MR. PYKE'S DISCOVERY.

Lyttelton Times, Volume XXIV, Issue 1567, 20 December 1865, Page 3

MR. PYKE'S DISCOVERY.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE LTTTELTOI TIMES. Sir, —My attention has been directed to an article in your issue of the 2nd instant, wherein you hare thought fit to accuse me of endearouring to " hide my obligations to the geologist of a neighbouring province," and to assert that, although in my report I have " here and there mentioned the track of my predecessor, I hare never, either openly or incidentally, given to the real discoverer the credit of being the first to make known «o important a fact to the world." Nothing can be more unwarranted and disingenuous than this attack. Certainly, I I did not deem it necessary to repeat the history of Dr. Haast's, discovery, which was published by the colonial' pyess in 1863, and reiterated by Mr. Holmes in a letter t» the Daily Times (Dunedin), so lately as June last; but it was well known that the object of my expedition was to ascertain whether a practical route to the West Coast existed by way of the Haast Pass. Throughout my report, therefore, I have dealt with Dr. Haast's discoveries as an established and well-known fact; and, instead of hiding, I have carefully acknowledged my obligations to my predecessor, by stating when, where, and for what distances we followed his track, which I have described as " well defined." What unbiassed mind, then, reading my report, will give credence to your assertion that I have " concealed the fact, and left the public to deceive themselves ?" I venture to say, not one!—out of Canterbury or in it. As to the passage so carefully quoted against me, I repeat that I discovered an easy and practicable route to the West Coast; and I will now add that Dr. Haast did not. The track followed by him on the right bank of the Haast affords no facilities whatever for making a road, and is therefore impracticable for any useful purpose. The matter stands thus, then : —Dr. Haast discovered the pass which bears his name, and I discovered a good line for a pack thick or road, by crossing the river about twelve miles from the seacoast, and travelling up the left bank all the way to the pass. This is all I claim, or that I ever have claimed. As to the assertion that I have " suggested an incorrect version of certain circumstances, the better to hide my obligations," I treat the charge with the contempt it merits. It is just possible that I may have erred in my judgment, in stating that some peculiar blazes seen by me were apparently eight years old ; but lam still of the same opinion, and Mr. Coates judged them to be still older. However, the veracity of your correspondent, who states that he cut those blazes in 1863, can easily be tested. A drawing of them, showing their relative positions, has been in the possession of the Otago Government since the 25th October. Let your correspondent produce a fac simile, and I will admit that I was mistaken'. If this challenge is refused, the public will be able to place a proper construction on the matter. For the rest, his Honor the Superintendent of Otago, in his published address to the Provincial Council, stated that I " followed very much the route previously taken by Dr. Haast," which is more than I can possibly admit. And I feel assured that, whatever may be the case elsewhere, the people of Otago will fully exonerate me from any attempt to assume the credit of Dr. Haast's discovery, and that those who best know me i will do me the justice to say that lam inca- i pable of the meanness ascribed to me by yourself. 1 Yours, &c., • VINCENT PYKE. : Dunedin, 10th Dec., 1865. - i