OUT FOR THE HOLIDAYS.

Gisborne Standard and Cook County Gazette, Volume IV, Issue 550, 30 December 1890, Page 2

OUT FOR THE HOLIDAYS.

A RIDE TO TE REINGA FALLS. [standard representative.] That cheerful contributor who writes under the suggestive title of “ Trix ” h-s mad many victims of those in search of pleasure, and I fear that I must subscribe myself as one of th£ latest additions to the list. He timidly coos his Mary Ann, then sets off to 101 l on a quarter-deck, the craft gently rocked by the heaving bosom of the ocean ; he steers to some place with a murderous long name (•meh as Whareongaonga), attends a pleasant little picnic graced by the presence of ladies gaily attired in la est Whareongaonga summer fashions, any spare time he has being divided between sucking cherries and helping a mysterious cask up the hill. Then he comes back, writesit up in racy fashion, with the result that everybody else wants to go there. I struck out in a different line, but with the same ambition, of showing those people who moon away their spare time in town that there is much to be seen about Gisborne. Numbers rush away in evil smelling steamboat?., undergo the toriuies of seasickness, and put up with all the discomforts of travelling, while they do not appreciate the beauties of nature ns presented wi bin an easy distance from their own lt is possible that in tho near future I myself shall be numbered with that class—painful memories of a past that is not yet remote gently probe one, but no matter. It is said that you can distinguish a well mannered person by the ease with which he seats himself upon the chair his host accommodates him with: experience teaches that there are times when one ■ may be par icularly scrupulous upon this point of etiquette. If you know anyone that is not recommend him to take a ride to Te Reinga. FROM GISBORNE TO WAERENGA-O-KUHI. Our party, consisting of myseif and another, started from Gisborne after dinner on Christmas Day. A comfortable ride of three hour? will take you to the settlement. When on the Patutahi main road you strike off to your left at the first branch, and then cannot miss the way tu Wairoa, Waereuga-o-kuri being about a quarter of the distance. The ride to tho latter place is certainly enjoyable. The Patutahi flat is always pleasant to the eye of the townsman, and is particularly so now when harvesting is in progress A little beyond Mr Herbert s place, at the foot of the hill up which the track winds, there is an exceedingly nice spot for picnic parties, provided pleasureseekers do not mind a ride or drive of nearly two hours. The hili called Gent.e Annie s ems to frown on you like an old maid as you reach the clump of bush in the valley, and one feels deep respect for the stern matron until knowledge subsequently gained teaches you that it is really only *• small beer,” which pales into insignificance when comparisons are made later on. The road continues up the valley for a short stretch and then takes to the hills, winding in and out in a fashion that makes you feel quite thirsty as you liken the twisty road to a corkscrew. A pretty view of Gisborne and the surrounding country is to be got after you have travelled up a short way, aud the Reay station and other properties can be seen when you have reached the siddle of the hill Waerenga o kuri itself is disappointing at first sight, and a stranger passing through would not be likely to entertain any reverential regard for it. But it must be remembered that it is a pastor*’ country. A few homesteads - including Mr Wall s, Mr Mossman’s, and Mr Mcßeth’s,—strike the attention, while Mr Dette’s excellent accommodation house is a welcome sign to the weary traveller going either way. Tho stage is a very convenient one, and the estab ishment itself is one that iu every respect bears a high reputation Our little party did not stay there, having gone up iu response to the invitation of some friends, but a number of other Gisborne people were also up at the same time, including ladies and chi'dren,and they speak in high terms of Mr Dette’s place, it being more like a home than a house open to the public. The schoolhouse stands a little higher up. It is not an imposing structure, nor are there many pupi<s to attend it, but I suppose Mr Reid, the master, does his best under the circumstances. The settlement—if such it may ba termed—is situated on a flat, runs extending away back among the bills, which meet the eye any way you look. There are some good patches of land, but on the whole it is very rough, and must take much eapi:al and labor to break in properly. Mr Knowles’ run is the principal property. This is managed by Mr Cameron, Mr Mcßeth being resident iu charge. A lot of good work has been done on the property, long lines of fencing have been erected, and there is evidence of good management all through, though there is yet a great deal to do in the way of breaking in the country. Later on farther reference will be made to the settlement, Staying there for the night we pushed on

FROM WAERENGA-A-KURI TO THE WAIHAU LAKES, getting started shortly before nine on Thursday morning. Going through the Gorge I unexpectedly came upon a party of Gisborne people who had camped there for the night. Their intention was to drive on -luring the day, but it is said there is a destiny which shapes our ends, and in this case the programme devised was not fulfilled. We j >gged along at an easy pace, no sooner getting round one point than another presented itself. Indeed I never travelled over a more dreary road. Fern on either side, a broiling sun overhead, and no breeze to temper the Heat. The saddle of a big hill in the distance was said to be half way, but iu case of a diasion I would sooner have the bulk given by the other half. Everyone seemed to have a different idea of distance. In and out wriggled that road. You would hurry on to the top of a hill, thinking that there must surely be a fairy land on the other side to recompense you for the weary sameness of the early part of the journey, but there was still no change; when one hill was reached another and then another would present themselves. I have heard of an old joke made by a settler. He was asked if there was much land in New Zealand, and he replied that there was so much that it had to be stacked away in hills. It seemed to mo that there must have been some rare stacking work in the quarter of the globe in which we were travelling, and a very poor article is much of the stuff that has been stacked up. A good view of Gisborne flat was promised me, before Mr Williamson’s place was reached, but all that could be seen was what appeared to be a native village among a lot of trees, the light being unfavorable. Mr Williamson has taken up a large area of country, the fence beginning on the Gisborne side of what, in my ignorance, I will call Williamson’s Hill. A couple of cottages have been erected near the hill. The laud along the road is poor, but there is said to bo some land of very good quality further back. The rough portions will give some heavy work, but the property is iu good hands. In the dis ance you can «ee ti e track still continuing its serpeutiue course, as fur as what I believe is called the Ihumane range. The road seems to beckon you on in the grim satufao lion that you will ba tired out before you come to tho end of it. We passed soma workmen putting finishing touches to tho surface of thq ros,d. I remarked symputhisingly that theirs must be vyarm work on such a day. “ Yes, ” replied a jolly looking customer; “ but,” added ho, as if on an after thought, “it’s a foine day,” This method of consoling one’s self made me fancy that the jolly eno must be a descendant of Mark Tapley. Previously we met Mr Dette, who gave us a truthful idea of the distance we had yet to travel. He said we would get to the Ring all right at about 2 la the afternoon, but it would he no pleasure excurdom Nearing the big is at last some scenery tn ple-se »he «*ye in reality this is the only part of the journey that one can onj“y until the Lakes are sighted. They look very pretty from the hills, while the whole gauntry changes very much for the better. There are eleven lakes altogether, though all cannot be seen from the hilb

