THE SETTLEMENT AT MARTIN'S BAY.

Grey River Argus, Volume XII, Issue 1315, 16 October 1872, Page 2

THE SETTLEMENT AT MARTIN'S BAY.

The news about the state of the Martin's' Bay settlement was brought to Queenstown by one W. H. Homer. It does not appear to be very serious. Still the community_seem to;be short of sup-^ plies. According to Homer's statement, for some weeks past, one family, at least, has been weighing out flour at the rate of one and a-half ounces per diem, and no,, other food except fish— when (obtainable — or fern. Mr Homer further says that the women and children have been driven down to the sea coast to seek mussels upon which to subsist ; but the Mail does not vouch for the correctness of all the information . It, however, , .quotes . Mr^ Homer's, opinion and experience in favor . of the overland road recommended by Dr" Hector, . Our contemporary says :— Mr,. Homer, who left the settlement last " Wednesday, states that it was his intention to have come by Lake Harris dnd the Routeburn. The weather was then ; fine, and several at tempts were made to rise the hill on the Hollyford side, bnt.it r , was { found to be quite impracticable, owing to the depth of siiow and- the;, ; steepness of ascent. Our informant determined still to persevere in reaching his destination, and then followed up the > Hollyford Valley. Near the saddle, .at the head of the Greenstone, in the midst . sleet and snow j h e rose f rom the rive' bank along rising ground on the.e.astside,.; and travelled, or — as he describes itrj-" limped along a beautiful, gradient until the Caples branch of the Greenstone. , river was, reached. ; : Thk.''b.rancli'''.,i^aß^ easily forded, and after another mile or f so ; the wearied and footsore traveller was hospitably received at Mr Ji M^BridetyV farm, on the shores of Lake Wakatip. Mr > Homer states that the : country A through''which he passed was open, and compara-, tively quite easy and level, i About 1 mid^' way between the Hollyford' and L,ake, he also came through a large flat or open plain, in which he atatea there waa "any number" of wild cattle. As to the engineering difficulties of forming a dray road by this route, our informant/is - satisfied < that not an ounce of powder wbnld be required in the. operation 5 thjftthe cos£j would be far less^ than that of finishing the Routeburn track. .Soon, after reaching the. Lake, means _ were furnished wfier^by;' to" cross ■ over to " the i Twehty-five-Mile ; ; and from this spot Mr Homer had to travel on foot to Queenstown,4 . . ■? •