The Oamaru Times, AND WAITAKI REPORTER. THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 14, 1865.

North Otago Times, 14 September 1865, Page 2

The Oamaru Times, AND WAITAKI REPORTER. THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 14, 1865.

We have taken some trouble to examine the records relating to the geographical and geological features of the regions through which it is considered that practical routes to the West Coast may be found. We have been, led to this from the fact that our citizens have signified their willingness to assist in the discovery of such a route, and also from the importance of the scheme itself. Sooner or later, communication must and will be established between the East and West Coasts of this Island, at a point more southerly than that which the newly-opened road from Christchurch to Hokitika traverses. Any information or evidence which can be published, therefore, of ihe best and most practicable routes will doubtless be regarded as a great help to the completion of the undertaking in one way or another. Much diversity of opinion appears to exist respecting the comparative mei its of supposed passes in the Lake Wanaka and Lake Ohau districts. The former is at present being tested by the expedition lately organised under the auspices of the Otago Provincial Government. It has been asserted by the people of Timaru, however, and also by "Explorer," whose communication appeared in the Oamartj Times of the 31st ultimo, that a preferable, more direct, and more practicable pass to the West Coast exists in the vicinity of Lake Ohau, via the Mackenzie Country. As to the comparative merits of the rival routes. It is not disputed, we believe, by any one that a practicable pass may be discovered via Lake Wanaka. It is known to exist, and to have been traversed. Dr Haast, the Provincial Geologist of Canterbury, asserts that this pass was the only one which was used .by the Maories in former times ; and he has mentioned the names of several chiefs to whom he was indebted for the information. The route taken by them was through the Mackenzie Country, by the Lindis Pass, thence by Lake Wanaka to the open Bay. The discovery — if discovery it may be termed — of a pass in this direction, will lose much of the novelty and romance with which the Ptkb Expedition would seek to invest it. As it is doubtful, however, that, in view of a short cut across to the presently discovered goldfields, this road will be of any practical utility, it will be well that the work of exploration does not rest here. We imagine it would reach the coast at a point much too far south to render it able in any way to compete with the recently opened road from Christchurch to Hokitika. Now, as to the route via Lake Ohau. It is the opinion of the Timaru people that in this neighborhood an easy path to the West-Coast may be discovered. " Explorer" endorses the statement, and points to a low saddle between Mounts Cook <ftnd' Stokes as the break in that mountain range which admits of

a practicable passage. We will again state the conclusions arrived at by Dr Haast, who says that to any but an experienced alpineer the pass is impracticable. The geologist may probably underrate the ability of Englishmen to undertake travelling under difficulties, or He overrates the task before them. The road over Mont Cenis shows that snow-dad mountains form no barrier to the passage of Europeans over them ; and we will not eo so far as to say that our New Zealand mountains offer more insurmountable obstacles to travellers than does Mont Cenis ur the Andes. We find Dr Haast referring to the saddle mentioned by "Explorer" in the following terms: — There is only on© break worth mentioning in the whole range which can be called a col, or snow-saddle, r.amely, between Mount Cook and Mount Stokes, and most visible from the Mueller Glacier, up the valley of. the """Y < 2I oo5 °r. the latter descending in two main branches from the Boutn-wtwwsi u u<u .i.f « nf oun t Cook and the south-eastern side of Mount Stokes, saddle can only he reached by travelling four miles over the Hooker Glacier, and could only be crossed by an experienced alpine traveller. The fact that a river, which has it* glacier sources opposite those of the Godley (one of the Waitaki sources) bears also the name of Waitaki, first pointed out by Mr Leonard Harper some years ago, made me first suspect that there wm a possibility of crossing from one side of the central chain to the other, by a. pass which was known to the Maories ; but I was repeatedly assured by them that such a break did not exist, and that they had to go down far to the south before there was a pass leading to Lake Wan^ka, without doubt alluding to that which I re discovered in 1863. There remains amongst the head- waters of the Tasrnan river still another, of which I have not yet spoken, namely, the Mueller .Glacier. It htw nearly a general easterly direction, and its principal ice masses descend from Mount Sefton and the Moorhouse range. Near the head of this glacier it a pass over a wall, formed of nearly perpendicular rocks, about a 1000 feei above the glacier, which would bring us upon the SeJwyn glacier, forminsj one of the pi incipal sources of the river Dobson, the eastern main branch of the river falling into Lake Ohau. Dr Haast then gops on to describe the valley at the head of Lake Ohau, first dwelling on the eastern branch of the Hopkins, which he has named the Dobson, and then the western or main branch. We will only now have space to follow him in his journey up the former. The valley at the head of Lake Ohau extends for five miles, with a uniform breadth of two miles, formed by the delta deposits of the river having filled the Lake so far. The ground ia swampy and difficult to travel over, unless to one acqaainted with the cattle tracks, till the valleys of the two rivers we have mentioned are reached. Entering the valley of the Dobson, it does not appear that difficulties of a nature to deter the traveller are to be encountered. The valley, as he proceeds northwards, assumes more and more an alpine appearance ; an. I the beauty of the exquisite scenery becomes much heightened by the magnificent vegetation (mostly of the white aud black birch) which cover the mountain sides for about 1000 feet, succeeded above by alpine vegetation, and over and through which the rocky pinnacles, pyramids and other ma«scs, often shaped into fantastic forms, stretch towards the sky. Traversing the valley for fourteen miles, it suddenly contracts, till an old moraine, through which the river flows, is cleared, when it opens out again, though not to the same extent. About a mile from the liead of the valley, it is no longei possible to travel on horseback, owing to the enormous blocks by which the river-bed is strewn. The pedestrian soon arrives at the terminal face of the main glacier, which comes principally from the south-eastern slopes of the Moorhorse Range, whilst another branch unites with it at the foot of the gigantic rocky wall which divides it from the Muller Glacier. This latter branch descends from the high range lying between the b<?d of the Tasman River and that of the river now under review. Dr Haast concludes that, owing to the steepness of the mountain sides, &c.,*« no pass is practicable here, either to tlie West Coast direct or to the valley of the L'pper Hopkins. The river, therefore, by whbh a passage to the westward from the Mackenzie Country — if one there exists at all — will be discovered, is the River Hopkins, the western or main branch of the river forming Lake Ohau. We will endeavor to find room foi a description of this river ia our next week's issue.

Ot/R Christchurch Telegram cmtains allusions to some matters of impcrtance. Mr Yogel's motion, condemnatory of the Governmental proposal respecting tie allocation of the Customs Revenue of Provinces, has been lost by a very decisive nujority — 25 votes to 8. The retirement from the House of several of the Auckland and Ohjro members before the voting, is ominous, aid speaks to a division in the camp. On the Separation debate, doubtless the Otago and luckland members will be more unanimous. At all events, a portion of them will ; but ilthough the fight appears to be warm and lasting, we quite anticipate that Mr Russell's motion will be lost by a considerable majoaty of votes. The intelligence from the East Coast is still portentous in character. Further engagements had taken place, in which the Hau-Haus were defeated; but more " havy fighting" was expected. (