They lie in thediff?rent valleys, there being a lot of flat land among the hills ; the hills in tho locality have qui’e an infantile appearance when compared with others to be seen on the journey. The ride once the Lakes are in view becomes very pleasant; the surroundings are fairly attractive (though nothing towhat can be seen wi'hin a few miles of town), and the prospect of a good luuchat Mr Arundel’s accommodation house has an inspiriting effect. On arriving there at ten minutes to one—moderate riding—we found half a dozen or more of holiday-makers from Gisborne. They had started from town before daylight on Christmas morning, riding straight through to the Lakes, or Tiniroto. as this place is called. Another party had gone right through to tho Wairoa. We had missed the fun of the fair, it seemed. There had been a great picnic at Te Reinga on Christmas Day ; all the settlers, their wives and families, were there—in short Tiniroto was enfetc, and the visitors from Gisborne were not behind in the jollification. The Maoris also assisted in the entertainment, regaling the picnickers with cherries, of which there is a great abundance. Of course the Falls were the main attraction. Then there was canoeing upon the river, besides swimming; there was plenty of music, and'he light fantastic was tripped beneath the shade of the loaded cherry tree’, and altogether there was a gay time. The excursionists from town had then again got horses ready for a ride round r ‘Te Kooti’s gardens” and other places of interest, after lunch. Wo made an hour’s stay for lunch and to give the horses a rest. The lakes lose all their beauty when you get close to them. They are fine largo duck ponds, which do not look as if they wont I allow the place to be a healthy one to live in ; but in March, many sportmen are attracted .to the locality by the good shooting that can be obtained. There is a number of settlers scattered over *the district. What, seems a great pity is that no school has yet been provided. While we in Gisborne are so proud of our schools, a thought may be given to these toilers in the back blocks. Wherever possible special encouragement should be given to these settlers, but the want of some kind of a school is a great obstacle ; intelligent parents, who value education, must have a sorrowful feeling that their children have to be partially deprived of such great advantages in the race of life. I was told that, including natives, two dozen children would attend school if some provision were made for them, and it will be a great shame if some definite action is not soon taken in the matter. THE FALLS are seven miles or so beyond Mr Arnndel’® place, and after a capital lunch we again took to the pigskin, being told on all sides that the trip to Te Reinga would be a fitting reonmpens* for the dreary nature of the rest of the journev. Truly it was so. A few miles on one might imagine that he was translated to a brighter world, so pleasing was the change, Nature seemed to smile upon us once more ; the birds twittered sweetly, a lively tui would occasionally pipe a Christmas carol, and even the horses seemed to gain spirit by the enjoy* able change. The Whakapunaka range is an imposing spectacle, giving grandeur to the verdant lowlands, if such a term may be used of country so high above the sea level. In sums places streams of water oan be seen trickling down the face of the range, and there are several minor waterfalls which are in them pelves very attractive, though of course they bear no comparison with the leading feature. The Te Reinga pah is much tho same as other pahs, excepting that it is more scattered than is usually the case, and is therefore more cleanly. The cherry trees growing about are loaded with ripe fruit, and one of the natives told me that much of it had to rot, as they could not possibly consume all the fruit. For nominal consideration—most often for no consideration at all—they invite you to eat your fill of the fruit and take away with you what yoa can carry. Tho pah is situated at the confluence of the Ruakituri creek und the Wairoa river, and by riding through the pah and across tho stream a fine view of the [ magnificent Te Reinga Falls may be obtained. The water rushes through a 1 a rocky race and over what looks like a whitft terrace. The narrow gorge irsaid to ’ he 150 feet to deep. As we stood gazing on the beautiful falls, the sunlight acting upon ■ the spray gave it a variety of tints, as if there was a rainbow across the Stream, ' No pen and ink description would convey an adequate idea of the imptesslvenera ' of the scene to one who is fond of admiring the beauties of nature. Having «een the falls in the summer season one has also a desire to see them when the river is in fresh, when there ought to be a grand sigh% The visit to Te Reinga, we felt, amply re- ! paid for the early portion of the jouroey, and I felt rather ashamed nf myself that I bed been so long in Gisborne without having gp< n 1 the falls. Besides the parties of townspeople to which I have made reference we came I across another party, who were just returning as wo were on our way from Tiniioto to Te Reinga, and a>l told there must have been 1 a large number of townspeople out during the holidays., As.we were leaving for home ' Mr Williamson, to Mrg Williamson and children, drove up, naming made "mart time in their buggy. It was r their intention to camp for the night, and n very pleasant time th°y ought to have had, A few jottings yet remain to be made, but i they will bold good for next issue,