EARLY GOLD DISCOVERY

Hokitika Guardian, 25 October 1921, Page 4

EARLY GOLD DISCOVERY

FIRST RUSH TO THE COAST. A ROMANTIC ACCOUNT. (From the Reports of Sir Julius von Ilaast, F.R.S. to the Canterbury Provincial Government). XVI. (Concluded).

On .March 12th tee returned to the mouth of the Pnringn, after having first ascended the main branch of the river for some distance on foot. The high hind' on the northern side of the Paringa, which cannot he passed by travellers except hv climbing over its summit, was next examined. On seeing the surf heating so strongly againsl the cliffs, it was clear that only melts nf such an almost indestructible nature as the mehiphyres and brocciated greenstone beds whirh here stand out into the sea, can so effectually resist the fury of the waves. On the l.'Uli March, v.e embarked again in oltr little boat, and after haring gone south about

seven miles, 1 observed, a change in the character of the rocks form mg the coast-line, so I gate orders to land at what appeared to i:e a somewhat sheltered ipot. Although the sea was very smooth, iip had a very nanow escape of upsetting the hoai amongst tin- breakers. However, after shipping a considerable <|iiaiiiity nf water when in the s trl, In' landed on the beach near the mouth of a sin.ill creek, which one of niv companions designated as toe Awakaikato creek, am! ill the- neighbourhood of which the so-called Abbey rocks arc situated.

Several hours were devoted to an investigation of the inleicsting desiineiilary rocks, occurring here along the coast, amongst- which are same excellent lnmestones. One ol toy companions, Mr V . Dochcriy, has since discovered, in the sane disttiel. sonic lithographic stone, which is now being qil.n ried. In the ai leriioon, when f intended to continue my voyage sou'Ji. the sen had risen, so that them was no chance of getting across the soil. Mo were therelore obliged to camp oil that spnt. Next morning a light rain was falling, and the sea appeared very smooth. However, in cro-sing t.ie breakers, we got a thorough wetting, and shipped a great deal ol water. Gradually the wind from the northv.'est increased, and the sin became iniigher every hour, hut our liitie b-i;u behaved splendidly. We were nuv i nulling swiftlv dow n theioa t, 100 t.ng out auxioii-ly lor a spot '-..ere we

might lind a sinall-lioat ! arlmur. Tl us portion of tin* (on si, from Wakapohai to Tnupari-Kaka cliffs, is iioiibouml am! wild in tin* extreme, and against ii the broad waves ol the I’acilie break with fury. Now and then v. e ran close to the .-ni l to ee whether wo could lind a suitable spot for landing. hut the coa.-t s» **med nowhere ai • eosiblc. However, as iiie v. iml steadily increased, we at last selected a small sandy beach between two high rocky proiiiuiiturics, where the suit appeared to lie not mi heavy, and keeping the boat steady, ran her in* as quickly as we eould. Hut this was not accomplished without nearly swamping U’o boat, which was half tilled with water, and the bench was so sloping, that all our strength and energy were needed to secure her.

The spot we had cjtosou was most seduded and romantic. A small beaeb, about a Immlred yards long, close to A i noil’s Point, an I hounded on both ‘.ides hv huge rocky projections of wild forms, whilst behind us, a rocky wall, about 10) feet high, rose boldly, in the midst of which a small but charming waterfall descended. A rich vegetation had sprung up where a little soil had accumulated amongst the rocks, the line of the horizon above us being fringed with the crowns of the forestvegetation on the top of the dills. We only landed just in time, for the sea \< ry soon had risen to mi oh a height that no boat could have lived upon it. The rain came down in torrents, and a wild night followed. In this secluded spot we were detained for nine days owing to the heavy surf keeping us prisoners, and although the weather was occasionally very line, before the s<*a-could sufficiently calm down Unit a boat might attempt to cross tin* suit, the wind would freshen up and the sea become very rough again.

However. ii was not altogether lost iiim\ because it gave mo ample opportunity to examine tin* district in even ■ liirct ion. Thus 1 worked my way Imtli north ami south of our ramp, hut not without occasional mishaps. There was scarcely any diilereme between high ami low water, the latter being very trvachemus high waves occasionally running ;iml wotting us to the skin ami only our clinging to the rocks with all our st length prevented us from being washed mil to sea. Many of tin* locks consist of a \ ery hard melapu; re (pi custom ). Of such rock Wnkapo'ai, Aruolt, am! Taupa ri-Kaka Point.- < nnsist . ami it is easily eoneciv able that onl\ jocks of >ueh unsil hardness can ellVctually resist the ettormou* power i.f the ceaseless surf. Between these old submarine lava streams, which occur in many localities along this part of tin* coast, sandstones, shales, and congloinoralcs are endu-dde 1, and.have he.cn shaped into wild picturesque forms.

