THE SEARCH FOR PROFESSOR BROWN.

Evening Star, Issue 7799, 21 December 1888, Page 2

THE SEARCH FOR PROFESSOR BROWN.

Major Goring has kindly favored us with the following account, as told him by Mr Ernest Mitchell, who went in pearch of Professor Brown, accompanied by Messrs Murrell, Barker, and Dora, the latter remaining -at the head of the lake with the main supply of provisions :—They arrived at the head of the lake at 5 p.m. on Friday, the 14th, and camped for the night. Starting next morning at eight o'clock, they reached our camp at the foot of the saddle at 6 p.m., having searched the bed of the Micabum wtll on their way up. Next morning they made an early start, searched the torrent and the basin which lies under the saddle thoroughly, and, like us, the only trace they found was the same broken lily that we saw. After searching round the base of the saddle, they ascended it with great difficulty, and on reaching the top found comparatively level oountry, with tussock, snow grass, and great quantities of mountain lily. This was about a mile and ahalf wide, and at the end a second saddle appeared, of about the same height as the first, but more precipitous and difficult of ascent, At the foot of it lies a large lagoon, inabasin of about a mile in circumference, with a smaller one on the N.W. side of it, and connected by a shallow channel. The lagoon must be of immense depth, judging by the blackness of the water, It wpuld appear that the channel is nothing more nor less than a narrow ridge of rock between the two. The strange thing about these lagoons is that though there are several large waterfalls flowing into the bigger one, there is no visible outlet to either, the wacer running through the channel from the large to the small one like a mill-race. There is no appearance of whirlpool or eddy of any kind, though it is evident there must be a subterranean outlet. Mitohell himself, on reaching this point, searched the shores for any tracks, but found none his two companions (Murrell and Barker) making for the top of the saddle, the snow being about waist deep. On reaching the top they saw two deep gorges, one running in a S.W, direction, which I have little doubt leads into the head of Hall's Arm, the other running between W, aod N.W., which, according to my calculation, would lead into Deep Cove, Of course, this is only conjecture on my part, from my knowledge of the lay of the country, As thick mist carao on they were un»ble to see into the Sound, and, dreading to be caught in bad weatli3r, made back for the upper camp. They left it next morning (Monday), and reached the head of the lake the same afternoon. As you have already heard, they mot M'Kenzie's party about halfway down'tho lake. Major Goring continues: If Professor Brown was tempted to go up the spur to the right of tho first saddle (which is a much easier ascent than tho way tho Mitchell party took), and was caught in the storm that came on the afternoon of his disappearance, with his want of knowledge of locality and bushcraft, he must have lost his way and perished, for no one could have stood exposure in such weather, clad as he was. Had I had an idea that he would attempt such a thing, I would never have let him leave the camp; but thinking from what he Baid as he looked into the tent before starting that he only meant to potter about the gorge. I let him go, fearing no risk whatever. With the years of knowledge and experience I hivo had of bush travelling in New Zealand, I should not have thought it poEsiblo for weather to change so abruptly from warm summer to fiercest winter.

In reply to questions put by a member of our staff, Major Goring said thore was not the slightest foundation for the imprest ion that has been gained in some quarters that there was any want of union among the party. Not only was theio perfect unanimity as to their plan of action, but the halt at the foot of the spur was the result of the joint agreement at tL|e start of the expedition that if they encountered unfavorable weather they were to go into camp while it lasted, and not repeat the mistake of last year. When they entered the gorge it was indeed a summer's day—beautifully warm and a cloudless sky; but next da; it was as if the season had been revolutionised. In a few hours they encountered the rigors of a winter, with heavy snow and piercing cold. Ho does hot share the notion that professor Brown, on leaving camp, intended to make for the near saddle and ascend it. The Professor, he thinks, merely intended, as he' said, "to take a stroll," and Major Goring points, in confirmation of his view, to the fact that his late companion was not fully clad or in any way provisioned. He is afraid that Professor Brown either met with an accident or was buried by an avalanche, as Mitchell's party report that there were indications in many spots of great masses of snow and parth having shifted quite recently. The weather, when Major Goring left, was quite fine, so that the parties now out would be able to make a complete search.