THE PREMIER'S" VISIT TO THE SOUTH.

Grey River Argus, Volume XII, Issue 1134, 16 March 1872, Page 2

THE PREMIER'S " VISIT TO THE SOUTH.

[abridged prom the west coast times.] The Hon. Mr Fox and his Private Secretary, Mr Brown, accompanied by the Chief Surveyor of Westland, Mr Mueller, started from Hokitika on Monday, the 4th instant, to visit the Southern Gold Fields. The party having passed that night at Ross, were on the road at daybreak, and.,although the Wanganui Bluflfj was very bad, and the travelling around it positively dangerous, they managed to reach Okarito the Bame evening. On Wednesday morning, fresh horses having been obtained, they proceeded to the Five-Mile Beach, and were there joined by Mr Tizard, Mr Canavan, and others, with whom they proceeded up the Waiho River, to visit the glacier on the righthand or southern branch of the river. They camped out that night, and the following day reached the glacier. The effect of the view of the glacier from a short distance, was considerably heightened by the rata on the adjoining hills being covered with their bright red flowers, brightly contrasting with the dull green bushes and the delicately tinted glacier — and all together bathed in a flood of aunshine. The glacier is about half-a-raile across the point, rising abruptly like a wall, here and there cut into caves, the lower part having at a short distance, much the appearance of grey -rock,, from the gravel and stone covering it. From a large cave at the southern end flows forth the first of the Waiho, which runs close across the front of the glacier. Upwards for miles lies the solid icy mass, filling up the huge gully between the lofty hills, and finally hidden from sight by a bend of the mourtaina. The ice assumes all manner of fantastic shapes. At the base there is a perfect bridge, bright and clear, but not to be trodden by human foot j higher up is a huge pinnacle with an eye through which the sunlight seemed to stream. These were striking points, but ever new beauties in the view met the wondering eye, and the effect produced on the mind is beyond description. The low altitude of this glacier— about 676 ft above the sea level — and the luxuriant vegetation in close proximity to the ice— a vegetation covering the hills on both sides of the glacier for a height of from 800 ft to 1000 ft —are the most remarkable features." Several excellent ; sketches were taken by Mr Fox ; the party lingering and lingering whenever some new view was presented to the admiring gaze. At length they started on the return journey, reaching the camp about three o'clock in the afternoon. There they saddled up and travelled down the river as rapidly as possible, and arrived at Mr Friend's lower station at about six o'clock in the evenicg. Mr Fox and his secretary, Mr Mueller, and Mr Tizard, were hospitably entertained there for the night, the remainder of the party returning to Okarito. On Friday morning the party started for Gillespie's Beach, where they spent the remainder of the day. Orginally it was intended to visit the mouth of Cook's River only, but; some statement respecting the existence of a glacier at one .of the sources of the river, having reached Mr Fox, he determined to search for it. Accordingly; Mr M'Lellan having' volunteered to accompany the expedition and give the exploring party the benefit of his knowledge of the river, arrangements were made, and a start effected a little before daylight'on Saturday morning. The party proceeded up' the river, but found the first and second fords rather .deep. The river-bed at the mouth is considerably less in breadth than that of the Waiho, but higher up it opens into a far more extensive country, some parts covered with light scrub and grass, appearing to afford an excellent run for cattle. After following the river from its mouth for three or four miles, the party proceeded in a northeasterly direction for about five miles, when they came within view of a grand glacier, falling from the lofty mountains in one solid body, and conveying the idea of a mighty, rushing, overwhelming river, suddenly chained and fixed by frost, When first presented to the view, tho scene was most grand and singular. Journeying towards the glacier, the way becomes rougher, and rougher, and at last lies amongst ; boulders . and soft sandy mullock, difficult for horses ; then the terrace runs so close to the river as to render the passage impassable . for. the animals. As far up the river as it was possible to take horses they were camped, and the remainder of the distance— about two miles— had to be travelled afoot; This proved no easy task, as the narrow space between the terrace and the river was occupied by large boulders, and the river was at times blocked with big stones, and in places by fallen timber. However, by perseverance,' the glacier was reached, but to obtain a good view of it, crossing the river to the south side was necessary, and that at first sight seemed impossible. Soon, however, the discovery was made that close up to the base of the glacier the river ran in several streams. Crossiug some of these, and crawling over largo boulders, and sometimes over the lower part of the glacier, the party succeeded in reaching the south side in safety, when Mr Fox took some sketches of the magr nificent. scenery before him. . The debm continually falling down from the glacier is very considerable, and the whole of the lower part appears, from a short distance, as if composed of grey stone. On the southern side of the point stands a lofty wooded hill, from which a fine view of the stupendous mass of ice can be had, but there wag not sufficient time to examine it from that spot. The appearance of the glacier, when closely approached, is not so picturesque as the Waiho glacier, but is, perhaps, more nobly grand inits sim? plicity, Its height is 770 feet, and, therefore, nearly 300 feet higher than the Waiho glacier. The water does not seen* io flow out of it as from the Waiho glacier, but bubbles up in its front, where there is a remarkable fountain throwing out a great body of water, boiling up some feet in height. The effect of the whole view like that of the Waiho glacier, is much heightened by the bright red of the rata flowers. As the party proposed to return to Gillespie's Beach the same day, but little time could be spared at the glacier, and, having christened it the "Fox Glacier;" the return was commenced soon after 2 p.m., and. after many narrow escapes the party reached Gillespie's Beach about 8 p.m. Next morning the party started on their return journey, examining the various workings on the way, and arriving in Hokitika all safe, and highly delighted with the trip.