The Otago Witness. DUNEDIN, FRIDAY, DEC. 20.

Otago Witness, Issue 838, 20 December 1867, Page 10

The Otago Witness. DUNEDIN, FRIDAY, DEC. 20.

The Expedition to the West Coast has ' returned, without accomplishing the ostensible object for which it was despatched. The intention was partly that of exploration, and partly with a view to establish a settlement either at Martin's Bay, or at such other point on the West Coast as seemed most convenient for the purpose. If the last object has not been realized, further knowledge has been gained of a portion of the Province, which, if not altogether a terra incognito, was hardly better known than the interior of North America to the early settlers of that Continent. The explorations of Dr. Hector and' Dr. Haast had undoubtedly given some idea of the nature of the country, and they and Mr Pyke had demonstrated the possibility of crossing the island from sea to sea. These were ascertained facts : additions to geographical knowledge, but a dead letter so far as utility is concerned. The gold diggings on the West Coast had extended Southward, and some who had been there affirmed that gold could be obtained at Martin's Bay, and that a good harbor, available for shipx^ing, existed. It was, therefore, clearly advisable to ascertain what ground there was for an opinion generally held; and the Provincial Government was only fulfilling one of the ends and purposes for which it was instituted, by seek* ing to extend settlement, and to develop, to the fullest extent, the resources of the Province. Perhaps to have done the w»rk thoroughly, more time ought to \ have been taken, for two important facts had to be ascertained — whether there was land , available for pasturage, and whether a practicable route could be made across the country, so as to unite the interior with the proposed new settlement. Although for a short period, and when wealth is easily gathered, as at the gold diggings on the West Coast, townships may grow up and flourish for a while, unless permanent occupation is found for the large population congregated around, with the exhaustion of the gold, the prosperity of the towns will disappear. It is, therefore, important that a township should be connected with the interior, so that it may become the port of import : and export — the market for the sale of the surplus produce of the country, and the means of obtaining supplies of necessaries or luxuries from other Provinces or foreign lands. It is fchia that gives Dunedin so commanding a position; and apparently, if the whole surface of the Province, avail- , able for settlement, i* to become inhabited

■fey an industrious and prosperous population, it will be nesessary to develop ■communication from Dunedin as a point ] •of departure and concentration. So far as has been ascertained, there is an almost impassable barrier between the harbors on the West Coast and the interior — a range of mountains towering into the regions of unmelting snow — an ■alpine range replete with beauty and grandeur, and which, at some future time, may yield a passage to the attacks •of science and engineering, supported by capital, and suggested by the necessities of a rich and thriving population. But such a contingency is in the future. For generations to come, so far as is yet ascertained, even the . splendid harbor of Milford Sound is not " likely to be made a commercial centre, although it may become a favorite resort ( of tourists in search of the beautiful and picturesque, or a harbor of refuge. But it must not be supposed that the expendi- • ture has been without its beneficial re- i suits. Had nothing been discovered, it • would have been an advantage to know how to prosecute the work of development; ior the knowledge that its course must be from East to West, affords a clue to what is necessary. But thece has been much more accomplished. Minute examination has shewn that the Province is rich in mineral productions, the existence of which may have been surmised, but never ascertained. Granite, equal in qxiality to the far-famed Scotch granite, is found to abound, and in such positions as to render it easily available. Slate of such quality, in such quantity, and so situated as to be obtainable at moderate cost, has been discovered, applicable for pavements and footpaths ; and thus two important products, for ■which, as the Australasian Colonies | develop in wealth, great demand must one day spring up, are' added to the list of Otago's resources. Although it seems likely that the Company, formed for ■working the coal seam at Coal Island, will abandon their project, on the ground tkat, according to present appearances, the quantity obtainable will not pay the outlay necessary to work it, the fact of its having been discovered is an earnest of future wealth, when with a less timid hand the field shall have been thoroughly prospected. In every aspect, therefore, the expedition may be said to have proved useful, and must be considered the pioneer to future and more immediatelypayable enterprises.