EXPLORING IN SOUTH WESTLAND

Hokitika Guardian, 24 October 1930, Page 7

EXPLORING IN SOUTH WESTLAND

LECTURE TO HISTORICAL ASSOCIATION. Tlio wild and practically unknown country at the southern end of the province of Westland was made the subject of an interesting illustrated lecture given on Monday night at Dunedin, by Mr F. J. Turner, M.Sc.. F.G.S., at a meeting of the Otago branch of tile New Zealand Historical Association held in Begg’s concert chamber. Dr. Elder occupied the chair, and introduced the speaker. Mr Turner prefaced his remarks by expressing thanks to Messrs J. S. Thomson and G. Simpson, and also to Mr Eric James, of Makarora, for the use of the lantern slides. He dealt principally with the country extending from the Haast Pass down the Haast Valrley to the coast, and thence to Jackson’s Bay and the red country on the Olivine Range. This trip had been made twice by Mr Turner, the first being in company with Mr Laroche, of the Auckland Grammar School, and Mr G. J. Williams, of the School of Mining, and the second with Messrs J. S. Thomson, and Simpson, and Professor Barton. The speaker, with the aid of a number of excellent slides, spoke of the experiences of the first party during its trip to the red country. Starting from Lake Wanaka, the explorers went up the Makarora River, over tlje Haast Pass, and then down the valley of the Mule River until the Haast River was reached. Hemmed in on either side by

towering peaks, the Haast Valley offered wonderful scenery to the travellers as thev continued on their way

wards the coast. When the Clarke hilts were reached, with only 15 miles of country to be traversed before the coast was reached, the party encountered a fierce storm, lasting about 86 hours, during which the Haast River, although over a mile wide, rose from eight to ten feet. After an enforced wait of two days the party was again able to proceed, but progress was made very difficult on account of- the high

level of the river, and the last 15 miles to the coast occupied over 12 hours’ travelling. The party arrived

at the mouth of the Haast at about

8 o’clock in the evening, and then continued on its way down the coast, arriving at the settlement of Okuru at 1 o’clock in the morning after a gruelling day’s travelling. A short stay was made at Okuru, where they were very hospitably treated by the inhabitants,, and the explorers then continued down the coast to the mOiitli of the Waiatoto River, and thereafter to the Afawata River a fid Jackson’s Bay. The difficulties encountered at these two rivers were graphically recounted by Mr Turner, who stated that across ’ these fast-running snow-fed streams all stores and effects had to be ferried by boat, whilst the pack horses had to swim. At Jackson Bay. stated Mr Turner, there was once a large settlement with a population of over 1000, but now the sole reminder of that township was a solitary dilapidated but. A short stay was made here, and the party then set off up the Arawata River to the Cascade Valley, and there established a base camp in a deserted homestead. From this camp they climbed the Olivine Range and explored the red country. This country, explained Mr Turner, was of volcanic formation and rich in magnesium and iron, and was absolutely bare of vegetation. Where the red country joined the schist formation there was a clear line of demarcation, as where the schist formation ceased so did the bush. The party then crosesd the Cascade River and climbed the Cascader Plateau. On this plateau were striking evidences of the ice age, for on the top were great moraines of boulders carried across the valley from the re country by the huge glaciers of that distant age. The return journey was not without incident, for the party, whilst travelling up the Haast Valley, frequently encountered slips created by the storm which had blocked their passage down and flooded streams added to the difficulties of the trip. Mr Turner concluded by paying a high tribute to the people of Westland, who had treated the party with unfailing hospitality and kindness, and who had gone out of their way to give the travellers every assistance possible. On the motion of Mr G. Simpson, a hearty vote of thanks was accorded Mr Turner for his address.