EXPLORATIONS

Hokitika Guardian, 4 September 1930, Page 7

EXPLORATIONS

IN UNKNOWN NEW ZEALAND WINTER, 1930. MR ERIC JAMES’ TRIP.

I report briefly the findings of recent explorations iiorth of Milford Sound. The object was' to seek an easy coastal route connecting Milford with Martin’s Bay. The party consisted of \V. Watson, photographer, an “Auckland Weekly” photographer and myself. We set out from Makarora, Lake Wanaka, on May 27th, 1939, and returned on August 16th after an absence of over eleven weeks. Our route lay over the Haast Pass to the Wept Coast, then southward mostly along the coast to Martin’s Bay in Otago. From this point some time was spent in the Holly ford and Pyke Valleys, and from the former the Auckland member left us by way of Lake Wakatipu, and we were there joined by Malcolm McKenzie. From Martin’s Bay we proceeded southward to the mouth of the Kaipo River, following it near its head to a point where our bivse camp was established. McKenzie and Watson returned to Martin’s Bay with the intention of joining me at a cove inside Dale Point, Milford Sound, ‘by boat with supplies, From this cove it was our Intention to row un to the Hostel, but unfortunately upon arriving ba«h they found the boat in use on Lake McKerrow, and the venture had to be abandoned, In the meantime I had started off overland, carrying what provisions I could on my back. More than half the time spent away from the base camp was wet and oolld. On July 13th I located a lake from a saddle at the head of the John $ Groats River. Rising to a ridge east of this saddle another lake came in view, which when reached a few days later, proved to have a subterranean outlet. Bounded by large sharp granite rocks it had a strange manner of rising and falling. The first ' lake drained into the John o’ Groats. Contrary to what appears on the map, this stream has a rocky confined bed with forest to the water’s edge, and not a winding course over a fairly wide shingle bed. It has a rapid current especially where it drains from the lake. Before following this river to the Coast I viewed what appeared to be a promising practical alpine pass in the Darran Mountains leading towards the Holly ford Valley. Heavy snow prevented investigations. From tlty mouth of the John o’ Groats to Dale Point in Milford Sound large rocks and a few small headlands have to be scrambled over. Being in danger of being cut off from my supplies by the riking tide, I failed to roach the cove where a landing by launch from Milford Hostel may bo effected, when only a mile distant. Qn the return journey I followed the eoast north of John o’ Groats, turning inland near Sidney Beach, and by crossing the low timbered hills reached the Kaipo Valley on the twelfth day after setting out. After a few davs at Mr Gunn’s homestead, at Martin’s Bay refitting, we journeyed up the coast to Qkuru, thence overland to Wanaka, which occupied thirteen days. A pack horse team was used north of Kaipo Bay and in the Hollyford Valley, I am firmly of opinion that for lake, river, forest and alpine scenery combination, the Lower Hollyford cannot be excelled. There is a. choice of a number of practical routes connecting Milford with Martin’s Bay which could 'be blazed at a small outlay. I mysoc’f blazed a good distance until my billhook snapped in two. The alpine pass mentioned certainly calls for further explorations. It will be my ambition to meet a party to pioneer the first attempted crossing. A first class photographic record has' been obtained, also* mineral specimens. This interesting region will be made better known to the interested public by a series of lantern lectures which will be delivered by Mr James during October and November.