EARLY GOLD DISCOVERY

Hokitika Guardian, 8 October 1921, Page 1

EARLY GOLD DISCOVERY

Flit ST HUSH TO TilK COAST. A BOM ANTIC ACCOUNT. (From the Reports of Sir Julius von llmist, F.R.S. to tlie Canterbury Provincial (lovornnieiit). (Continueil.) Iff. j Karlv on tin, morning of the llth April, 1 set out to cross tbo puss. A line ruin fell us I left tlie rump mill rude through the luxuriant beech forest which, however, after we had ascended 21)0 feet, begun already to be stunted and almost disappeared beneath the cosmopolitan lichen Usnea Baihatn, which covers trees and boughs with its white heard. It is worthy of observation that tlie boundary line ol the trees is already reached here at a height of 281)0 feet, while on the sides of the mountains bounding the Canterbury plains,, it ascends to an altitude of IGIIO feel. It is therefore evident that absolute height alone does not fix the forest boundary line, which in -be heart of the Southern Alps sinks to 2100 feet, while near the sea it lies more than 27,00 feet higher. The road, which till now lmd been tolerably good began to get almost impassable, in roiiscquence of the great traffic oil the narrow bridlepath, and resembled a morass enttal ; sharp stones, roots and dead timber made progress very, difficult : the horses sank up to their knees and could onlv work themselves out with dilliculty. About 200 feet below the saddle tho gnarled forest wood ends, and a striking sub-alpine Horn begins, consisting of the fine tree-like shrubs, often eight to twelve loot high, mostly eoiupositae among which C learia llicifolia. Ntimmularifolia, and Cunninghamit. and Soiiociu C. lacagtoI,Jins, are especially remarkable. The unpleasing sombre green colour ot the licccli forest in tbo valley is now replaced by different tints, very intense, varying from bright yellowish green to dark bluish green, and deep brown, lie-ides ibis, all the above-named compositile. have the under side ol the leal covered with a white or yellow down, which gives the whole landscape a varigated appearance, especially "'non. as at many places, numerous -unilis of Dracoplvllum longicolium and l niromium covered with dark brown haves grow between them. Many bushes ot pauux. with their bright green leaves reminding us of the river vegetation we bad left, are also to be seen. The nearer we approached the mil of the pass, the denser became the vegetation. An undescribed, superb, tree-like Dracophyllum. not unlike the Drac l.alifolium of the northern island, began to appear here .name., al l, a wards I). Traversii by Dr I looker) Tile natives call it None. It lias leaves a loot long running inlo a slender point of reddish brown c.loin in the upper pari, between which th" elegant llowei panicle collies forth. ibis plant raises iis tree-like crown gracefully allow the other shrubs, and gives tin legion a highly peculiar iliaractei The mist which bad been tailing negati I,i change into rain as we an iced on Ibe Hat ridge of the saddle, at sonic places overgrown with Dantlieni.i Flnveseens. the stiov gra-s ot the col onisis between which numerous specimens of (Ylmieia ! orineea l.ynlii and discolor made their appearance. Ol.ul

places uei e swampy and covcicil wit’. Sphagnum moss, between which stood here and there little half gloV-like !,usi,,.s ~f Draeepby lltim HesmnViinfolium logeilier with the large Italian,'iilus l.yalli. and one or iwo subalpine unbelliieioils plains. I liis veg, ta: ion ascended oil both sides of tile mountains, boidviiug the pass t.u at least I .fit It') feet, and do not rene It the line of pcr|H'tiinl simw . From earlier descriptions, 1 had expected to find higher mountains here, lull 1 could, never! heless. perceive 1 hem inoi. • towards the .vest, and on

