The Island was actually a rise of land next to the
Molyneaux River (Clutha) in otago. When the river rose in flood it was completely cut off and surrounded by water. Hence the Island.
A RABBIT HUNT.
To break the dull monotony of a Tuapeka life, I took a trip the other week to Tuapeka Mouth, accompanied by a friend, with the ostensible object of having either a pig hunt or a rabbit hunt. But a short time ago no other sport than pig-hunting could be had within a hundred miles of Tuapeka ; but now that rabbits are swarming the district, a day's good sport can be enjoyed at any time. Abotit twelve miles below the Mouth, on the banks of the
Molyneux, there is a spot adapted in every respect by nature as a rabbit-warren. At high flood the place I refer to is surrounded by the Molyneux's rapid waters, and it has from this fact received the name of "the Island," although when the river is at its ordinary level it is easy of access. Thither did my friend and 1, accompanied by a crack shot, to wit Mr. Andrew
Taylor, of the Mouth, and another friend, direct our horses' steps early on Saturday morning. We found the road very interesting but very long. To the right, across the river, was Douglas and Alderson's magnificent station, where all the most recent improvements in agricultural implements, &c, are brought into successful operation. To the left was
Greenfield Station, the property of Mr. James
Smith. This estate comprises somewhere about 16,000 acres of excellent land, and all freehold ; a large quantity of it is laid down in
English grass. Mr. Taylor here left us and went direct to the scene of operations, while the others of the party went round by the station to procure another fowling-piece. After obtaining a gun from Mr. Cameron, Mr. Smith's manager, and spending some time in viewing the operations of sheep-washing, we continued our journey, and having cleared the last gate in the
Greenfield estate, we then passed Mr. W. A. Murray's less pretensious but equally well situated farm of 3000 acres. Here is also Mr. Buchanan's farm, and one or two others of small dimentions. The valley of the Molynenx, from the Mouth downwards to Clutha
Ferry, is quite a picture. There is hardly an acre on the thousand Mils which meet the eye that is not capable of yielding its increase. And how excellent the means of conveying the produce of these hills. There is the Tuapeka steamer quietly sailing down the river, having just received a heavy freight of oats from one of the stations for the Dunedin market. But now we have reached the Waitahuna river, which has recently been bridged in a substantial manner by Mr. Tolcher. The bridge is built on three massive piers, which stand several feet above the banks of the river. I am not aware what the contract was for the bridge, but one thing is certain, it is an improvement on the fiimsy bridges erected by the Government on many district roads, and is likely to stand the floods of a century unimpaired. Riding along the
Banks of the Waitahuna for a short distance till we came to a ford, which we crossed, we prosecuted our journey over an extensive flat for about two miles, till we reached the confluence of the Waitahuna with the
Molyneux, when we found to our chagrin that the Waitahuna lay between us and the island whither we were bound for the sport. Nothing was left for us but to retrace our steps. The fact is we should not have recrossed the Waitahuna, but kept it on our right until we reached the island. Nothing daunted, we made two or three unsuccessful attempts to ford the river — a most dongerous operation to anyone who is not acquainted with the place attempted to be forded, which I discovered to my cost. " Here is a good place," said one of my companions ; and indeed it looked well — rocks all across the stream, and apparently safe. I led the way, and succeeded in getting within three or four yards of the opposite side, where the current was, when encouraged by a few words from my trusty companions, I gave my nag the spur, and he took the water, and down he went over the saddle, and commenced plunging at a fine rate
Keeping his head well up, he managed after a few strokes to get footing, and succeeded in carrying me across with no other accident than some considerable grazes to his shins and a rather unpleasant ducking to his rider-. My comrades in travel would not risk the danger I had not altogether readily encountered, and directed their steps up the river to the ford which we had previously crossed. Meanwhile I followed the river downwards, and after crossing a few gullies, managed to reach the island, although I was guided more by the report of Mr. Taylor's gun than by any idea I had of the whereabouts of the spot. I found Mr. Taylor had bagged three pair of good fat rabbits, not without some excellent sport, and had begun to think that we had lost our road. My other two companions in travel shortly succeeded in joining Mr. Taylor and myself, and set to work doing our best to start the rabbits from their burrows. Scarcely one that showed itself escaped the deadly aim of Mr. Taylor, whose skill with the gun would do credit to any man in possession of both his arms,- It was quite a study .o observe the agility with which our tfriend lifted the gun with his left hand rested it on his right shoulder, and took
his aim. My duties were to beat about the scrub and flax and raise the rabbits, and it took me all my time to do this and gather the dead together to their restingplace, although not to their last restingplace. Having spent two or three hours at this exciting sport, the approach of night directed our thoughts homeward, and after loading our horses with the- result chiefly of Mr. Taylor's skill, we mounted, and were soon overtaken by a night pitchy dark and gloomy as the tomb, although not before the two dogs had captured a few Maori hens, and thus enriched our freight. Reaching Mr. Smith's station, we were asked to dismount and have some refreshment, of which kindness we were not slow to avail ourselves. Having shared the hospitalities of the station in the shape of a cup of tea and as much splendid fat mutton as we could stow away, we resumed our journey homeward, and a most tedious journey it was. The darkness made it absolutely necessary for us to give our horses the reins, and leave them to their will, and we did not err in this course, as they brought us to the Mouth in peace and safety.
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Sean