MARTIN’S BAY.

Evening Star, Volume IX, Issue 2739, 27 November 1871, Page 2

MARTIN’S BAY.

(From the Wahatlp Mail.)

Through the culpaple negligence of a suSiue Government settlers from Martin’s ■ay have been again compelled vp retire inl|nd, and to ; travel- niouptaib track, through torrents df rain, in order to obtain those supples which they have been lod to understand would be furnished periodically by sea route. Six men, named J. M‘Donald, W. Woodgate, J. Robertson, Tarr, and two others—most of them settlers as well as miners—arrived in Queenstown yesterday afternoon, by way of Glenorchy. They described their trip as a wretched one, having to suffer many hardships and priva* tions, owing to severe weather, heavy rain.' falls, and a rugged road or mountain track to travel over. They state the population at the settlement consists of six families, or between 20 or 30 souls ; that when they left (iast Tuesday week) no vessel had called in for three ami a-half months, and there was only about 300 pounds’ weight of flour in the plaec ; no tea ; and no tobacco for the last six weeks ; while butter and Qtl+er articles were v'ferji scarce. Tobactfp sems tq bl almost a necessary article with the settlers, and we understand since that article became exhausted, they have been smoking dried tutu leaves, fern, dend moss as substitutes.' It seems they never think of meat, except on rare occasions when a steamer calling may sell a poor apology for a sheep for 52s or 30s. Their staple food consists of broad, imported breadstuff's, and produce grown by them. They have plenty of ground cleared, fine gardens, and, our informants state plenty of “ spuds" are planted for the coming season. Ip -thq way of or pleasure trims': also, they secip tq be gt no loss ; for thire are six boats on the Lake, where one or more of the families take occasional excursions. The climate, although rather most, is reEorted to be splendid, and all are in good ealth.

Not only is there reason to complain of steamers seldom calling in at Martin’s Bay, but on the other hand our informants speak even indignantly of the almost impassable barrier between the settlement and thaihtfeyior. Wobdgate has now brdssed ‘over font times, and he says, what with the weather bad roads, he never before encountered simb difficulties in travelling. Soon after leaving Lake M ‘borrow qn Tuesday, oqr informants met two men from this side on a prospecting tour, and who told them they had a great difficulty in crossing the range— crossed Lake Harris with*

vut knowing it. M ‘Donald’s party ascended he terrace next clay, ami landed above the b imber about 6 p.m. It was raining inccsantly during the night, and, in consequence their heckling and clothes got saturated throughout. They could not, of course, light a tire, and had to leave without any breakfast. Here three of their comrades refused to proceed any further (there being nine in the first instance). Upon continuing the ascent next morning they found further progress almost impossible. On reaching the, lov-,1 of Lake Harris they came upon the footprints of the two Otago men, leading, not to the Lake, but to the right, which showed they must have passed the saddle by going over a precipitous suow-elad rook, about Snt) feet above Lake Harris. They bad evidently given very incorrect information and bad advice to the present party, who, bad they attenuate 1 to pass by the shores of Lake Harris —would doubtless have been lost, as the valley was filled up with ice and “ rotten ” snow. As it was, while ascending the high rock, Woodg ite nearly lost Ids life, for he was tripped up on account of the heel of his hoot coming off, and almost instantly precipitated over the snow, but fortunatc'y, by_somo means, progress was stayed at about 50 feet below, and*only a few feet above the le.lgo of a rock snue hundreds of feet in height. The snow on the western side of too range was comparatively tifiling ; hut on descending this side the men bail to si do down, in short stages, over the snow, until nearly reaching the left-hand ravine (above half-way down to the Dart.) The remainder of the road was, as near as possible, by the Governmentmade track. But this costly piece of work, which was only executed about nine months since, is so broken .and choked up in many places by slips of debris from adjacent sidlings, and by fal en trees that it is becoming useless, and is quite impracticable for pack horses. Tho following day the party reached the station of Mr Scott on the Dart. Our informants report favorably of the mining prospects. Some of the party have been working at Big ay, and also on tbo north side of the' Awarau Liver, in the county of Westland. The c’aims aye terrace workings near the beach, from which the men could get an ounce o f gold per week per man in full work, but the wet weather of the past few months has been a great drawback. Three men also went prospecting to South of Martin’s Bay, about four weeks since, and struck some payable ground opposite Biigg’a Point, about 12 miles distant, m eight mile north of Milford Sound. Owing to the uifficulty of obtaining provisions, they had to abandon it; but since then, another party of four men have set in, and are cutting a tail-race to bring water on the ground. There is also an impression that gold is to be found further back, as the country comprises some tine-looking made hills. It is said that “color” is to be obtained nearly anywhere between that place and Martin’s Bay. Altogether our informants speaks very favourably of the resources and prospects of this West Coast settlement They seemed quite satisfied, and their only grievance is the difficulty which is experienced in obtaining regular supplies.