EXPEDITION TO MARTIN'S BAY.

Evening Star, Volume VIII, Issue 2152, 30 March 1870, Page 2

EXPEDITION TO MARTIN'S BAY.

By permission of Mr D. T. Mackenzie, we publish the following account given by his son, one of the survey party proceeding with the expedition for the settlement at Martin’s Bay, under date March 6th : “ You will have received my first letter from the Bluff, telling you of our arrival at that grave of shipping. I saw more of it on this trip than at any previous visit. Strachan and I went up on some of the high mountains in the neighborhood, and were rewarded by some splendid views of mountain, river, lake, plain, and sea scenery. I also took a stroll round the coast, and saw all that was left of the noble vessels, the largest of which were the Scotia and Flying Mist. It is far from being a pleasant sight—so many craft and parts of them lying up and down the beach. We took a trip to Invercargill. It seemed to be even more desolate than when I was there last. It was my intention to have visited poor Cameron’s grave, hut I had not time, as the train stays little more than an hour in the town. I took a stroll up and down the main streets, and after a while got again behind the “iron horse,” on my way to the Bluff, amid heavy showers of rain. We did not get out of Bluff Harbor until about 8 o’clock on the Monday after leaving Dunedin. Whilst we were there, the wind, which blew from the southwest, was something awful, and would have been right in onr teeth had wo gone out. The sea outside was nasty and rough, and after we left, made many of us much inclined to give the fishes the benefit of the good dinner wo had just eaten. I must, however, claim to bo an exception, for 1 was not even squeamish, but walked the deck until 9 o’clock, when I went down to my cabin, and soon fell asleep; nor did 1 wake until the steward called me next morning to breakfast. We then found ourselves near the mouth of tho Waiau Biver, about 40 miles from Preservation Inlet. I could not help thinking of tho last time I went along the same coast—on this part by night also—but how different from being sound asleep in a comfortable cabin ! I was then pulling at an oar, not knowing what fate the next hour might bring. Wo passed Preservation Inlet about 11 a m. I knew tho old place. As soon as it hovo ic sight, I saw the hill where Cameron met his death - The place secmedjjust the same fas when we left it. We tried to get our captain to call in, but it was no use, although it was very rough with a strong head wind. We passed some splendid country between the Waiu and Dusky sound —fine low ridges, all tit for settlement. We went into Dusky Bay. If you refer to the map, you will see that it forms a sort of strait, coming out at Breaksea Head, This is one of tho prettiest places that ever I have seen. At the entrance there is a group of islands, some not larger than one of the rooms in your house. Others again, contain several thousand acres of land. After entering the bay, islands are again the order of the day. Thejf are of every conceivable size—some of them only solitary mountains, rising up to a height of 2,000 feet above sea level. In some parts this inlet is three miles

across, while in places it is not as many chains. The mountains on each side rise nearly perpendicularly. Some of 4,00() feet high, are covered with foilage to their summits ; and here and there, as the vessel went forward, a majestic waterfall poured its tribute into the deep waters of the sound. These waterfalls give a tine effect to the scenery. I remember one place in particular, where we were just entering a narrow gorge. If anything the picture was grander that anything we had before seen. We were very near the shore, and the mountains seemed to rise almost out of the steamboat itself. On each side was one of these magnificent cascades. The effect upon our minds was electrical; every one seemed struck dumb with surprise and admiration. So transceudantly beautiful was it that the eye could scarcely credit its reality, and we had to reason ourselves into the conviction that it was not an illusion. Wo were sorry when Breaksea Head was passed, but night closed upon us. and we all went below to talk of- the beautiful scenery just left behind us, and to enjoy a game at whist. Next morning we came iu sight of Milford Sound, and were abreast of it by 10 a. m. The coast line here is of a much bolder character than what ve had seen. Pembroke Peak rises to 7,000 feet—over three times the height of Mount Cargill. One thousand feet from its summit vegetation ceases, and snow and glaciers clothe the heights. The mountains look no wo se on that account, for the snow forms a fine contrast to the dark green forest. After passing the Sound about eight miles, the country is lower, and at last Martin’s Bay loomed in the distance. Every one got on the paddle-boxes to see what could be seen, and jokes passed round. We called each other pilgrim fathers, monarchs of all we surveyed, and so on, and Martin’s Bay the Land of Promise, while Scripture terms were freely used. Some pitied us, and said they only wished they stood iu our shoes. (Let them wait a bit.) I was rather prepossessed in favor of the place at first sight. Jt was a beautiful day, and the sea was like glass. We could see a broad extent of land, and the whole aspect of the country was pleasing. Man was not there to make it ‘vile.’ It was there as it had been made—primeval in our sense of the word. Shortly before noon we cast anchor before entering the river. Captain Thomson, Harbor Master, went out with a boat’s crew and a few of our party f.-r the purpose of taking soundings. We lay at amhor until about 4 p.ra,, when the signal was given for us to come on, and on we came. Everyone wished that the bar was crossed. As we drew near we saw two rocks—one on each side of the river. You could hardly tliiuk there was room for our smart little boat to enter. Just as wc reached the mouth of the river the current struck her, and bump she went on the rock. Everyone’s color changed, and orders flew from one to the other—but again she humped so heavily that the masts shook like a flower in your garden. Another shock, and a number of us fell flat on the deck. Things began to look serious. I left the bridge. Mrs M'lntosh, the minister’s wife, and five or six children were around me, much alarmed, and expecting every moment to go down. It is no use to tell women there is no danger, so I went on to the bridge again. Captain Thomson came on board, and after a good deal of knocking we got off again, but on the wrong side of the bar. However, our skipper was not to be done, and he tried again. It made one almost giddy to see our vessel rushing on with so many ugly rocks a-head. A few minutes elapsed, when bump she went again, but this time only on the sand. We managed to get off, but again on the wrong side the bar. We tried a third time, very slowly, and got over into the river very nicely, when we gave the captain three cheers. But hardly were we in before our steamer was on a sand bank. We got off this only to get on to another, and we were off and on 1 am sure a dozen times, until at last we got on one so firmly that we could neither move backward nor forward, and there we lay. Captain Holmes was at his wit’s end. This was Saturday, February 26th. All next day we tried to move her j but it was no use. Captain Holmes aqd Captain Thomson had a great barney. Holmes said he would not take us any further, even if the ship were clear. Thomson told him that not a shilling would he get unless he took us up to Lake M‘Kerrow. Holm s commenced to discharge cargo in defiance. It was pouring with rain all this time, and after he bad got the timber ashore, I suppose he was afraid he would spoil our provisions, and get himself into a scrape if he proceeded; and none of us feeling inclined to go ashore to take delivery, he knocked off for one day. Our clergyman did not forget the Sunday, but it was of no ui;e, ’fowards night a heavy flood came down the river, and the water rose sufficiently high to float the steamer off. On Monday morning, after a great deal of coaxing and bouncing, we managed to get Captain Holmes to take us up to Lake M’Kerrow. lie took the cargo on board that he had landed, got up steam, and made for the Lake. ” (To he continued.)