RIVER NAVIGATION.

Clutha Leader, Volume I, Issue 4, 30 July 1874, Page 3

RIVER NAVIGATION.

THE MOLYNEUX. (From a Correspondent')

Rivers are usually tbe chief means of opening the interior of all countries in the early part of their history, and this happens mostly because water-ways are cheaper than roads or railways. Steam on water is* always more economical than steam on land, besides which, the roughest class of boat may be used for the early purposes of extending trade by water, against that which can be adopted by hand. For example, the bullock dray was the primary couveyance of this land, and the schooner that of trade by water. The "dug-out canoe" was the first boat on our rivers. At the period of our colonial history in wbich the Dunstan goldfields were opened; another cla>s of boats found their way up the rapid tide of the Molyneux, namely, the " whaleboat." These were tracked up by their crew?, just in the same way as the American low-boats are tracked up the ' rivers of thtir mountain lands. These fearless pioneers of the Molyueux, loaded their boats with goods at Port, and hauled them up tbe stream; in some instances they were forced to make a "portage" that is to unload and carry all on shore over land to the head of the falls, rapidß or whatever obstruction existed iv their path. But after many hardship*, the boats arrived in safety at Alexandra, Clyde, and other parts of the great central watershed of Otago. Another class of boat was; used in those days on the river, to wit; " wash-ing-tubs ;" these boats were flat- bottomed, eoosbung usually of three nine inch boards torgued and grooved, and two side- boards, with a square stern and sharp bow ; some them were of the punt order, and some of the "pram." All, however, navigated to - tbe tune of 2s. 6d. a head for a passage - over the water. 01 these boats, many were .used to carry freight down the stream. There is yet another class of float used in the early navigation of this river called, the " Catamaran ;" this is formed cf logs secuTSfy" pinned together with wooden spars and pics, and fitted chiefly for running timber from place to place. The Catamaran is the safest craft of all that bave ever drifted on the i waves of the\ Molyneux, though awkward enough for\ those who cannot handle a scull oar. The" * "Mogie" is a "Koradt" or flax; stalk catamaran, and was used by the natives before our advent for the purposes of navigation. The Moaries had spleuded canoes, ot . great size and strength, and no doubt were well acquainted with the niysteri{ s of tracking, poleing, and paddling" up the stream. In other lands water^conramnication is so much prized as to .cjusjKthe. construction of canals large" enough to, float corvette?,-. While to take advantage of waterways, las'ep, streams, and creeks, containing sufficient wateMoXloat a boat riot exceeding from " eighteen inches • to three - feet ot draught 3re\mOnorjplised. In all the early histories of our colonies we find waterways . made subservient, if possible, to the development of internal progression and colonisation. , ThirtyXyeara^Bgo the -North Ameiican Indian had scarcelyjaid down his paddle before the introduction of river steamers in the Canadian waters. Towboats lay along side' the wharves ofcTisirig inland capitals; wood- boats and schooners hoisted sail for the far off sea port, or. arrived up river to be viewed as a. strange event 5y -' the inland dwellers. Yi't- after all- we-see here the work done by the never-failing waterway, although it has its. danger ssgen\ and unsptn in the snog sawyer and sunken rock. Falls and rapids sound large, and are no doubt freighted with^mucfr danger - to those who do not understand river navigation. Yet after all the danger is not greater than drivingrdpsvii/the roofc and pillar on two wheelß,:th6^ other two in- the air continually; or ..taking a -passage over- ' land to Lake- Wakatipu, Vialtiyercargili^in winter; or any of the feats of travel accomplished every day^byicbachcs/ buggies, and horsemen. jWxtb /all these things in yiew, ifc seems strange^ hat people i should slumber on, as far as the fact which exists 'at their very doors is concerned, viz-, that the ~a. Molyneux is .the great water way "into:" the vi interior of Golden Otago— ript pnl^'gdlden y in ore, but also in agricuitnralpWsWral^'and^ a vast field Vof other '?mjhe)?id^e'aiil'h] , si;fit'^ which coal forms a large parj^ii^mandingi iv an immense area, of cuhiya!ift]Heflan^^ wa f ered on; every side, besiftel retiree '7oi the: finest lakes in New Zealand,* with timber jri'^ aDy quantity; WJth^ the dwelleifl'of bmgb^does'se^mstrange^'i that they should | be; content toValld\#the^? wealth lately^ ob^medJor.tKe^ conatructin^'railways^arid openings upl^betl country7tp;Blip;throughrtljeir' fibga^wifch-^s out t^e^p^priation; o^a;farUiing'fo%^ttie ; w purpbse/pf the' waterway^ .of- th% X Mplyrieux navigable, y Now," ther^remairis " but { one; course,: yiz,~,; will the 'Generai^Go-' y verrimeriff give a ..local 'Icbrrjpan^fa^w^er^?' ;Yi&lnpeJ6i:tte river for a ''term^ye^s^n^?;.; fdj|ionary tbatth^ :rate|iand- dues. - acclruin^l^^S|^^^^igaifV : ' tgff f the %river4byrOtgr'g^W|^b^i ;cbmp3ny v t6;covehah£t^ :reef&a^ r b>rs, : ;t^ nayigatibn: -bei'vveSwMiMot^kuiknMWM