Portland Guardian (Vic. : 1876 - 1953)(about) |
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Saturday 7 October 1882
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A WALK. F.OM P0 LTLAND TO THE CAPE NELSON LIGHTHOUSE SITE. Leaving Portland and crossing Ieoty's bridge, a person is struck with the ad mirable situations which abound in the locality for gentlemen's houses, of which, however, there are but few to be seen at present, this is rather surprising, con sidering the fine view to be obtained here of both sea and country. The first two miles travelled is a splendid road, which seems to be in conformity with road.nmaking about the district, i.e., to make a few miles out of Po:tland and then stop short. The new cemetery looks nice to the traveller passing along, with its many sorts of trees, of which the sheoak is very conspicuous. I dare say it will be rendered better still as tihe tree plantiing is carried on and completed. Leaving the cemnetery, the road Ibecomes rather inferior, with heavy patches of eand and steep hills. Tile next thing of nottce is the residence of 3Mr. Gray, which stanls majestically alone on tile top of a high hill, and can't miss any of the fresh air stirring from whichever quarter of the globe it should happen to come. Leaving tile last-named place on the right, a long tract of country is to the left bueween the road and the sea, chiefly containing heath and swamp, whitch seems to be nearly all fenced in but little else done 'with it, though it seems well adapted for growing potatoes or breaking tip and laying down in grasses. Passing on about two miles or so, a new track branches off to the left, which leads to the quarry where the stone is being procured for the'lighthouse. It is surprising to the uninitiated wsllat time and men can do to construct strong works. Some splendid blocks of stone are to be seen all round the quarry. Leaving the quarry, tihe road is up and down hill all the way to the end of the journey. One hill in particular, known as Chinutery's Hill, seems to be a great horror to some of the carters. As I was passing I saw a pair of splendid looking annitials waiting for help. There seems to be a good -number of teams at work now, and from what I can learn ere long there will be plenty more. By the way, the only culti vation I saw growing by this hill, and is the property of MJr. Chinnery, is looking remarkably well, although it is in very small patches. Leaving this big hill be hind, nothing meets the eye but lime. stone ridges (which thue carters must find difficult to contend withl) with a stunted sort of a guns crubt) covering part, and an odd sheeo.sk tree on some of tih hills. Sotme of the gullies show very rich soil, altlhough at present very bare of grass. The lightlhouse works are to be seen be tween two and three miles before cotling to thesmi. One would im gine it was a smiall township in thie distance. On arriving at the works in their Iresent stlate, an unex paernicred hand would be puzzled to under ,tandl what it would be when finislhed. Everything seesms to be in its infant state, but the contractor has pushed on well consilering the awful weather he has hadl to encounter, especially thie wind, which I atm told makes it unsafe to be abeout st times, one of tile stables having beer blown down one night with a narrose e-cape for horse and man, the men being in a tent somewhere close by when that accident hJappened. Leaving the works, I started on ssy journey hack to Portland along the cliff, a near road te teams travel back to to the quarry. It seems a rough road to go with loaded drays along this route. There is a splendid view of the rocky shore all round to Cape Grant, and not forgetting the Lawrance hock, all of whlich presents a terrible but attractive sight in this rough weather, with tle spray dashing hundrelds of feet in the air and then falling back amonnst the ragirg waves below. So splendid war the sight that I sat and watched it until looking tat my watch it told v.e if I did not want to bIe out in tihe dark, I miust move ,on, which advice I followed, and arrived just in time at the ilrit:ania Hlottl to ptrt.k of a good sulpper, to which the fresh air enabled ime to do ample justice. TIIAVI'LLFI.