SOUTH WESTLAND NOTES

Hokitika Guardian, 23 February 1932, Page 3

SOUTH WESTLAND NOTES

The .southern district rightly .takes pride in its scenery, and at present with the rata in bloom everywhere, the scenery is certainly more arresting than ever. On some of the bush tracks at the different resorts, off the main road, there is a wealth of splendour in the rata bloom, and the splashes of red are at their best when the setting sun lights up the hillsides, and the fiery red shows up more prominently than ever.

The new. bridge across the canyon at Gallery 'Gorge is a substantial structure. It is on the track leading to the Franz Josef Glacier, and the hot springs are passed en route. It is rather remarkable that more is not made of the hot springs, which should be one of the features to interest .visitors. There are also hot springs well known to travellers over the Copeland Pass, the track to which is now being improved, following a late wash-out. These springs are par ticularly praised by visitors who have enjoyed a dip in the recuperative waters. Last week the Gillespies Lagoon bridge was put in order by 'the controlling local authority. This bridge was constructed some 40 years ago by Teal and Baars when the track through to Cooks' Flat '(more particularly known to-day as We heka) was opened. Till recent years the bridge stood well, but fell into decay, and ha s now been restored, and will serve for many years to come again.

Gillespies Beach promises to come more Into the public eye in the .• near future by reason of the fact that, a dredging company to work 300 acres oi sea beach claim, has just been floated in Dunedin. The property is highly thought of and there is a fair amount of West Coast capital in the venture. ;It >is intended to put a large electric dredge on the claim, but the generating power has not been determined vet. The prospects where the ground was tried out, were said to bo very encouraging, There .is the opportunity to develope hydro-electric power from a lake which forms a good reservoir only a few miles a wav. But -this matter and the question of access, whether by road or sea, .are matters for decision by the permanent directors soon to be appointed. North of Gillespies. Beach and south of the Five Mile beach, where the Okarito dredge i s operating,- is the Waikukupa bench This is being prospected by a Hokitika syndicate, which has sent down <i hand-boring plant and has throe experienced mem on the field to tes it ou,t. It is proposed to give the claims taken up a good test.

The Waikukupa beach is somewhat different to the others, in that there is an outer boulder bank which also contains a mussel bed. Among the theories of the deposit of sea. beach gold, is one that the sea throws up the precious metal from matrix deposits in the ocean bed. This of course is in addition to the major theory of the gold being washed down by the rivers from the mountain fastnesses, a Fact proved by the deposits often recovered from the river beds, at various stages of the journey to the sea. 'Phis gold in turn later ■finds iits way to mother ocean, and is again tossed about by the sea till ft .is spread out on the ocean front.

t The Waikukupa river is gold bearing, so that it is certain gold has been carried out to sea. if ill addition the ,ocean has also yielded up traesme in that locality, there are two reasons to .believe the sand should be auriferous. That test is now being made, and if the affirmative is proved, no doubt in the fullness of time another dredge will materialise on the sea coast. It is known of course from the early days, that gold was recovered by the beachcombers, but ithe further test must be made, to look for leads from the ocean front, and to test depths; also, probably to try and find out what treasure has been stored behind the boulder bank. Altogether it appears to be a promising proposition, and "the old hands” have expressed favourable opinions.

Yet another beach is under test in the south, namely the Saltwater, south of the Little Wanganui (Poerua) river. The Saltwater beach' is bound up with the earliest history of the 'Coast before roads were made, and the adventurous pioneers of the early days had to make their difficult way south by the ocean beach. It was difficult and dangerous travelling—for many went afoot—anci there were numerous rivers and tidal streams to be crossed,on foot or on improvised rafts. The account of the travels up and down Westland in those very early days is interesting and stirring reading, and indicates the stuff the men were made of. One :New Zealand poet, at least, C- O’Regan, has told the 'story in stirring lines, while Haast and others have left on record an account of the perils and adventure s of those who went their way into the wilds of South Westland, probing the unknown for hidden treasures. Those who were l'orunate >to travel with horses, always made 'Saltwater peach, not only a stopping, but also a resting place. Haast states it 'Wa 5 one of the few places along the beach rout*; where the horses could get some good picking ; |and ".the spell for man and horse was recuperating, for fish and fowl were plentiful for the traveller who desired .to replenish his larder.

Well, it is not surprising the Saltwater Beach, known to so many, should be in the minds of some'as a suitable location for dredging. There was a futile effort futile perhaps because of the difficulty about fuel for power. Firewood Jiad to be used, and it can be understood what the consumption ' must have been. Eventually the dredge was abandoned, hut it (had a useful 'fate ahead of it. It was sold as it lay and much that was light and useful was taken away. Then after many years, the remnant was sold, and 'it was transferred to south of Okarito, where the usable parts became part and parcel of the present successful Five Mile dredge returning its weekly harvest of gold. -So the Saltwater- may again come Into 'its own and once more be the harvest of those in search of the treasure nature has the 'habit of storing in plenty for those who seek wisely.