Across Stewart Island.

Southland Times, Issue 4484, 23 November 1882, Page 2

Across Stewart Island.

Following is an interesting narrative of au adventurous tramp from Port Pegasus to Half- moon Bay, Stewart Island, made by Messrs L. Longuet, jun , and H. Allan, and probably the first pedestrian expedition in that comparatively unknown district : — We had been working at the claims at Pegasus for some time, and we took it into our heads to tramp the length of the Island up to Half-moon Bay, in order to get provisions and timber. We started at daybreak on the morning of the 15th November, and followed one of our old prospecting tracks for about two miles, heading N.E. through scrub. On leaving the track we struck across country for Deceit Peaks. We were about five hours reaching the top, and were rewarded for our climb by a magnificent panoramic view extending over the whole of the southern poition of the Island and the outlying Mutton Bird Islauds, and as far north as Rugged Island. Leaving Deceit Peaks we travelled along bare ranges that were covered with a coarse kind of grass and a large variety of Alpine plants. The country seemed to be open and wellwatered — creeks occurring at short intervals. Leaving Deceit Peaks on onr left wa skirted the base of Table Hill and camped cut for the night on one of tho end spurs. While one of us was making a fire the oilier busied himself in catching Maori hens, of which we made a hearty supper, and making our beds for the night we turned in, thoroughly done up, having walked some 15 or 16 miles. Next morniug we were up before daybreak and had a fire kindled and a Maori hen roasted for breakfast, and as soon as it was light enough we started, striking across a level country interpersed with splendid bush, towards the west end of the S.W. arm of Paterson's Inlet. On getting down to within about three miles from the arm, we crossed a tract of mossy ground, and at last came to the creek which ran into the S VV. arm. The country round here seemed remarkably like gold-bearing, and several gullies we crossed we would have prospected if we had had the time. As one of us chanced to look back after crossing the creek we saw a magnificent waterfall coming from the top of the range of Rakeahua, disappearing and reappearing as it worked its way down the mountain side. The sun was shining brightly at the time, And tiie fall looked like a streak of silver. We cou'd scarcely form an idea as to the size of the stream as we were from three to four miles away ftom it. Leaving Rikealma on our right we worked our way through a belt of really first-class timber withi hardly any underbush for about four miles, and were delighted to hud ourselves on the south edge of Manson's flat. While we were having a good rest on one of the small ridges, as we had been walking since daylight, we saw a fire lighted away towards Manson's beach. We immediately made for it, crossing the Hat, on which there were a number of sheep grazing. The feed about here was magnificent, in fact we had no conception that there was anything like it in the Island. On reaching the 6 re we were disappointed to find that it was only a tussac fire lit by some shepherd ; so, following the track of aman and a dog we went through a narrow sandy pass tothe beach. The sun had been set some little time and it was almost dark, so one of us camped where we then were, and the other walked on a mile or two to try to sight the shepherd's hut. Failure in this resulted in a camp out by himself. Next morning we rejoined company and started without breakfast towards Island Hill, leaving it on our left. If we had taken the other side we should have come across the shepherd's hut. We kept to the open country, abounding in good grass, and headed for the north arm of Paterson's Inlet. After walking till four in the afternoon, we came across the shepherd's storehut, where we toik the liberty of 'making some tea and helping ourselves to some bread-— 'our first meal for 36 hours. We left here " as freah as paint," and worked down a creek, most probably Hut creek, uatil we found, to our disappointment, that; we were within ite junction with the

Fresh Water iiVer; "and so we had to gr liack to where it was shallow enough tc cross. We then walked over rather scrubby country to the head of Paterson'B Inlet, whereWe cairipeid for the night. ; having a glorious feedrpf-Maon hens for hupper. Wt^^iai^^m Iwhere1 where Aveweirecarnped a dr^l^^off wKsS iwe thought nnist 1 be Ha^7sa|^liysodverlit a la^e firejn the ttfp^ , >ttractingv>ttentiph. ' Gur hopes were consiclerably raised .on seeing a boat put off /.froni. the jetty and head towards us, bht'we^Were 'doomed to disappointment, as the boat ofE towferds the/notth. yyj Next morning we waited until it was low water to enable us to cross the' imud flats, so ''that we might get over to the mill. We got within about, half a mile when we Cooeyed and waved signals of distress, but no one seemed to see us, and the returning tide forced us back to Flat Island, when We lit another fire to try and attract their attention. It was blowing a heavy gjde from the NZWZ, and we fancied that probably a boat could not cross to us; so we were preparing for a supperless night's rest, and /worse than that, as there was no wuter in the island, when, to our great joy, a boat passed.- We cooeyed and waved our flag, and managed to attract their attention. They put about immediately, and we found it was Mr Walker and .Mr Thomson, who took us oh board and Jown to Half -moon Bay . Mr Thomson ahd his Svife ■ were exceedingly kind to us, and made us quite at home, from Saturday night till. Monday morning, when we got the mail cutter, and crossed to the Bluff, having accomplished the unprecedented walk practically, from end to end of Stewart Island.: The Maoris at Half -moon Bay could- scarcely believe that we had. done it. Iwe were going back we could get through in two days. If this country was opened up by a track cut through what little bush there is, and right along the back of the ranges, it would open up the whole of Stewart Island, as one could strike off at any part of the track to go to any bay of ithe coast.