Untitled

Hokitika Guardian, 2 April 1929, Page 4

V very remarkable man in assisting to mould the history of New Zealand in the early days, was Sir Julius Von Haast. He was scientist and explorer. not only of groat ability and initiative, but also of amazing energy. His work was exceedingly well done, and be certainily has left his footpr'inis on the sands of time. Hanst is a ta niliar name in this district. There is the well-known Haast. Pass, one of the most accessible passes over the .-'•outbern Alps. There is also the Haast liver, the longest in 'Westland, and .here is Mount Haast (10,294 feet), in the first ten of the highest peaks onstituting the Souhern Alps. As a scientist and explorer, the life work of Sir Julius was in the main centred in Canterbury, but in time Westland was part of Canterbury, and so this district was under bis attention. It was in IBG2-3 that Sir Julius Von Haast made a notable journey to the West Coast from, the bead of Lake Wanaka by way of Haast Pass and the Haast River. He made another noteworthy trip to the West Coast at the time of the outbreak of the great gold rush in 1865. 'l'lie records of tiiese trips are embalmed in an unpretentious volume known as “The Geology of Canterbury and Westland.” This volume gives a very intimate record of the travels and experiences of the explorer, and is in point of fact a history of the times, men and manners of those early days, when the Coast was a trackless forest. It is interesting to recall that Mr Arthur D. Dobson, who was an assistant to Sir Julius as far back as 1862 when a record was made of Mount Look, is still in the flesh, and was a recent visitor to Hokitika with the automobile delegation. Mr Dobson, by the way. scon after severing bis connection with Sir Julius, himself became notable as the discoverer of the present route to the West Coast by way of Arthur’s Pass. Sir Julius Von Haast in 18(53, following the outbreak of the gold rush of the previous year, made his way to the Coast by following tlie Hurunui river to the Saoule hi the Alps between that river and the Teremaknu river, down which the explorer made his way to the ocean beach, and thence along the foreshore to Hokitika. From here the explorer negotia. fed the Hokitika river by boat, having the nssistan'-c of the Maoris. Afterwards the sea coast was traversed, also with the aid of natives. Sir Julius’ account of those stirring and romantic days are very vividly written, and give an intimate picture of the mushroom growth of settlement following the discovery of gold. Prior to the magic find, of gold the Coast was very desolate, being almost uninhabited. Then came the change, and the genesis of om- oarlv history makes very interesting reading indeed, thanks to the clear records of Sir Julius von Haast.