EXPLORATION IN FIORD COUNTRY.

Otago Witness, Issue 2251, 22 April 1897, Page 38

EXPLORATION IN FIORD COUNTRY.

The Lske Wakatipu Mail reports thab Mr Wilmot, district surveyor, has returned after spending three months in exploring the country between Lnke Manapouri and the West Coast Sounds. His object was to ascertain whether or not thera was a practicable route by way of the Spey and Seaforth Rivers between Lake Manapouri and Dusky Sound, or any pass leading inbo any other of the sounds, and thus completing the work commenced by IVIr T. Mackenz'e. He has been very successful in this, ac, though he cannot recommend the route between the Lake and Dusky Sound as being suitable for anything beyond a foot tracV, he has discovered a pass leading into Smith Sound, which, from its position and low elevation, he is confident will prove of great use for communication between the Lakes and the Sounds. This pass is at the head of the Dashwood Stream, a tributory of bhe Spey River, which comes into that river bstween four and five miles from Manapouri Lake. Its elevation is only 2000 ft above sea level, and, its direction being uoifth-wesi; and south-east, it is open to the north-west wind, and snow is not likely to lie on it for long at any time of the year. The couut'y on each side is suitablo for road-making, and the distance bebween the lak£ and the Sound is only aboub 13 miles. Mr Wilmob lias also found low paises between Du*ky Sound and Lake Hauro'.o, in a south-east direction, arid between the south arm of Lake Manapouri and Like Monowai. These are nob likely to be of much use for main lines of traffic, but will doubtless be übilited for tourist routes as the country becomes better known. The country explored is chiefly of granitic formation, and is very broken and rugged. Tha bush in the valleys and the precipitous and jagged mountain tops, make travelling and prospeoting difficult. No trace of gold or other minerals was to be obtained anywhere. No extent of land suitablo for settlement was met with, and very little fit for grazing, while, though the country ia densely bushed, the timber is of no commercial value. Taking tho trip through, the weather was' fairly good, and nobwithsbanding the rough and arduous nature of the work, and a certain amount of discomfort and danger inseparable fro of exploration in such country, the party enjoyed excelienb health, and no accident- of a seriouT naturu occurred. Mr Wilmob speaks in highesb terms of the men who accompanied him