MARTIN'S BAY.

Evening Star, Volume VIII, Issue 2234, 5 July 1870, Page 2

MARTIN'S BAY.

By permission of tlie Provincial Government we publish the following report by the Harbor Master of Westjancl:— Hokitika, Westland, June 24th, 1870. Sm.—l hare the honor to inform you thst I proceeded south on board the Waipara on the llth instant, bitending calling at Okarita, Brace Bay, and the Haast on our way south, but after passing all those ports had to seek shelter in Jackson’s Bay during a heavy gale from N.W., finally crossed the bar of the Hollyford (at 10 a.m. of the 13th) without any difficulty, and proceeded up to Lake M’Kerrow, and moored at the township. Mr Thompson, district surveyor, and •' r Strachan, were much pleased to see the Waipara once more, but s iemed somewhat disappointed at not receiving their letters (which I have found since are at this postoffice). We found Mr Thompson’s party at i. he )}ead of the Lake cutting a trr,ok, at) als < Mr Strachau’s jncn employed below the Lake. There was landed from the steamer ft ..ire* belonging to three storekeepers J one from Dunedin, Robertson b> name; Mr Allen, from Orcymouth (formerly with Messrs Paterfon and Hepburn of Dunedin) m ith his wife and child ; and a Mr Foxcroft and brother from the Urey, with two watermen. After spending one night at the township in the company of the Chiefs of the department, we started for the bar at 9 a. in. on-.the 14th, and came-to about half a mile from ths bar, owing to a heavy eea breaking at the entrance of the H<»llyford-

Having a much shorter time for observation than you had forced upon you, 1 must confess that I was much struck with the beauty of the Lake upon my first sight from fbe heftd of the Lower Hollyford, and also with the beauty of the navigation ; and I think with you the difficulties are not great, and could'be easily surmounted. The greatest I sec is the entrance, and Captain Baseand took every chivueg that taW* selves to us to gain aii possible local knowledge during our stay of nearly three days at the heads, owing to severe stormy iye»ther from N.W. and'S.W. In the morning we had an excellent opportunity of examining the rocks close to our anchorage ; they are three in number; the middle one showed two sharp pinnacles Ift out of the water, with a channel of 44 fathoms in an easterly direction ; 20 yards another, with 18iu., a clear 5 fathom channel 20 yards to Small Rocky Islet on the oast of River Wcsternot, and an outer one 15 yards from pinnacle with 2ft. 4in. at low water. The removal of them I should think would not be difficult ; the greatest difficulty would be the sunken rocks at the mouth of the Hollyford, but should Martin’s Bay, prove gold bearing, no doubt engineering skill could be brought to bear upon an improvement in the shape of a good substantial breakwater to direct the water upon the spit and form a safe entrance to the harbour, I had almost forgotten to mention the narrow escape Mr Thompson had from drowning on his return from escorting Mr Whitworth to the top of the saddle, After parting, Mr Thompson seeing rain coming on made a rapid descent, and pushed on to endeavour to get to the camping ground of the previous da}-. He was swept off his feet, and carried into the main stream of the Holly-ford, and in an almost insensible state

was caught in a snag, and had much diffi culty in extricating himself, and getting upon the snag, held on to it for some time until ho regained a little strength. He succeeded in reaching the shore, with the loss of hlB blanket, provisions, his matches wot, clothes tom, aud a severely sprained ankle. In this condition |hc had to remain without provision and unable to proceed, owing to his ankles and flooded rivers for three days, when he reached the head of the Lake, and there met some of his party and finally the settlement, much shook from the incidents of his trip. I might remark at this point that most of the parties from Queenstown are digging in Big Bay, nonh of the Awarau, where we found them, as will be seen hereafter. On examining the mouth of the river, on the mm niug of the 16th, Thursday, w'e found the Spit making much to N. Vv., and leaving a small channel at a point near the sunken rock, Captain Baseaud, fearing being neaped, detennitid to proceed at once. The tide favored, crossed the bar safely at 12.30, least depth of water 9ft., and anchored in the S.E. corner of Big Hay at about 1.20 p. m. The diggers, numbering nineteen, were supplied ndtii provisions for two months, aud we farther informed them of the supp ies at the Settlement, I would recommend this corner of the Bay for a stopping place in S. W. winds, in -4 fathoms and perfectly smooth, but fully exposed to N.W. wind’. The diggers seem fully satisfied with their prospec s in Big Bay, and seem fully deter, mined to test the ground. I forgot to men* tion that no gold had been got in Martin’s Bay up to our leaving. We then proceeded north, and had to anchor in Jackson’s Bay at 10 p. in., having had to pass several men owing to a heavy gale blowing from S. W, Oapt. Baseaud succeeded in supplying men, and also at the Haast by the bay, which is very bad at present, owing to the heavy floods which have occurred on the Coast this season. The population consists of 15 males, two females, and three children ; they all seem satisfied with their ground. Started at 1 a.in. on the 18tb, with the first fine weather since leaving Hokitika ; landed cargo and a few passengers at Bruce Bay at 5.30 am., and proceeded on for Okarita Harbor, being blocked up, aud every appearance of stormy weather. Started for Hokitika, and crossed the bar at 1 a.ra. on .Sunday, 19th. Our weather during the week now ending, has not been equalled during the last five years for its severity in the wind, rain, aud flood line. We have not had anj r accidents to the ship* ping, but serious damage to the river bank.