The Nelson Evening Mail. TUESDAY, MAY 7, 1867.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume II, Issue 105, 7 May 1867, Page 2

The Nelson Evening Mail. TUESDAY, MAY 7, 1867.

The time appears to have arrived when we may not improperly enquire from the Provincial Government what results have been obtained by the exploring party, sent out under its auspices some weeks ago with a view to discover a practicable route from the Baton to the Upper Karamea. The matter excited much interest at the time, and the prompt action taken by the Government elicited general approbation ; but since that time, no definite tidings have reached us on the subject. Rumor, however, states that the party in question, although they had obtained from Mr. Hough, (who. we need hardly remind our reader?, lias, for years past been well .acquainted with tliose regions), a sketch of every yard of tlie way from the Baton to tlie Keramea bend, deliberately made up their minds not to follow his route, and in fact, did not traverse any part of the way marked out for them by one who certainly appears to have explored the country very extensively. "The result is precisely what might have been expected ; and we shall probably be called upon to chronicle this amongst our other expensive failures. It is true that it is also reported that the exploring party profess to have found a road to the Karamea bend, but it is one, as we are informed, that no sane man would ever attempt to travel. "We learn, also, that Mr. Hough, at the request of Lis Honor the Superintendent, has examined the sketch of the route actually taken hy the party;, and that he has very fully demonstrated to his Honor that what they are pleased to term the Karamea bend, is, in fact, one of the feeders of the Takaka River, flowing immediately behind Mount Arthur; and that, although Mr. Groom claims to he the discoverer of that river, and has named it the Leslie River, Mr. Hough had discovered it between four and five years ago, and gave the Government a sketch

illustrative of its course at the time, from which it would appear that, instead of leading to the Karamea, it would have led the exploring party down to Takaka, in Massacre Bay.

It may be in the recollection of some of our readers that Mr. Hough stated, some four or five years ago, that a large tract of country lay immediately behind the Mount Arthur Ranges, and having taken its bear- ' ings from Coromandel down to Otago, he was decidedly of opinion that one of the richest gold-fields that the province has yet fallen heir to, would be discovered in that district. This statement, however, was utterly ignored by the Government Surveyors at the time, as beiug entirely destitute of foundation. Mr. Groom has returned, and has, it would seem, fully endorsed.their opinions. On the oilier hand, Mr. Duttou in his letter on this subject in the Examiner, states that this country really does exist. Now. on which of these two authorities are we to place reliance ? The probability not unnaturally forces itself upon our mind, that should it be proved that Mr. Hough is right in the one case, he may be right in tbe other likewise. At all events it is easy to understand why the parties employed at different times by the Government have never been able to discover his route, since one aud all have persistently refused to follow the route marked oul for them by him.

We are told that the diggers from tlie Baton are regularly going over Mr. Hough's saddle to the Karamea, and that it is considered by them an excellent route ; aud yet, after a search which has extended over, probably, nearly twenty years, no Government employes have beeu able to discover it. It is evident that there must be a mistake somewhere, and it would be well if the Government woul I, in the interest of the commuuit3 r generally, take such steps as may set the matter at

rest for ever