The Invercargill Times. TUESDAY, DECEMBER 2, 1862.

Southland Times, Volume I, Issue 7, 2 December 1862, Page 2

The Invercargill Times. TUESDAY, DECEMBER 2, 1862.

Ik a previous issue we proved that Invercargill was indisputably the first port of call to the recently-discovered goldfield, lying to the north and east of the Waikatip Lake. Nature has done everything for us as regards a road, it remains with ourselves to take advantage of these facilities. Are we in a position to avail ourselves of this long-anticipated piece of good fortune, and do we feel inclined to do so? To act energetically, and liberally, each member of the community earnestly endeavouring to promote the general welfare, not seeking to aggrandize himself at its expense. It has been wisely ordained that the interests of the individual are bound up with those of the mass, — any infraction of this rule is sensibly felt sooner or later, not merely by the community but by the unit. On the discovery of the Tuapeka Goldfields, the price of all the necessaries for a digger's equipment immediately rose, so that many an Invercargill digger, on arriving there, found that what he had wearily carried for many a mile could be purchased on the ground at a cheaper rate. Was this wise — was there any reason for it 1 Being two days' sail nearer to Victoria than Dunedin, we can get our provisions at least as cheap; our merchants have well-ap-pointed connections with Australia, and although the class of vessels which at present trade to cur ports are not, perhaps, either so large or so swift as might be desirable — although we have not as yet a steam fleet congregating i j our waters — yet such as we have will answer all our purposes for some time to come ; the late passage of the Eucalyptus almost equals in vapidity the famed Aldinga. Should the new Eldorado turn out as anticipated, many a steamer wi'l find out that the " dangers'' of the passage here are mythical : let us hope, therefore, that a wise and liberal policy on the part of our merchants and traders will prevent the possibility of any grumbling as to prices, or invidious comparisons with Dunedin. But getting provisions at Invercargill is one thing, getting them up to the diggings another. We are all rather apt, when the occasion presents itself, to take advantage of circum stances, without looking to ulterior results; to say, l - How much can I get V not '' What will give me a fair remuneration ?" Before the discovery of the Nokoraai diggings, cartage from Invercargill to Mr. Barnehill's station, at the north end of the Moonlight Ranges, only 32 miles from the foot of the Waikatip Lake, and some 25 from the Nokomai, was £15 per ton, and that paid ; immediataly, however, on the rush taking place, it rose to £70 and £80 a ton. Was this in any way pioportionate to the circumstances 1 At the present moment flour on the Dunstan, carted I a longer distance, over a much worse ! road, is Bd. per lb. ; at the Nokomai, Is. Will such a policy enable us to take advantage of those natural facilities which make Invercargill the out- , let of the new diggings, and prevent ! the possibility of Otago competition with all its natural difficulties? We understand that eight tons are already on the road to the Lake at L6O par ton ; this is move reasonable, but even this will more than pay. The road to Mr. Rogers' is well known; that between his station and the Lake is infinitely better than between it and the Nokomai — indeed it is a perfect level. Although the Great North Road up the Valley of the Oreti is barely fit for heavy traffic at present, that round the Hokanui is only about forty miles further. Cobb's coaches could, at this season of the year, do the entire distance in. one day, at most one and a half. Next to cartage, is the cheap lighterage across the Lake. We hail with pleasure the evidence of energy and adaptability to take advantage of circumstances, evidenced in the meeting for the purpose of forming an association to immediately open up the Lake communication, a report of which appeared in our last issue. The meeting proceeded on a sound and liberal basis ; it was clear all were unanimous that at least one boat should be at once placed on the Lake, under efficient manage-

ment, not with the view of immediately benefitting by exorbitant charges for the transit of passengers and goods, but to prevent the possibility of a monopoly which might place the digger and storekeeper at the mercy »f any one. The charges are to be fixed at the lowest possible rate to cover expenses. This is as it should be, and if the plans of the Association are carried out by it with the spirit it has manifested so far, there can be no doubt as to the route which the commerce of the Shotover and Arrow diggings will follow. A great advance, indeed, will have been made when a spot so remote from Dnnedin as Rees* run is made accessible from Invercargill by a journey of 120 miles, and wbioh will shortly be reduced to 84 miles, on a good level road, and a Lake voyage of 25 miles in a commodious and well-appointed boat. Mr. M'Kerrow, one of the most able of the Otago survey staff, in his report on the survey of this district, says : — " In reference to this (means of communication,) it may be proper to mention that the only outlet at present possible for dray traffic, is by the Lindis Pats, and down the Waitaki Valley to Oamaru. Pack horses can be taken over the Dunstaa mountains at several places, and over the Crown ridge at the head of the Cardrona. The estimated distance from the junction of the Wanaka and Ha we a rivers to the Oamaru, by the dray track, it 150 miles ; and to Dunedin, by the Dunstan and Shag Valley, also 150 miles; to Rees' station, on the Waikatip Lako, 45 miles. According to information, the Lindis Pass is liable to be shut up by snow for intervals of a few weeks in winter. The bridle tracks, owing to their elevations, are sure to be shut for several months in each year; this season they were open till the 17th May.'' Dr. Hector, the Otago Government Geologist, in his report, published in the Otago Daily Times of the 26th inst., confirms Mr. M'Kerrow's opinion, that the outlet of all the country west of the Clutha, and north of the Waikatip, is down the Lake, and on to Invercargill. The trip from Invercargill is indeed a trifle to that from Dunedin. The "*5 miles from the Lindis Pass 1 ' would probably be a greater undertaking than the whole journey from here. But great as this advance is, Southland must not think to halt here. A good boat on the Lake immediately is an excellent commencement, but it will soon be found a very inadequate means of communication with a prosperous gold-field, even were their no other object than this to be gained from the Lake navigation. But the Lake is navigable for at least 60 miles in length. Far to the north of the gold-fields now discovered there are extensive valleys which may prove quite as tich. hen this unknown region is thrown open to the enterprise of energetic diggers it is not improbable that practicable valleys may be discovered on the west side of the Lake, and there are extensive forests of varied and excellent timber which are already occasionally sawn and employed on the stations in the north-east part of this Province. Such a navigation as this opens up a great prospect for the future, and with common energy on the part of the people of Southland, it will soon increase far beyond the capabilities of a " boat to carry it on. Boats will serve to supply the present wants well, and will explore the way and show what the wants and facilities really are. But steam alone can be adequate to occupy so extensive a field for action, and to this end Southland's efforts should be directed, for she alone will benefit by it. It is true that no part of this Province abuts upon Lake Waikatip, as the boundary line advances up the fine j valley which opens upon the souch end of the Lake, but, when within about two miles of it, suddenly terminates, and abruptly turns off to the left. But, although thus capriciously and absurdly excluded from a region which we alone can beneficially occupy, no " log rolling legislation, noblunderingofficialism, can prevent the Lake commerce from debouching into this Province. Nature has ordained that Invercargill shall be the only port of the Lake country, and, if the inhabitants of Southland are but prompt in seizing the opportunity now offered to them, they may soon extend their commerce into the far interior, and play a part in opening up this great country, far beyond that assigned to it by party-legislators, and force them, by the inexorable logic of facts, to the adoption at an early period of a territorial division more consistent with i reason an^r with nature than the one which at present cramps, though it cannot entirely fetter, our progressive energies.