VI.—The Peninsula.
Continued

The Peninsula furnishes another very enjoyable ride or drive, not so long as the previous one and hardly one whit less interesting, as in the first portion new attractions are exposed to view, and in the latter half, sights which, on our former trip? could be seen only by turning round are now a fair prospect lying before us unfolding at every turn something new and impressive.

Starting from the city the line of tramway may be followed to St. Clair, the favourite and health-giving resort of Dunedin citizens when holidays present the opportunity. Not being a very warlike race, and little up in big guns—we are flattered by the high encomiums bestowed on the three fortifications erected along the beach to defend the city from any would-be blackmailer. The visitor can leisurely inspect the St Glair Thunderer, proceed quietly along the sands, provided the tide permits, and inhale the healthful ozone, which the not always balmy breezes waft in towards the passer by, and renew or revive fading energies. Or if old father ocean declines to permit the liberty, there is the road by the racecourse by which the central battery can be inspected, and passing the temporary residence of His Excellency the Grovernor, onward by Tahuna Park Show page 270Ground, and the silent spot within whose pale perfect equality alone obtains, we reach Lawyer's Head, on which the third piece of ordnance constituting our city defences is placed. The descent is then made into the Tomahawk Valley with its small lagoon, once a much more attractive object than now, when it lay smiling sweetly amid its forest-clad surroundings. Abruptly rising again over the Tomahawk ridge with its reefs lying half a mile out in the ocean, the homes of a number of well-to-do old settlers may be seen scattered on the hills and valleys around. Then again dropping down gently to sea level in another valley, an uphill pinch has to be tackled, which, on being accomplished, we now reach the top of the cliff with a sheer face of 800 feet, and at whose base the waters are perpetually surging and lashing, slowly but gradually undermining the solid wall which has resisted and will for centuries continue to resist their attacks. Prom this point a splendid view of the southern coast can be obtained, whilst immediately in our front lies Seal Point, with its two digits defying the water sprite, the beach along Sandy Bay, with the Gull Rocks standing as sentinels a few yards off, and the Low Bock as outer guard, fully a mile out to sea. Beyond this point the road along the coast is not yet formed, so that the excursionest cannot get down to Hooper's Inlet, but this is unimportant, as very little variety in scenery here presents itself. "We therefore take the road to the centre of the Peninsula, and pass around groves and glens, where the fancy can rove at its own sweet pleasure, and the eye be delighted with glimpses of Nature in her most attractive garb, almost as she existed when the Pakeha first intruded on her solitude. On the return journey along the main road into town, many varied and enchanting views of water, land, and city will be obtained. The harbour, the hills, and the town show a different phase of beauty at almost every bend of the very winding road which had to be followed in order to secure an easy grade. The ardent wish of every traveller is to renew the visit to the Peninsula as frequently as opportunity will permit.