PASS TO THE BULLER.

Nelson Examiner and New Zealand Chronicle, Volume XXII, Issue 18, 25 February 1863, Page 3

PASS TO THE BULLER.

To THB EDITOtt OF THE ' NELSON EXAMINEE.' Ste — If you will allow me a email space in jour valuable paper, I should like to make a few observations on a subject which concerns all in this province. I noticed that you said, in your Saturday's issue, "the pass spoken of by Mr.' Hough proves to be a mistake," &c. Now, sir, I still contend that ifc is far from being a mistake. It is t> ue, (viewing it in a certain aspect) the dividing saddle between the Baton and the West Coast appears to be higher than one could have supposed it to be, from the circumstance of seeing the sun so very low down for three nights together, but, in order to test the existence of a pass, I went with Mr. Bochfort and his men up a very long spur leading to the Barren Ranges, on the south side of the paas, intending, when we reached the top, to go down to the saddle and thoroughly examino it both on this and the other side, but, unfortunately, we found the dividing range split open between us and the saddie, so that from this point it was impossible to get over.

Mr. Rochfort, with his men, then went on the top of the ranges, as far as they could get towards the Wangapeka, in order to ascertain whether there was any other pass more feasible, but found none, and, during their absence, I examined the pass from end to end, being then far above the gull . On Mr. Rochfort's return, and when we were looking together down on the saddle, I told him that to me it appeared quite easy to make a bridle-track over it, and this at a very easy gradient, by following round all the leading spurs, and that I thought a rise of one in fifty would suffice. The pass, from the Baton store, I believe to be about six miles to the source of the Karamea, or to the saddle j but, in order to get an easy gradient, you might make it ten or twelve miles, as there are leading spurs from one end to the other and timber all die way through. lam confident, that a bridle-track could be made in a very short time, and provisions carried into the Karamea from the Baton store in a few hours ; at all events it appears to be the only place which nature or rather providence has left us for easy access to the West Coast in nearly a direct Hue from Nelson. There may ba a few rough knots to brush away but we hardly expect, in mountain ranges, to find roads already cut and dried to our hands.

And now, sir, after reaching the source oftheKaramea, the next question is, What lies beyond ? For years I have been travelling about the country in all directions almost, in order to find, if possible, the locality of the real matrix of the gold-fields of this province, and now I believe it to be found.

Immediately behind the ulount Arthur Ranges, lies an immense watershed, extending northward behind Motueka towards the Takaka, on the eastern side ; and, on the opposite eide, trending off in a northwesterly direction towards the head of the Aorere valley. Here, in this watershed, the Karamea river has its source, and also the Aorere and the Takaka (this watershed I should take to be ten or twelve miles wide). On the opposite side of this watershed, runs another line of ranges (almost parallel -with the Mount Arthur Ranges), from about the head of the Aorere, right across the country towards the Buller. These ranges all trend down westward to the sea, and, through an opening in one of these, the Karamea runs down to the sea. Now, sir, I believe the matrix of the gold will be found running through this watershed, and that it is from this source that ull the gold has been carried down into the Aorere, the Takaka, and the Karamea, towards the coast, and that it is from this also that the gold has been carried down into the Buller and all the country below. It is towards this that all the diggers in the lower part of the country are working their way, all working upwards towards the ranges, and it is only as they get upwards that they begin to find the gold more heavy and nuggetty, and I really believe that, if you can once succeed in getting a number of diggers into this part of the country, the results will be all, if not more than you could wish. Then again, it appears to me that it would be no very difficult matter to get a road across the watershed to the opposite ranges, as there are leading spurs all the way from the saddle across to where the Karamea runs through to the sea ; and it also appears to me to be rery possible, from this point, to carry a track or road along the base of these opposite ranges down towards the Buller. But enough on this point.

Yours, &c, W. Hough.

P.S. — The saddle is nearly on a level with a small valley and stream that runs at its base, on the west side : the time it would take to walk from Nelson would be three days.