp bens. Tne hills also for mile* around belong to the estate, and the plain land is mostly let for £2 or more an acre. This rental is too high by about one half. A part of the valley runs far back into the bills and there becomes especially wild and rugged. 1 he night winds in Cashmere vale With a hollow and plaintiff wail, The night winds swep over this vale. Ai»d sigh and mourn o'er rock and tree. Before the vale the Maoris Haw, or Cook exoss'd tbe Southern main, Or tbe brave pilgrim founders came, The nignt win is s«*eept over this vale And sounded then tbe self same wail. Now no natives ever appear, Past i» the Captain's career, Of the pilgrims bui few remain, But these wild night winds yet remain. From the sea they come or the vale, And ever sound ih« self same woiu

Tbe plains likewise from thia road appear to great advantage. Th ■ plaits— the first settler-, itrmed this ex, ause of levei at*, v 1 tae ' greai plain," — mumble a vast valley, ..bou 9a miles 1 ng a d-X; wide, beiween two high mountain rau£eb. In- Poit «uu i<, l ■■ bills are oue range, an<l the boutuern Alp, whuh t xt«.uU uc •• Isiani's length, the other, Pegatui Bay, on Ue-ime hand, auu iha South Coast on tbe otoer, also bound the plains, and these remain extremely fiat to the bate of tbe mountains and to the lea shores,

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Five main rivers, which mostly rise in the alps and average about seventeen miles apart, literally transverse the pa ns. Four of these rivers flow into the ten, and one runs into Lake EUesmere. Many are the theories as to the origin of the plains. That they are an alluvial deposit washed down from the Alps on the South, by the rivers that now channel the plains, is one. Another that the plains are a submarine formation, and afterwards raised, and then the nvf rs cut their pmentbriad cnanne s. Tie former is the lite Dr. Von Haast's theory, the latter Piofessor Hutton's. That the plains are mostly an old formation and more recent deposits overlay in pome parts this first formation are moreover theoiies. A deposit about six miles wine extends to tie East Coast and skirts Port nills aid Lake Bllesmere. The best land is in these localities, ani ten or twelve fee.t of clay or sand rests on the gravel which in other parts of the plains is near or on the surface. Near our city is the Riccarton bnsh — of which a portion only now remains-and th-re was a bush at Papanui. But the latter f jrest was soon cut down. The plainb were covered wi h tussocks under which a smaller but nutricious grass grew on which cattle fed. In 6cme parts were tracts of flax, fern, and tute. The latter, a poisonous plant, often caused the death of horned cattle. There were likewise other grastes and a few small shrubs. Heieand there was a solitary cabbage-tree or a group of these fair trees. Tbe plain's chief native inhabitants were hawks, larks, lizards, and a spider whose cell was a marvel. Tnis spider made a domicile under ground, the entrance to which waa a passage upright and cylindric, and at the top of which was a door or lid. Tbe hinges were complete, and the lid fitted the aperture perfectly. Trickish boys were often wont to drum on tho ground near a cell. Then the spider ascended the passage, raised his portcullis and looked round. In thofe days the aspsct of the plains was brown and barren, and that they would ever remain a wilderaess was an often repeated prophecy. But in many paits tbe s >il is most rich, and now the plains are literally sudded with homesteads and pianations. At the present- moment thousa ids of acres can be seen verdant with grass and with vaiious crops. From the. road, too, one can seethe Southern Alps at once ri-ing rugged and majestic to a vast height above the plai, s. Their sutnmns are yet capped with de^p snows. Bat these are but vestiges ot a last win'ei's mantle, which draped to the base their sides, now dark and tombre. Corapared with these mountains, what are many vaunt d alpine heigths in oth«r climes? Fr^m Dyer's Pass a fair amount of Governor's bay, with its generally smooth wat^is, rugged outlines and numerous inlets and poi'rs, can be saen. fhe road down to the Bly is very steep, but not much more than a mile long. Near the Pass there is some bush, but the trees in it are small, yet they are native trees, and none are fairer. A re'urn to Chnstchurch by the steam launch and train terminated a pleasant excursion.