ROUTE TO THE COLLINGWOOD RUSH.

Colonist, Volume XII, Issue 1174, 25 December 1868, Page 3

ROUTE TO THE COLLINGWOOD RUSH.

To the Editor of The Colonist,

Sib, —In your issue of the 11th instant you gave a few remarks made by Mr. ex-Warden Lightband on the new Collingwood goldfield rush, and about which great anxiety and many hopes naturally are fostered.

Mr. Lightband states that the road by the Lakes is very rugged and dangerous. I agree with him, for I presume he refers to the road by the Cust-le and thence to Snow's river, branching off, however, at the Goat's Rook, and descending to the lakes forming the source of the Big Boulder river. The Lead hill must then be traversed on either one side or the other, boih of which are bud and dangerous. Having passed these there are still the gorges and ravines of Mount Olympus. This road, though in all probability the shortest, is fraught with many difficulties and dangers, Having visited this district in 1863, I would recommend aa tho best road that by tho Heaphy river track via the Brown river, thence up the spur lo the table land at the foot of tho Wbakapohai mountain, thence ascending an easy low saddle, and turning to the left-hand reach this Burgoo creek. The present Heaphy track. bears to the right aud through Fog valley, leads over the CroulaniT Downs, a bare and barren table land, of some miles' extent, and intersected by deep and rapid streams flowing direct from Mount Snowdpn, and all more or less during summer liable to flooding from tho melting snow. On some of the creeks where the musses of granite are thro-vn «p, gold will be found; we found the color there when passing through.

I am of opinion tho route I.suggest will be found the most feasible, though perhaps it may be a little longer. From the saddle down to the head of the Aorere tho. descent is gradual, and a track could ho easily made. The source of tho Aorere is formed in a kind of basin by five streams which empty their united waters into it. The road up tho Aom-e from Clark's river is bad, being gorgy and precipitous, and intersected by numerous deep ravines ; whereas, on the Heaphy track, there is already a good track for bullocks, and plenty of feed all the way to tho foot of the Whakapohai spur; the distance-thence is comparatively nothing. On the table land there is excellent water nil the way. ■ I agree with Mr. Lightband when ho says it is better to wait a little until some more definite knowledge is obtained respecting the extent of the new field. I im x &c., WINSIEM) HICHJIN. Waimea West, December 12,1868.