INTERESTING REGION

Southland Times, Issue 21192, 19 September 1930, Page 3

INTERESTING REGION

UNKNOWN TERRITORY EXPLORED. HOLLYFORD . RIVER DISTRICT. Interesting accounts of exploration in almost unknown territory north of Milford Sound were contained in a report received at last night’s meeting of the executive of the Southland League from Mr Eric James, of Makarora. He explained that the object of the tour had been to seek an easy coastal route connecting Milford with Martin’s Bay. The report stated: The party' consisted of W. Watson, photographer, an Auckland Weekly photographer, and myself. We set out from Makarora, Lake Wanaka, on May 27, 1930, and returned on August 16 after an absence of over elevens' weeks. Our route lay over the Haast Pass to the West Coast, then southward mostly along the coast to Martins Bay in Otago. From this point some time was spent in the Hollyford and Pyke Valleys, and from the former the Auckland member left us by way’ of Lake Wakatipu, and we were there joined by Malcolm McKenzie. From Martins Bay we proceeded southward to the mouth of the Kaipo River, following it near its head to a point where our base camp was established. McKenzie and Watson returned to Martins Bay with the intention of joining me at a cove inside Dale Point, Milford Sound, by boat with supplies. From this cove it was our intention to row tip to the hostel, but unfortunately upon arriving back they found the boat in use on Lake McKerrow, and the venture had to be abandoned. In the meantime I had started off overland, carrying what provisions I could on my back. More than half the time spent away from the base camp was wet and cold. On July’ 13 I located a lake from a saddle at the head of the John o’ Groats River. Rising to a ridge east of this saddle another lake came in view, which when reached a few days later, proved to have a subterranean outlet. Bounded by’ large sharp granite rocks it had a strange manner of rising and falling. The first, lake drained into the John o’ Groats. Contrary to what appears on the map, this stream has a rocky confined bed with forest to the water’s edge, and not a winding course over a fairly wide shingle bed. It has a rapid current, especially where it drains from the lake. Before following this river to the coast I viewed what appeared to be a promising practical alpine pass in the Darran Mountains leading towards the Hollyford Valley. Heavy’ snow prevented investigations. From the mouth of the John o’ Groats to Dale Point in Milford Sounds large rocks and a few small headlands have to be scrambled over. Being in danger of being cut off from my supplies by the rising tide, I failed to reach the cove where a landing by launch from Milford Hostel may be effected, when only a mile distant. On the return journey' I followed the coast north of John o’ Groats, turning inland near Sidney Beach, and by crossing the low timbered hills reached the Kaipo Valley on the twelfth day after setting out. After a few days at Mr Gunn’s homestead at Martins Bay refitting, we journeyed up the coast to Okuru, thence overland to Wanaka, which occupied thirteen days. A pack horse team was used north of Kaipo Bay and in the Hollyford Valley. y I am firmly of opinion that for lake, river, forest and alpine scenery combination, the Lower Hollyford cannot be excelled. There is a choice of. a number of practical routes connecting Milford with Martins Bay which could be blazed at a small outlay’. I myself blazed a good distance until my billhook snapped in two. The alpine pass mentioned certainly calls for further exploration. It will be my ambition to meet a party to pioneer the .first attempted crossing. A first class photographic record has been obtained, also mineral specimens. This interesting region will be made better known to the interested public by’ a series of lantern lectures which will be delivered by the writer during October and November. Mr J. Campbell said he could agree with Mr James that the mountain, river and lake scenery in the Hollyford region was some of the finest in New Zealand. He had advocated that tourists visiting Milford Sound be taken by launch to this district. There were also large supplies of good timber in the Hollyford Valley’. Several members said it would be advisable to encourage Mr James to give the lectures and to acknowledge his report with thanks.