MARTIN'S BAY.

Grey River Argus, Volume XIII, Issue 1646, 13 November 1873, Page 4

MARTIN'S BAY.

The Arrowtown correspondent of the "Dunstan Times' has the following remarks on the subject of a track from the Lake district to Martin's Bay : — The Provincial Government has decided at last upon doing something with the Martin's Bay track, and tenders are called for work to be performed ; but as yet it is not settled what 'shall be done. On Wednesday last Mr Warden Beetham, Mr W. Powe)l (overseer of roads) together with Messrs Hallenstien and M'Bride, left in the Antrim steamer, for the purpose of deciding by personal observation the best route round Lake Harris. Between this and the Greenstone Valley route opinions differ much. Still, as the Government have already expended so much money on the Lake Harris route, it would be a pity to abandon it. In crossing the dividing range, the altitude to be reached is some thousand feet higher by. way of Lake Harris than by tbe Greenstone ; but by the former the snow country is soonest gone through ; while, in the case of the latter, there is a long dreary journey. It must also be taken into consideration that, during the worst part of winter, both tracks are objectionable, neither is it likely there will be any traffic at that particular season. If the Government can make a pack-horse track via Lake Harris, which there should be no insurmountable difficulty in doing, a shelter-shed erected a little below the snow level on either side of the range would make it always available. The short journey over the rocky ridge is easily accomplished in ordinary weather ; and, after all, it is much better to travel on a good hard track of snow than through interminable bogs, as would be the case by way of Greenstone. Were there a practicable pack-horse track to Martin's bay, much good would result to the district, as well as the Province at large. Experience seems to prove that a large tract of auriferous country lies in this direction, and which would be worked could miners only procure provisions at reasonable rates. The coast teems with fish, which would form an important trade for return pack-horses, besides providing employment for a large number of persons.