THE SOUTHERN DISTRICTS.

Lyttelton Times, Volume VII, Issue 471, 9 May 1857, Page 5

THE SOUTHERN DISTRICTS.

The following letter from the Chief Surrey©*! of Otago, is taken from the ' Colonist/ To Captain Cargill, &c., &c. My Deab Sib, —As many enquiries are mad* regarding the result of my survey of the Southern Districts, in which I have been engaged for these last three months and a half, I think it will be of use that I shortly place the same in writing, so that the information, if thought of public service, may be made use of through the propei channel. I arrived at Invercargill on the 12th of January, and there made my arrangements to traverse the country in every direction. I first examined the plains between the forks of the New River, where a fine grazing country for cattle exists, now principally in the occupation of Mr. Macfarlane. I then proceeded to the ! Bluff to obtain observations of the latitude; from the Bluff I proceeded over the Waiopai plains and eastern banks of the Mataura. . Traversing the country in various directions, we then passed the eastern spur of the Bokanui hills, continuing near the Mataura till we reached the station of Mr. M'Kellar. situated in the Tomogalak, at the foot of the Snowy Range, at the base of which the Oreti flows. We then proceeded north and encamped for a few days at foot of the Dome Mountain, (Paiherewao), with the object of getting the latitude of the same with its true bearing from the Bluff —which prominent and commanding objects, 61 miles distant nearly north and south, were chosen as the base of the " recopnaissance" survey in which I was engaged. Their latitudes were carefully ascertained by the system of circummeridional altitudes with an excellent sextant of Troughton's. At the top of the Dome Mountain, "(4955 feet above the sea), situated as it ia in the central districts, I obtained a most extensive view of the Province of Otago, distinctly seeing the Molyneux Bay on one Bide and Tewywys Bay and Solander Island on the other. From this position an easy pass into the lake district discovered itself m a N.N.E. direction ; I consequently determined to look at it on my return from the coast. On my descent from the i Dome I found we had only four days' flour and tea, so I struck through the country for Jacob's river, as being the nearest place where we conld obtain supplies. The country proved more difficult than I had anticipated, *o that we were much delayed by bogs and rough country, but we effected our journey in five days, by keeping down the bed of Jacob's river for oO miles till we reached the Yellow Bluff, crossing and recrossing the river 100 times. I remained three days at Jacob a River, en-ca°-in» another pack-horse, and laying in a. month's provisions. With these I started for the Waiau river, examining the plains betweeen the Taketenso mountains and the sea. From thence I proceeded to Centre Hill, where I bad an extensive view of the plains and downs of the Upper Waiau, whose well wooded extent I estimate to be 1000 square mileß available for pasture. One of the heads of the Waiau was obserm! to reach a point not over 15 or 20 mries from ihe bead of Millbrd Sound on the West Coast, and I had previously been informed by Mr Howell that the Maories had a communication from Milford Sound to Pahees on the coast near the mouth of the Waiau, which they traversed in coming from Millbrd Sound, first on foot by the pass, and then by the waters ot the Waiau, on mogees or flaxstalk rafts. From Centre Hill 1 proceeded to the Dome, and then struck 40 miles into the interior through the pass I had fprmerly observed, leaving our horses tethered amongst the gnuß, and ou" equipments and stock of provisions Btuelv secured under the tent. The pass proved to be the valley of the Upper Mataura, one brarch ot which, the Maories informed ne on my rdum, would have taken me up to Wakutin Ljke : (Baio to be an easy day's journey from the Madura),

irdt for the purpose of a view I ascended a range About 2000' feet -high;'and when at the top found it to be the' dividing range between the Clutha «r Molyneux and MatauraV From this' point the country in a* NiE. direction appeai-ed undulating and low as far as the eye could reach, and no 'mountains could be descried within; 70 to 100 s miles. This I take to be a central basin stretching from where I stood to the valley of the Waitaki river, which is bounded to the East by the Hunter's Hills in the province of Canterbury. ' ■ "• -' ':'"- •■■ ■'•'■'i 1 ;'- I saw no obstacle to ourfurther progress N.E., but haying neither equipments; provisions, nor orders L to go; on, ! returned and proceeded with the further, prosecution of the survey., From the Dome Ij struck down, the west bank of the Oreti, and having surveyed it, returned to Jacob's Ri ve'rj ; From1 Jacob's River; I proceeded to the Bluff, thehce! to the Toi-tois and east banks of theiMataura, arid then proceeded across the Waip|Jai plains to Irivercargill. In our progress1 thrqughyttie idountry I of course diverged on either/ side; of bur route, for the purpose'^ of exaimining all' topographical features and obtaining the necessary observations^ principally by theodolite^ '"From Irivercargill I proceeded direct'WDuriedin, the work being completed. It would' be impossible in a short letter to describV the nature of the country with the; minuteness and accuracy necessary to a full and correct understanding -therefore I must write generally. ' The pasturage near the sea coast is rank and inferior; in the interior generally soft and superior. .At an elevation of two thousand feet rank'tussocks previail, mixed- with spear grass. ; Thie;finest grasses in their natural state are byer-run with a prickly shrub called Tomata guru by.the.natives, 1 biit this is! eradicated by fire. 'The'country surveyed1 by ihe extends from the Mataura i;6 J the Waiau; arid- what may be called liew country "is situated in the Upper Waiau Piairi^4say l^OOOs^uare miles; and the valleys of'the Upper: Oreti and Mataura-^-say 600 square;; miles/ The: qualities of their pasture I believe to be generally good. ; As to the Central Districtlcariridt speak, it having been viewed."at;too;great,a distance; lean only sayjjas far as Iwerit, "wood was in sufficient aburi-

dance for pastoral purposes.' ' " ifurv ■' On eveiy opportunity I examined/the geological feature;" and,' as far as useful minerals are concerned,,l may state that we 'were unsuccess^ ful in washing the; sands of the various* rivers for gold;:at fixe, same time, it must be added, that we had not the proper apparatus. Thechan-^ nels of th'« SiW^aV f 'lan€l-Mataura.;wduld'ihdicate- ;- the existence of "the precious'lrietalj'hutwe'.only obtained, one .specie-in the \Vaiau.-; The small samples '. of gold that' have been ;found the Tuturau, in^the haridsof various individuals; Ihave" not seen to exceed-a few penny weights, nbr am I aware if any person has had suchl success as to encourage him 1 to 'continue searching: ' Limestoneexists' on tlieWaiau;'^and:^^ an inferior, coal on the Mataura'; -good'Vbpfing- slate;on othe' ranges north Jof the'pome; ;i;: ■■ .i .rsi-ll V-'i These'remarks on the supposed-character of the minerals are given with rrnuchdimdence, as I need not suggest thatf for the proper :elucida-. tion of the niineralogicalyalue'of this part of the province,, the assistance of a competent* professed mineralogist would be necessary, i I caw flight indications of iron bat none of cop^; per, and smalLspecimens of what I supposed to be garnet werefound-iri the sands of the Waiau. Upon the whole,'the abundance of good pas-; ture and sufficiency of timber appear to be the most useful facts that! I have to bring to your

notice,

I am, my dear sir, Yours very faithfully, •'..■- ---: J. T. Thomson.

Doneam, April' 13,1857,