I,nth sic It's of the Teremakau \a I lev. Thoil-h the view west waul was wry much limited hv the tain, which iol. uninterruptedly, I was nevertheless able to perceive that the saddle shelved oil more steeply towards the western side than the eastern ami that at the loot of the saddle a • broad straight valley commenced. All the ascent of the eastern side had been ompanied with ditiieidl ies, still we l been able to ie;n It l lie summit ot the pass without getting olf "in horses ; now tw eotild no longer th;n.\ of riding. Tin l tinj>aralleled had roan led rathet steeply over smooth slippery blocks of rock, or til roll oh pools ‘if- "lush tnli ot fools and Inroe and small stones, over am! between whieh the poor hoi ses tried W pi. k their way, panting and ttembliiii; - :i ii«! often sinking up to their j'ltlis Of course il was no better for dm pedestrians, and I was now convinced that the famishing travellers, who had returned, had not at all exnpicerated iu their description of the hot table road,.

Til.' ill ill.' v,'".'!ali.m is u i" I. lIS, Ml!.'l liiiviiifi «!<•>■«- cl suvur.'i! liumlr.'.l Ic.M . il is uul iie! ■' .liir.'r.'Ml I roili llint uli'.-i vu,l uii 11“' c:i si .‘l'll sill.'. Till' Sllli-:ll|iill.' V.'U.'IMII, insU'i.il ~1 uuiii.u; ov.'i- iIIt < I ill.' I«» mis Sulmmlri . is Ii1 1 1«‘ l>y link' Ml l' i",In,Hu,I l.y I'u, hi- i.l' t ffis. " l-ifti «.• uuiu'i'iilly t’liul nil l’o W us’, ( u:is ul 1 if Tsluul, mul 1,1 I 1 '!' 111 “i "li’uli M ,|:ini|> ilimutu suuins |>;i rt iuiilni'K In, uiiniMu. Kniliu IViv *1 ll“' slirnlis mi silltlUu M SSI 1 lII,' M lll'l'-liUu 1,11111, • i r,,|- illstlllluu, (’l,‘Mriu i liullli !M . . ' u| Ms Kiluurlvii, ivliilu iiiiinuimis li'.'us »' Jl.Ml'usi, I,'ll'S l.auillM, I'llulliM K X,' I" Ullla, \Y t'i 11 Will I, lIIM I!m, ,'l!'"'M, Mil,l suvI ~111 , *| s -lie lllixuil Mlliull.u lliuui Mil' ./, : „ll,Mlly SlipplMTlt. lllf S 11111 11" l,‘ VI'UUIMI lull. I•' 11! ’. IBS I'lisus. Ill,' o 1 <IU k liiroli Ul' I Ilf i'"l,mil's, suuti thii kus i U ;||II.UMIMIIUU luuulllur -,.111l "* , ~,, ilf r-s I'.-1.-.M 1 pus VuiMl-M Mini llllljl„|,'US IViiiimu. til,' Kmivliml;;, ~l Um iinli v.’s rising I'm.' Mliuyu tin- oll iur l»r----,.S| Vi*.',‘l:, li' ,ii vv I ill tl'fir <‘l'l‘<'l S. supt'l’l' UIUMI'S. Twulvu I n 1 11,1 1* •< 1 lu lil'tuun Immll'.'il i’’ l ' l !" smlillu, u„ t.hu stu-l- -luulmiy, l.nusl Inis ali'uiuly MSS,11110(1 Uic «•»•«'- Ol' lII,' Vl'uulMl iull ivlilu I 'lll. uvut'vwliuru ill 111,' '«»"<'■ "1 tl,u All's humr llio "ml ( "MS'

IVsn-mliim ahoiil sr>n " r to I lII' liri-t ooiisid.-rahh- in.mnli"" shvun wl i i i * 1 1 tomes out oi ;i tloop " ll >'* oil tin. llol'l IIITII si.lo 111 l : ' ~,, ;11 ,(| ruslii's over In Works .. ' U to l lk- vnllov. This strosm «;■> •ilivulv mi))i‘ roiisidorahli- that’ In' 11 unnini, thr<H- to »‘->ui mil.-s h<d>ov ,1„. -.iiddli'. This orossi-d. w oiit.T. il t|> forest ;\<o»in, which, t<» r ii short ..ovi-Him twrwi-like ttrouml. loh'i'iddv smooth :md very mossv. mm a ri-scnihlod a holtomloss swamp. Coii\\o passed

