EXPEDITION TO MARTIN'S BAY.

Evening Star, Volume VIII, Issue 2153, 31 March 1870, Page 2

EXPEDITION TO MARTIN'S BAY.

We continue Mr Mackenzie’s narrative from the point where we left off last evening : “ This Hollyforcl river, that leads to the Lake, is really a beautiful stream. It averages about seven chains in width, and runs along smooth and deep, with low terraces on each side covered with timber—a great deal of which is ironwood, with beautiful scarlet flowers, intermingled with the flower of convolvoli and with scarlet birch blossoms. We had also a great mixture of asters in bloom and veronicas. Notwithstanding the downpour of rain, all on board seemed happy. If we had only been nicely camped, we should have felt as if we were entering a very large garden. The fragrance was delightful, just like the last 11 •mr show you had in Dunedin. Pigeons and kakas were flying about in dozens, and other birds in any quantity. Paradise ducks, grey and blue ducks, white cranes and teal, were flying and swimming in all directions. They did not know what to make of us at all. They and then predecessors have had this place hitherto undisputed since the days of Adam, and I do not wonder at their aston shment. But to pass on. The depth, alter entering the river, is from 7 to 30 feet all the way up to the Lake. The Lake itself is a beautiful sheet of water, ten miles long by about one and a-half broad. About’ one mile of level land borders the Lake. Behind this is a very high range of mountains ; some of them 2,000 feet high, and very rough-looking. We came up this beautiful lake, and 1 could not help saying to myself, ‘Now for a >ir Walter > Scott.’ We cast anchor in a little bay with live fathoms of water, not as many feet from the shore, for discharging cargo. The rain was coming down in bucketsfull, but there was nothing for me but to go on shore and take charge of the landing, and for the hands to -go backwards and forwards from the ship with the goods. We managed to get everything on shore, although a great deal of it was very wet, especially the potatoes. I am afraid that most of them will be of very little usa The flour and sugar were also very wet, but not so bad as the potatoes. The sailors were very angry at the Skipper, and prophesied he would have his reward. When all the cargo was discharged, up went the anchor and our last boat left the steamer. Our company, twelve in number, gave three hearty cheers as she moved slowly away. We received as hearty a response from the Chfirles Edward and her officers, and all on board. It was probably the first cheering ever heard in Lake HTCerrow. We got up our tents, and passed a wonderfully comfortable night. In the morning we found there were two boxes of great importance missing, so off we started in the boat to reach the steamer before she went out in the morning— Mr Tfiomsqn, Martin, Joe, myself, and a Dutch settler. .Wc need qqt have been in such a hurry, for as soon as we came in sight of the steamer we hardly knew her. All that we could see of the poor Charles Edward was her paddle boxes, and aft of them. All the fore part was under water. On arrival on board we were told that she had struck ou a snag going down that night, and that those on board had barely time to run her ou a sand-bank before her fore-hold filled with with water and sank. They seemed very much crest fallen. Property now was not much looked for. This wfts the first wreck I ever was qu board of, and I do not care if I never see another. Such a bustle and confusion and general destruction of property went on; and, added to this, the vessel was sinking fast. Splendid furniture was floating away to sea, none seeming to care about stopping it. We started and worked hard all clay, trying to save as much as we could, but what wc did save was very much damaged with water. No life was lost, excepting that of our cat. Poor puss got down below in the forehold aud sunk, and was drowned. I felt very sorry for Mr M ‘lutosh, the parson. He hj •«! L2OO worth of furniture alone on board, uninsured, He told me he had just to commence the world again—that his all was gone. He was going to join a new congregation at the Builer, ° He had a line piano that has got a great deal of knocking about. One day be pointed out to me, and said, ‘ There lies twenty years of hard study, all a mass of pulp.’ But he seemed very thankful to have escaped with his life, and that evening on the sandhills, as he read the Bible by the camp fire, and offered up his simple and earnest prayer to Him who holds the water in the hollow of His hands, you could perceive that he felt all he said, and the forty personspresent felt with him. It was a novel sight —that encampment on the sandhills. Fine velvet cushions and rosewood furniture were mixed with the roughest you could come across. A party was at once started for Queenstown, consisting of Mr Thomson, of the Survey Department, Captain Thompson, Joe, and Mr Page. The captain, however, had to give in the first day, aud Mr Thomson did not care to lot him return by himself, so they sent Joe and Mr Page on, but they also returned the following day and reported that they were unable to cross the rivers, so that up to this time nothing had been clone. They intend to go round to Hokitika as soon as the weather will permit of their crossing the bar. They have a flag of distress flying on the sandhills and I hope that relief will come before long. We are not very well camped as yet. Everything is very roughly shoved up. Wc are

also tormented with sandflies by day and mosqui'oes by night. The only place of safety is in a boat out oil the Lake where I am at present penning these lines, and the heaving up and down of which makes writing not ail easy matter. I have a nice breeze here. It is now about noon when all good people in the civilised world should be at church, and I would not mind ff I were once more within the sound of church-going bells —

