ROUND THE MIDDLE ISLAND.

Tuapeka Times, Volume VII, Issue 420, 26 December 1874, Page 3

ROUND THE MIDDLE ISLAND.

The following report of the Maori's trip round the Middle Island will be read with interest. —The s. s. Maori arrived at 11.40 a.m. on Saturday, after having made har first voyage round the Middle Island, under the new contract with the General Government. The trip has been a most successful one in every way. The weather for nearly the whole journey has been delightful, and the vessel has proved herself to be thoroughly adapted for the service. The Maori left Port Chalmers at 8 p.m. on Saturday, the sth instant, ,and called at. several Northern Forts, arriving at Nelson, at 7 a.m. on Wednesday, 9th inst. Discharged and loaded cargo and passengers, and left again at 6 p.m. same day for Westport. Crossed the Buller Bar at 2 p.m. on Thursday at half-ebb., discharged 40 tons cargo, and left again at 11 p.m. finding 21ft water on the bar. Arrived at Hokitika early on Friday morning, and crossed the bar at 11.30 a.m. Discharged 60 tons cargo, and loaded 12,000 feet of timber, and left for Greymouth at 11 a.m. on Saturday ; made the run Trom bar to bar in two hours, and entered same tide. Discharged 40 tons of cargo, and loaded 100 tons of coal on Saturday afternoon, and aaiitsa again on Sunday, 13th. inst., with only 9ft6inof water on the bar. Called at Jackson's Bay on Monday at 7 a.m., and remained there until 11.30 a.m. Found a party of surveyors there, with Mr. Browning in charge, laying out a new township to be called Seacome. Jackson's Bay is reported by Captain Malcolm to afford excellent holding ground, and good sheltet from all the prevailing, winds. The Maori's next calling place was Big Bay, where she arrived ?at 2 p.m. on Monday, and having supplied stores to the diggers there, came on to Martin's Bay at 6, p.m. and arrived the same even-, ing. Found the settlers there to be short of stores, which were supplied to them. They all, however, speak in high terms of the climate and capabilities of the district. Payable gold is obtainable all down the coast. The purser of the Mapri has several lots of gold, which he took in exchange for stores, and the settlers all had plenty of gold in hand, which, however, they did not care to sell. The Maori brings Mr. Williamson from the Big Bay and Mr. Beckham from Mann's Bay, who have with, them some very fine samples, some of which were obtained from Milford Sound. This is of a very nuggetty character. There appears to be very little doubt that all that part of the coast in the neighbourhood of Martin's Bay is of a highly auriferous character, but tha inaccessible nature of the country, renders prospecting a very hazardous And laborious undertaking. The Maori left Martin's Bay at 5 p.m. on Tuesday, and entered Milford Sound at 7 p.m., anohoring at 8 p.m. in Fresh Water Basin at the head of the Sound. Started again next day at 11.30 »,m., and anchored fyr a couple of 'hours* in Anita Bay, at the entrance of Milford. . The passengers were highly impressed with the grand scenery of the Sound, and spent the few hours allowed, in shooting *£nd ' fishing, and in admiring the magnificent waterfall. Entered Thomson Sound .the same evening, and anchored for the night in Deas Cove. Started at 5 a.m. on Thursday, and proceeding up Thomson Sound, round behind Secretary Island, came out through Doubtful Sound. The Maori next entered Breaksea Sound, and taking the inside passage behind Resolution Island came out through Dusky Sound. About 1 p.m. came to an anchor in Preservation Inlet. Here a few hours were spent in fishing and shooting, and a start was again made at 6 p.m. Encountered a stiff easterly gale and heavy sea in Foveaux Strait, and arrived at Bluff on Friday morning at 7 o'clock. Loaded timber and shipped passengers and came on to Port Chalmers at 5.30 p.m., arriving as already stated, having experienced a strong north-easter during the run from the Bluff. The Maori has been using Greyr mouth coal for the last week, and her engineers speak very highly of it, and pronounced it to be much more lasting than Newcastle. <It was found that four tons of Greymouth coal went as far as five tons of Newcastle. Mr. Mills; the manager of the* Harbour Steam Company who accompanied the Maori round the island, visited both the Br turner Mine and the. Greymouth Company's Pit with a view of obtaining regular supplies for the use of the Company's steamers.