several important tributaries from both sides, and after two boms’ continuous travelling arrived at the western foot of tho pass. The valley widens here visibly, and is bordered on both sides by moraines twenty to thirty feet high. At a height, of 1000 feet above the sea, it assumes the peculiarities before described of a broad shingle bed. The river lias bore such a considerable body of water, than even when it is low. the fords are difficult to cross, although good places can gencially be found above the numerous rapids; Higher up. where large bouideis lie in the bed ui the riier and tlie curieut is very strong, it is very difficult for the tra,'viler to obtain a firm footing, especially alien the river is thick from long continued rain. Many accidents have occurred here, so that the people that had already been drowned in the Teremnknn could be counted by dozens. The rocks consist of ehert.’so k ’s alternating with clay slates. It was

clear to me directly, that tlie Toremnkau saddle does not lie in the geological mountain axis, but several miles' cast of it. This accounts for the great abundance of water in the Teremaka i river, which is formed not only from the mountain streams by and near the water shed, but for ten miles receives many tributaries from the left side o 1 the mountain range, the southern declivities of which feed tho Waimakariii (lowing to the east coast. A lew rather important tributaries also come from the mountain chain situated to the north. As soon as we had reached the bread river valley the bridlepath ended, and in spite of the rain which still continued to fall heavily, we went on much more quickly between the bright Veronica and Cleai'ia bushes. ; pleasing contrast to the darker forest on both sides. These shrubs intermixed with species of Tutu and Ceprosiini, cover the islands in the river which lie beyond the reach of ordinary inundations. Fight miles from the saddle we camped, while tile rain continued to pour down in torrents. The rain lasted two days, only clearing up towards noon mi 13t.1i April. The clouds dispersed and the giant mountain landscape lav before us in all its beauty. The inonntViins lying opposite to us, about 7000 feet high, were covered for 2000 feet with thick forest above which sub-alpine shrubs and grass appeared, replaced after another 1000 feet by wild I,are rocks. The contrast of sba |h’s and colours formed an indescribably bemitilul picture, to the animation of which numbers of waterfalls, often falling several Uindred feet, and increased by the rain, added not a little. A lew hours after the rain bad ceased the river began to fall, and the next morning had almost returned to its natural bed. When we consider that the mountains are very steep, and that the waters have only a proportionately short course, it is easily conceivable that these mountain stieams must fall again just, as quickly as they r i se.

The saddle we bad cros-ed a few days before could lie di-linetly seen, but it appeared higher than when seen from the eastern side. Tlie view to the west was rather extensive, the valley widened out considerably, and sviuc-d to be clo-ed ill by a weeded range the 1 lull, um range), through which Hi" river, deviating a little to the south, bad forced its v ay. We wore new able to set out again, although the river. Through which we bad lo i a-s several times, was still rather high.. At ter tout miles we came to a place where we found a great many travellers, who bad not the courage to cross a dangerous looking ford. Most ol them I’e

