West Coast Exploration.

Otago Witness, Issue 1971, 14 November 1889, Page 16

West Coast Exploration.

Editob Witness : Sir,— l have just returned after completing the exploration of a track to George's Sound, and no doubt you will soon have a^eliable report, for I hear that a surveyor is coming up ; then you will wonder at Mr Q. M'Kinnon's modesty in hob publishing his discoveries two'years ago. - , Last autumn I spent a month out there looking for a pass to the coast, and succeeded in findingone, but as there was more work to dp'an application was made to the Wallace County Council for a reward. Mr M'Kinnon heard of this and promptly wrote to the local paper to the effect that my discovery was not a new one— that he reported on it two years ago, and offering to do the work for a smaller sum than was asked for by me, concluding his magnanimous letter by hoping that the council would not forget him. Now, Sir, the fact Is that Mr M'Kinnou toada no discovery towards George's Sound, and his letter was a deliberate attempt to turn other people's work to his own account, and not the first attempt. For pointing this out lam accused by. " Veepa "of " enviousnefls and jealousy," but "Vespa 1 ' could not have read the letter alluded to or, he would have been ashamed to act as champion for the writer. Regarding my statement about the Caswell Sound track, I take the following sentence from Mr Moore's and Dr Eotferts' report, published in the Southland Weekly Times' in March 1883:— "Hard walking, without' lunch, bub with occasional drinks of oatmeal and water, brought us back to the boat, famißhed and tired out, at 3 p.m. after having literally fought our way to the West Coast and back."— Yours truly, Eich. Henry. '

The 'first tourist to visit Mount Cook this season is Viscount Dunlo, eldest son of the Earl of Clancarty. A very successful Good Templars' picnic was held on Monday, on the estate of Mr Grieve, Silverstream. The members of the Anchor of Hope Lodge, Mosgiel, and Down of Light Lodge, Walton, joined their forces, and about 100 persons found their way to the grounds. Sports and games of all kinds were indulged in, after which came tea among the trees. Before separating, Bro. Neill, C.T. Walton Lodge, proposed votes of .thanks to members of the Anchor Lodge for supplying liquids for the occasion, and to Mr Grieve for the use of his grounds. C.T. Bro. Gunton replied, and all separated before sundown thoroughly pleased with the outing.

In the Appeal Court the. question was raised whether under the proviso to section 137 of the Bankruptcy Act 1883, a- bankrupt must pay wages due to his men in full, or whether he need only pay them the amounts of their preferential claims, before getting his discharge. Mr Justice Denniston, considering himself bound by the decision of the late Mr Justice Gillies, had refused bankrupts Ford, of Chrisfcchurch, their discharge on the assignee reporting that the wages of the men had not all been paid in full, although they received their preferential claims. The bankrupts now appealed, and the appeal was allowed)

We have received some fine specimens of early grown strawberries from the proprietor of the well known Abbotsford estate, Taieri. They are of excellent flavour, and quite equal to anything that is to be met with ab a much later period of the season. This estate, we notice, is in the market, and will be offered for sale by auction by Messrs Wright, Sbephenson, "and Co., in conjunction with the Farmers' Agency Company, on the 6fch December. Such a fine property should meet with a ready sale, and the opportunity of acquiring a home may probably be taken advantage of by 6ome Australian capitalist. The Dunedin Stock Exchange has received a telegram giving the following additional battery returns from Keefton s— lnglewood, 120oz from 35 tons ; Progress, 750z 4£dwt, crushing with 15 stampers. When you see a bad bold boy who will persist in trundling his hoop along a busy thoroughfare, look ont presently for an old gentleman struggling in. a heap on the" ground, with a small boy and a large hoop mixed up under him. Tbe old fellow forgets that he was a boy once, and that age has come with bis grey hairs ; but grey hairs can bo made to assume all the pleasing freshness of boyhood by the use of Mrs S.A. Allen's World's Hair Bestorer, which nourishes the roots, and so restores the attractive colour of youthf gold everywhere.