MARTIN’S BAY DISTRICT.

Evening Star, Volume VIII, Issue 2189, 13 May 1870, Page 2

MARTIN’S BAY DISTRICT.

{Lake Wahatip Mall.) We make the following extracts from letters kindly banded to us by Mr J, W. Robertson, It will be noticed they are of recent date* The first is dated 17th April, from Mr ‘Whitbourne We arrived at Martin’s Bay after a journey of nearly a fortnight, we having been delayed on account of the Hollyford River being much Hooded. There is a steamer comes here from Hokitika once every two months, supplying the miners between there and here with provisions, which, luckily for us, arrived here yesterday ; so we managed to get provisions uiough to last for a mouth or so. The land is all timbered here, and all the way down the Holiyford, where there is some very good land and timber also, with good water powers; hut no clear land nor water carriage above the head of the lake. I have taken up a fifty-gore Iqt, hut have not yet seen it. Nearly all the allotments facing the lake have been taken up, but I do not think a quarter of them will be held by the present applicants. I intend to have a look at some diggings along the coast, where, report says, they are making L2 or L 3 a week each. The other letter is also of same date, but gives much more definite information; and, as will be seen, supports our oft-repeated opinion—based upon the reports of Dr, Hector and Mr Caples—that the entire district is more or less auriferous. It will yet be found to contain within its valuable minerals;— Whitboumo has given yon general information. I’ll give yon a few of the impressions that have been induced by my short stay ; but you can take them for avhat they are worth in your opinion—they cannot be very valuable from the short period of my experience. The place is eminently adapted for settlement should any resources be developed to enable its inhabitants tq gam a livelihood. Timber, at present, seems jits chief resource, but gold exists in close proximity in payable quantities, con Ideations be easily and moderately fnrni-hed considering the state of the Colony and the rate of wages in many of the Provinces, Its contiguity to Milford Sound considerably enhances its importance. Were a store here kept by a man having a conscience, no doubt a considerable number of inhabitants would be located in the vicinity. A coaling station —if co il could be found—would be a great improvement to the settlement. With regard to the track from Queenstown to the lake, an outlay of four or five hundred pounds would form a pack track to the foot of the saddle or head of the Routebum. An easy gradient could be obtained on both sides of the saddle ; hut a pack track should adapt itself to as many shingle beaches—by crossing the river—as possible. Please impress on the minds of all people that they must bring all the provisions they want with them if they come overland ; and that the most difficult part of their journey commences when they have to walk down tha fi«lga of the lake. ‘ * P.S.—I believe L 2,000 judiciously expen. ded would make a good track. An engineer is a poor hand to form a bush track as a general rule. The track could only come to the head of the lake—water carriage then River too full of rapids and snags to use boats on it. W c purpose pushing through to Queenstown if we can soon, and back again • but I feajr enow wiU be against ug. *