already list'd iii> nil tln'ir provisions, mill heeecd mo to lonvo iliom Hour em>ii"h tor ill It'nsi <lllO ilny. which I did, (lio lnoro u illinoly, ns I lind I>(•»■' assured repeatedly that 1 sluuilil 1 10 tilde to obtain non' provisions nt tlio soon I loti Pakilii. n large forest meadow nonr Lake Hniniior. After I 1 1:1 (1 1 1 iotl tlio It'll! mnl found it pnssalilo. ivo iook tlio pack-horses ovor. nml liu' pt'opli* soon lollou'i'd. Ttuvnrds noon ivo rcai-hod thw immtli ot 1 1 1<> (Him, 1111 iniportnnt I rihtttaiy. At ils simrot' n pass, liko tiiat of tlio llurnmii saddle. loads to the Waimakaliri river, nvt'r which tlio high mail to lonnoii tlio oast and ivost roast was l, rinp: nindo. •'n 1110 nnmntains 10 tlio south sido of tlio rivor and ivost ll'oin tlio Otirn valloy, wliioli liavo voi'y "if I'orns, no could now observe some soon-fields with small glaciers ot tl wrond til-dor. The vegetation had changed vofy much since no loft our last ramp. Wo had long sineo 101 l Motrosidors l.ui-ida and similar troos or.in inn lira; thr pass, tirliiml. Along tlio rath.'l not track nppoarotl. hr-idos tin' Totara pino. wliito pint’s ami hlark pines, 11 liiili with I heir regain rly-form-o.l tops generally toivoiotl high ahovo tlio ot hoi forest foliage ; although hero ami tlioro hlark hoft hos. lilt) loot hiu.i 1. and 7 to S foot in dinniotor. wo:.' also lo ho soon. Delicate troo I'orns np-penrt-d in greet übundam-o. osp-'oiillly in llaa gorge-like side valleys, among which Cvatlioii Sn.ithii and I'i.ksunia S(|ii:i i ro-a uoro especially nntioonhlo 10. their height and cirminte our . I"' tni-'-n ihis supri'ti vegetation, tin l hlark stemmed rrrrpor. tin- supplejack ot th•Colonist, often forms an impenetrable not. whilo the ground. in noli as In stems ol' the troos. is rover'd most Inxnrinntlv with mosses, liri.o.is and Inns. The nliolo enlivened hy mini--111 ■ i s of font In-tod songsters lorms a srrin' of intlosoriliahlo hoanly. Wo h-nl still to cross 1 ho ril-.-r srvrrnl limes hrloro ur an il l"! al C opening, two miles hro.nl. which loads in I,a lie lirnmior. We non It'll the hod of tlio Tercinnkau, which deviates litilr from the westerly diroriien ii i,as hud hitherto, and breaks ihinugh tlio roast chain, hut the valloy dull 11w art Is null in ii»" hmad, and novor ussiinn's thr rhararlor ol a gorge. Ih'O !, mil" from 1 lie river the Hat is covered with thr shruhs generally growing in 1 hr open valley. Then the path ascends a lit 11‘" terrace, a few foot high, and filters n magniliivnl forest ivlih "i"-;i 11 tie t trt's, hotivoon which tiro to ho seen tree-ferns, often as mil'll as ft loci hit'll. After a mile and a half no name out ol the high forest and I lie pakihi 01- paddock lay hid'oro us. This k 1 ho name given liy the diggci s to a ei-ass-oovorod plain hid ween nun and Min miles h; nad. hoiiloiod on h.ilh sides liv thickly wooded mountains. This place, com 'rally so 'desolate, was now highly aliiiunted. t‘a ll lf ami horses won* i 11 |H*:i<viullv in nil uiu'ttions. Nuiulkms oi toms woiv i-tU ii|» m . r i.| 10 inrost l\»r ilu* aoooiinmuliition of mild-diggers. rattle drivers and storekeepeis. It was used hy these ion.in- and going as a resting place, hefore resuming their todiinis join lie, |{,.sides this, they lot the rattle, lor which there is very little food in the Totoniakau valley, recruit here, since Co Hie last grassy place neat' the

ecast and neighbourhood of Hokitica whore feed grows. When the cattle are however once accustomed to tee leaves of tho trees and shrubs, some of which tlley like very much, they soon get into good condition again. In spitu ol the rainy won I her there as active life and Intslle here. No 110 ir was however to be l ad, and people win, bad money to buy provisions wcv obliged to content themselves w' n fresh beef. The alluring grog shanty, as usual, was not missing. On a m'arei exa iaina I ion ,-f this interesting lint, I came to tbo surprising eonelttsi ,n that even in the latest geological ’.;n e. the Teremakau river must have branches, one part towards Lake Hruuner, the other part towards I ale I’oenia, situated to rke north-east, the outlet of which falls into the first named lake. (To be continued).