In one of these excursions, I followed the coast to Taupari-Kaka Point, about four miles from uiir camp, crossing the Kukahakornkorn creek on mv way. After having passed Arnoll Point, we travelled mostly on a soft sandy heaeh, by which progress was much accelerated Oik* of my companions informed me that eighteen months previously t-here had been scarcely a particle of sand the whole distance, that in fact, the sea had washed against the perpendielllnr locks, and that when returning with a parts of gold-diggers from the Uaast j river, tiny had to climb over large! boulders which then formed the seal beach. Therefore here, as well as the ot.lier portion of the coast, the sands which are thrown up during one heavy storm, are again washed away by j another. i

From Taupari-Knka Point, which is the last rocky promontory before leaching Jackson's P.ay, a very extensive panoramic view is obtained. I he line of sandy beach stretches as lar sout.li as the eye can reach, and behind it appear wide forest-clad plains, which 1 have no doubt will some day he extensively used for agricultural and pastoral purposes, after the line timber has been utilised and exported to less favoured districts. Above* them rise the coast ranges, also covered with dark forests for a considerable height a few snow-covered peaks towering above them. The ranges behind our camp wore also repeatedly ascended. Their summits consisted mostly ol grits and conglomerates, with black carbonaceous markings, similai to those in I lie Givy uml Bu!lor eo.ilijelds, bub 1 failed to find any proper

Owing to the impenetrable character of the luxuriant forest and usual thick covering of moss on the ground, it is exceedingly difficult to obtain in these ranges any clear sections, which can, therefore, only he observed along the coast line, in precipices, waterfalls, or similar exposed positions, f rom the summit of the range behind our camp, about 1500 feet high, wo had a very fine view over the wooded coast ranges, some of the alpine peaks appearing in various directions above them, whilst below us, the blue sea lay spread out, looking very quiet and peaceful. -My companion, -Mr Oocherty. who had had great experience in kiwi and kakapo hunting, had a well-trained dog lor that purpose with him. In this district, so seldom disturbed hv man, these two night birds were still abundant, especially the Apteryx, ol which, sometimes, in one afternoon we secured as many as ten. I was t litis abli tn studv their mode ol living, ohsorvt

their holes and hiding places, and moreover, could, with the assistance of my companions, whom 1 taught skinning, prepare a large number (tl skin*. On the -2nd March, it seemed that, at last, we might manage to leave our lilt!* haven, so we made everything ready ami stood hv the boat for several limns, hut, contrary to our expectations, the suit* did not decrease, so w< watched anxiously through the night for a change. With the first dawn ol dav we were again ready to start, and as the sea appeared a lit lie smoother than usual, and there was the appear-

ance of a line day w ith a favorable wind to return to Hruco Hay. we watched our chance, and, although in passing through the surf we shipped a sea b\ which the boat was hal! filled, we wore safely on our way just when the first i.ivs of a brilliant autumn sun gilded the highest peaks of the Alps. 11 was a glorious morning. Hie Southern Alps lay before us in all their majesty, forming a panorama of indescribable grandeur, and a gentle breeze brought iis speedily towards 1 •rile.* Hay. where wo landed safely in the alleinoon, after our somewhat hazardous trip, through which 1 became ncqiiainto 1 with some of the wildest coast scene r\ of Westland. Next day i started on my leturn journey t > UkurLo. tin ibo no tl eii banks of the Weheka, which I ascended for a consider.ihie distance, wo were detained by heavy rain for a tune. Tin small rills of water, which lull in great numbers over the perpendicular moraine walls along the beach, wore so swollen, that most of them lonued small waterfalls, descending in one clear leap, like the shoot Iron! the ••• of a house. To give some i«b a ol their frequency, I may say that 1 counted fifteen of them in less than live minutes’ walk.

On .March the 2>th 1 aniwd it Okarito. The steamer Hi m e bavin; arrived the same morning, 1 was lor Innately in time to proceed by her to .Jackson's Hay, b'ascndc Point, ami Limestone Cliff Hay. and Oeorge river where we landed goldminers and pro visions, and through which a welcome opportunity was offered me ol gaining s me knowledge of the southern nos poition of the coast ol Westland. 11 weather was most sphuidid, the South ern Alp.- appearing on hoHi trips with nut any clouds or mi is hiding thei grami ient uj» s. Ihi 'p. il 1 • 1 ! r tinned to Hokitika, and * l: * roach, I jeaehed Chris! chun-h on He It ... . .tJiiuis.;