DISCOVERY OF A PRACTICABLE ROUTE TO THE WEST COAST.

Lake Wakatip Mail, Volume I, Issue 46, 7 October 1863, Page 4

DISCOVERY OF A PRACTICABLE ROUTE TO THE WEST COAST.

+ •ARRIVAL OP I DB.' HECTOR IN QUEENSTOWN.

The news that Dr. Hector had afrived in Queenstown on Sunday night from the West Coast, having discovered a practicable route to the Wakatip, caused an excitement unequalled on this field at any period of its history. The streets and bars were thronged by eager and breathless crowds, anxiously canvassing the probable results of the discovery to this township. The fears that have prevailed relative to the Dr.'s fate for the past month intensified the interest felt, and rumors of all kinds were current.

A public meeting was announced to be held at Bracken's Hotel, on Monday about noon, to welcome him. The hall was crowded by an excited and enthusiastic audience, and the greatest order prevailed. J. S. Hickson, Esq., R. M. was unanimously called to the Chair.

The Chairman, in introducing Dr. Hector to the meeting, touched upon the perilous journey performed by that indefatigable explorer, which without doubt would be hailed with the utmost satisfaction by the miners and residents of the Wakatip district; and he regretted that Dr. Hector would be unable to satisfy their curiosity, till he had communicated with the Government.

Mr Cass moved the following resolution:— "That this meeting desires to express its highest appreciation of the efforts made by Dr. Hector in exploring a country hitherto unknown, under great difficulties; and at the same time to offer him its warmest congratulations upon his success and safe return. Believing as this meeting does, that the interests of New Zealand and other lands in the Southern Ocean will hereafter reap immense advantages from the discoveries made by Dr. Hector, it takes this opportunity of publicly welcoming him back to Otago as the first successful explorer of the West Coast, and await with some anxiety for his report of the expedition." (Loud cheers.) Mr. Gordon, in seconding the motion, observed that though Dr. Hector had not told them he had come from the West Coast,

there was no doubt that he had done so, as he certainly had not dropped from the clouds, and it was only lately that the Government had sent a ship for him. He had safely traversed a country till lately deemed inaccessible, and deserved the best thanks of the community. (Cheers.) Dr. Hector rose to address the meeting amid a perfect tempest of cheers. He said —Gentlemen, I regret that my official position precludes my saying more than to return you my thanks for your kind welcome. I started for the examination of the West Coast in the month of May last, for the purpose of extending the Geological Survey, on which I am at present engaged, which will doubtless be of great assistance to the Provmce, and especially to the mining population. Since then, assisted by a first-rate crew in every way worthy of my confidence, I have been engaged in examining the West Coast by sea. It would scarcely be becoming in me to furnish you with the particulars of what I have seen before communicating with the Government; but my report will be published very shortly, when you will all have the opportunity of reading it. I requested the Government not to take any steps to send a relief party in search of me before the 28th of this month; the time has not yet expired, and I hope I shall be able to communicate with them in time to prevent their doing so. The Dr. again thanked the meeting, and sat down amid another demonstration of satisfaction.

The resolution was read and carried with deafening acclamation, three stentorian cheers being given for Dr. Hector, and a multitude "in."

A vote of thanks was passed to the chair and the meeting separated.

Although Dr. Hector was naturally chary of giving before he had commu» nicated with the Government, yet no amount of caution could prevent the circulation of rumors connected with his passage hither from the coast—rumors which the companions of his travels no doubt, though inadvertently aided. From a careful collation of these reports it appears that the exploring party entered a bay comparatively unknown, having at its mouth a bar in from seven to ten feet of water.' .A river named, as near as we could ascertain, Kutuputiki, runs into this bay, up which the party proceeded, meeting on their route three other lakes; when they stepped on shore being not more than forty miles from Lake Wakatip. The country is described as consisting of fine agricultural land, thickly timbered, and practicable for drays. The climate is stated to be beautiful in the extreme. We understand that two of Dr. Hector's men are now engaged cutting a good track back to the lake, where their vessel is lying. The Dr. arrived here in five days from the coast, and we learn that it could be easily accomplished in three. The track lies by way of the Greenstone River, on Messrs. Von Tunzelman's station, and it is said that no traveller can mistake the way. The exploring party encountered a Maori family on the banks of the river. We are sorry to have to record an accident that befel Dr. Hector. It appears that while lying in the bay above mentioned, a sudden squall struck the ship; and a boom, after striking the captain on the head so as nearly to render him insensible, dislocated the Dr.'s shoulder. Fortunately his assistants, under his direction, succeeded in remedying the injury, and we believe this intrepid traveller is now quite recovered.

Thus this great design is now accomplished, and will, we have no doubt, open a new era for the Province. Even should the existence of gold prove to be a myth in that particular place, as reported by the explorers, the discovery of this great desideratum will open up the whole of the vasjt, range of country on the coast; ajid the indications recorded of the precious metal can scarcely be fallacious. To Queenstown, the advantages that will accrue from the discovery of this route can scarcely be estimated.