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Press, Volume IV, Issue 448, 6 April 1864, Page 2

The following is a copy of a letter which has been received by Mr. Case from Mr. A. D. Dobson, being an account of a journey undertaken by him in search of a new pass to the West Coast:— Chrietcliurch, March 26. T. Cass, Esq., Chief Surveyor. Dear Sir, —I have the honor to inform yon that I have discovered an available pass to the West Coast by the way of the Waimakariri and Arahaura (?) rivers. I enclose a eketch map of the heads of the rivers Waimakariri and Araluura. The following is a description of the route I took, and of the general features of the country passed through. Starting from r the station belonging to Messrs. F. B. and G. Goldney, I followed up the main bank of the Waimakariri for eight miles, and then turned off to the N.W. up a stream generally known as the second north branch (which I have named the Bealey) and followed it up lor six miles, at which point the river enters a gorge, which obliged mc to leave the horses. The river bed of the Waiinakiriri from Goldney's to the junction of the Bealer i* vry wide, with well grassed flats on either side affording good travelling i for horses or dray?.

From the junction of the Bealcy with the mam stream to the place at which I left the horses, the river bed is from 10 to 20 chains wide, with small grass flats here and there. Terv little work at the river crossing would enable drays 'to traverse the creek bed up to the last mentioned point. , After leaving the hor*es I followed the creek bed up for about 1* ™1«, when the creek bccainC ? ° ' of boulders and caecades, that I was obliged to climb up the cliffs which formed the banks of the creek, to a terrace on the east side. I found this terrace covered with black and white birch, but open and very good travelling. After pushing through the bush for about 60 chains, I came on to the saddle, which is an open valley about 80 chains long, covered with grass and low scrub, and full of small waterholes. Crossing the saddle I descended a bank about 100 feet high (thickly covered with shrub) into the Arahaura (?) which is of considerable eize, even at this point, and is formed chiefly by a stream which flows in from the S.W., conveying the drainage from the glaciers on the West face of Mount Kolleston. For half a mile from the foot of the saddle the river bed is 5 or 6 chains wide, and offers very good travelling, when it suddenly contracts and flow? through narrow gorges for 2£ miles, the river bed being full of enormous boulders. At 3£ miles from the summit of the saddle the river is joined by a stream from the W.S.W., and the river bed extends in width to from 15 to 20 chains with grass flats here and there. At present it is very bad travelling from the saddle to the open river bed on the west side. The scrub is so thick that one must of necessity keep the river bed, and during our journey we were frequently obliged to lower ourselves down the cliffs with our swag slings, and wade through water holes up to our shoulders, with our swags on our heads. All this would be avoided by a line cut through tha bush on the east side of the river, and very easy gradients would be obtained by a little side cutting here and there. The bush on the west side is chiefly " rata " which is at present in full bloom, and gives the snow capped I mountains an extremely beautiful foreground, whilst that on the east is entirely black and white birch. The saddle is, if anything, lower than the Tararaakau saddle, and having a northern aspect would be clear of snow sooner than the latter. In case of a main road being made to the West Coast, I certainly think that a line of road by the upper Wairaakariri country through the Waimakariri pass and ? down the Arahura '(?) would be cheaper and would present far easier gradients than the Hurunui line. One great point in favour of the Waimakariri route would be, that as soon as the road round Lake Pearson is finished, a dray could be driven from Christchurch to within three miles of the saddle, whilst by the Hurunui line, for 47 miles from the gorge of the Waitohi to the Hurunui saddle, the making a dray road will be a very expensive work. I was accompanied during my trip by Mr. T. B. Goldney, John Marshall, and one of my brothers; Mr. Goldney entertained mc most hospitably during my stay in the Waimakariri country, and found all the stores for the expedition. My object in seeking for this pass was to try and find a nearer route from Christchurch to the lower part of my West Coast contract, than that by way of the Taramakau. We put up a small whare on the saddle, and filled it with firewood, in order that I may have shelter and firing, in case I should be caught by bad weather in crossing the pass next year. We marked our route through the bush on the south side by blazing trees, and cut a line on the north side though the scrub from the saddle to the river bed. But I should not advise any stranger to attempt to reach the Grey or Taramakau by this route until a line has been cut through the bush, about a mile down the Arahaura (?) which will enable the traveller to avoid some dangeroue clifls. I have the honor to remain, Sir, Your most obedient servant, A. Dudley Dobson.