‘ But the sound of the church going bell, These v allies and rocks never heard ; Never echoed the sound of a knell, Or smiled when a Sabbath appeared.’ The Church is on the beach down below, this morning, but it is full five miles away, rather too far to row there and back against such a current as this. Our population numbers twelve, viz., eight of our party; two settlers ; Mr Page, from Oamaru, sent to report proceedings ; and Mr Whitworth, of the Daihfyrimes. He»is clown at the wrec&qt present, taking of a doctor, in anticipation an addition to our population. This -is ohe of the most awkward futures of the catastrophe. The soil here, so far as I have seen, is not of much account. Most of it is only gravel washed up by the lake; but I have only seen that near the camp. Perhaps before I send this away I may have a chance of seeing more of it. There is any amount of splendid timhtfb very good for sawing purposes. I have not seen any of the fine laud spoken of by Mr MTudoe, as being very free from underwood, &£. I think it is qmte as thick as on the East Coast. Gold will be the great thing to send this place ahea4j\ We.miye some dig-* gers wilh us, who ifltend to fcjve it a fair trial. They also intend Bo settle under the free grant system. There \another style of purchasing by paying 5s and you are not bound to stay ou the ground. You can pay your money and go about your business. This is of course far the best plan for persons residing at a distance. “ March 11. “Since writing the above we have got pretty well fixed. Martin has got up the office, 20 x 12—a, veiy\omfojrtable place indeed,- and it makes a very respectable Go. house for Marta’s Bate We have erected te fern-tree tbe same size, which is to be uSed as and cook-house. We have a fireplace half the size of your kitchen, and we -just roll the logs in from the bush, in addition to this we have several tents, used only for sleeping, and have good bunks set up in them. The worst of it is we shall only he here now and again for a few clays. Mr Strauchau will have the cream of this—only the one camp for the whole six mouths, whereas wc shall be always ou the move, aud not more than a week in one place. The roughest will be after we have past the Lake up the galley of the Hollyforcl, where everything tfrill have to be carried on our backs. NiWe had a visit the other day from a lot of fkp people from the wreck. They are tired of the are anxiously looking for feliePv The' l»at Ills not been able'toStlttlrfor Hokitika ou account the rough sea running at the mouth of the river. Their hopes fell below zero on Joe’s and nq**WmfdeTr~ Tfrth nothing but rqtteSi canvas to turn the rain. Captain HoMef" expects a steamer in every day, as the, owners will be getting anxious on their own account for the ship’s safety; but I am of opinion that they will let her be due a few days longer before being at the expense of sending after her. If they attempt to raise, the Charles Edward, it wiil take at least LISOO, and her present value is L 100 0; but I am afraid She is a total wreck. “ March 18. “The Kennedy, of the same line of steamers as the Charles Edward, is lying outside the river, and we have just got notice that we are to start at once. We have shifted camp from head-quarters down to the entrance. Since I wrote the last part of any letter we have had an addition to our numbers, as last Saturday, Mrs M‘lntosh was Confined of,. I ‘suppose,; the first girl bom in Martin’s Bay." Loan assure you it is looked upon as a great -event here. Both mother and., child are doing well. The young lady is to be called Martina Whitworth. They are getting very hardup at the wreck, having had nothing but oatmeal fqr the lq.pt fortnight. The Kennedy will not come across the bar, and all the passengers have to be taken out iii,boats. We havfc haiLa visit from a lot of diggers ‘ along the ‘eoaltV They are doing very well, making')jihm&. oftys as much as two pounds per clay. There have been 1500 acres of land applied for in 50--ere sections within the last few days. Mr Whit, worth started for Queenstown last Wedues* clay. We have now got a start, and have had a week of fine weather. We are all well aud in first-rate spirits,”