WILDS OF WESTLAND

Hokitika Guardian, 21 February 1930, Page 2

WILDS OF WESTLAND

AN INTERESTING EXPEDITION

(Otago Daily Times.)

The wild, untracked variety of the southern regions of the West Coast of the South Island still makes an appeal to the instinct for pioneering and exploration which moves the spirit and fires of imagination in not a few men to-dav, despite the rapidity with which, the world is racing away from the time when new sights and sounds and places could be found within a few day’s march of the centres of civilisation. There are yet parts of that remarkable territory between the Southern Lakes district and the Tasman Sea through which few feet have strayed, and there are many more which have never yet been made the subject of organised scientific survery. For this reason far more than local interest will attach to the expedition of four which is at present prospecting for botanical and geological wealth in the vicinity of the little-known Red Hill Range country, which divides Of ago from Westland. The party consists of three local enthusiasts and an Aucklander. The Dunedin men are Messrs J. Thomson and G. Simpson, whose botanical researches into New Zealand flora have been of considerable value to the province generally, and Mr F. J. Turner, lecturer in geology at the University of Otago, who, with Professor J. Bartrum, who fills the chair of geology at the Auckland University College, will make a /necinl solely of the geology of the country visited. The .Rod Hill Range country is practically an unknown quanUtv geologically, although Professor Park has already made parts of it the subject bf his investigations, hut other areas to be covered by the present expedition are entirely new ground. The region should prove no less fruitful from the botanical point of view, and on their return the party should be able .to make some notable contributions to the history of the province in these particular directions. It is intended that the trip should occupy some weeks, hut it was impossible to say just what length of time would be required when the expedition left Pembroke last week for Makarora, which was the starting point on the long journey into the hinterland. The packing of the necessary supplies and equipment was an undertaking of considerable magnitude and involved the use of a large team of pack horses. The route from Makarora lav through the Haast Pass to the coast to the tiny post of Okuru, which lies south of the Haast Ri' oi, and 120 miles south of Hokitika. This was the last point at which communication with Dunedin could be secured, and a message received from there stated that the party was striking inland again to the Red Hills Range. It was intended to push as far as possible into the mountainous country with the pack horses and bulky supplies for he purpose of establishing a base ca,mip from which exploring trips could be m&de, It is not expected that the return journey will be commenced for, a month at least,