CLYDE TO COAL CREEK FLAT.

Cromwell Argus, Volume I, Issue 23, 20 April 1870, Page 7

CLYDE TO COAL CREEK FLAT.

PENCI LUNGS BY THE WAY. Since the beginning of March, Messrs Chaplin ifc Co. have been running a weekly mail-coach between Clyde and Lawrence, and the mails which were formerly conveyed by the route over the Knobby Ranges, are now carried between the Teviot and Alexandra via the new road along the west bank of the Clutha. It is satisfactory to learn that since the advent of the wheeled conveyance many travellers between the Duustan and the metropolis have availed themselves of the advantages afforded by this comparatively unknown and hitherto unfrequented highway to the Northern Gold-fields. An excellent road was formed —and in some parts metalled—by the Government within the past two years, and considerable improvements have been made upon it from time to time since its formation. Crossing the ferry at Clyde, and passing the homestead on Earnscleugh Station, a perfectly level road exists for'a distance of six miles. The traveller shortly reaches Conroy’s Gully, where probably between twenty and thirty men are engaged in various branches of mining. After leaving Conroys, the road narrows into a stony, winding track, leading through narrow gullies, over rocky ascents, and across numerous water-races, until wo arrive at the Butcher’s Creek Hotel, kept by Mr Charles Nieper. The hotel stands near the junction of the Alexandra road, and about four miles from that township. The major portion of the traffic passes through Alexandra, but the short cut via Conroys is frequently taken advantage of by travellers on foot and on horseback. Of the two routes from Clyde to Butcher’s Gully, the latter is much the shorter—probably by two or three miles; but it is not yet sufficiently formed to admit of the passage of vehicles. Between Butcher’s Gully and Speargrass Flat, a number of men under the direction of Mr Simpson, district engineer, have been for some time engaged in the construction of a new portion of road, and the work is now well advanced towards completion. By making a slight detour from the previously existing track, what has hitherto been the most rugged and dangerous part of the route has been avoided, and what was formerly a slow and toilsome portion of the journey may now be accomplished in much less time, and with lessfatigue, than formerly.. From the northern extremity of Speargrass Flat (Cairn Hill District), the route lies through a well-grassed, hilly country, bounded on the east by the Clutha River, and on the west by the Old Man Mountain. The nature of the country up to this point is rugged and barren to-a degree; hard, gravelly soil and stunted vegetation, diversified with huge piles of ragged rocks,, being everywhere met with. A little farther on, and we traverse Speargrass Flat, a tine stretch of level land extending southward about three orfour miles. In this, neighbourhood there are a few settlers engaged in agriculture, dairy-farming, and kindred pursuits. At the south-end of the fiat, just before we ascend the hills, is Mr Kemp’s accommo-dation-house, a large and substantial stone building, having an. excellent garden at the rear. Here the Teviot coach changes, horses, and both humans and quadrupeds may “ fare sumptuously ’’ at a reasonablecharge. After half-an-hour’s easy ride, we reach the crossing at Gorge Creek—a mountain torrent fed by the over-melting snow from the Old Man Range. On the banks of this stream, not far- from the roadside, lie buried some eight or nine of the unfortunate men who lost their lives on the adjacent mountain in the terrible snowstorm of 1863. A neat headstone, bearing a suitable epitaph, marks the last restingplace of those adventurous spirits who fell victims to the rigour of an O.tagan winter in the highlands. A packers’ depot, consisting of perhaps a dozen stone huts, was in existence at this spot a few years ago,, which was known to the miners of Campbells and the Poraahaka by the designation of “ Chamouni." Save a shepherd’s hut some distance up the gorge, the only buildings now to be seen are those belonging to, Mr John O’Brien, who was one of the first engaged in packing over the mountain to. Campbells. The most noticeable erection is a large stone stable, fifty feet by twenty, and of proportionate height, which is said to be the best building of the kind within a radius of a hundred miles. Mr O’Brien has a small patch of land (held under a miner’s right) fenced and cultivated, but is prevented from making further encroachments on the wilderness by the refusal of the runholders to lease even a few acres of the immense tract comprised in the Coal Creek Run. Two miles farther on, we roach another deep gorge, where a seam of lignite has lately been opened out, and is, we believe now being worked. The next house of accommodation on the route (the Coal Creek Hotel) is distant about fourteen miles Iroiu 0 Brieu s, and is reached by a somewhat circuitous but easy and pleasant road skirting the base of the Old Man Range. A good bridge over Deep Creek is urgently required, as the stream is at times liable to sudden freshets, and the ford is often dangerous, K