The Lyttelton Times FRIDAY, DEC. 16, 1881.

Lyttelton Times, Volume LVI, Issue 6491, 16 December 1881, Page 4

The Lyttelton Times FRIDAY, DEC. 16, 1881.

Tub people of Otago have many advantages over their neighbours. As to the majority of those, wo, our space being limited, would recommend to the enquirer a short trip to Dunedin, in which interesting city he will see much, and bear a great deal more, Tho particular advantage to which we just now wish to refer is the possession of a terra incognita, in tho shape of that remote corner of the Colony known as the County of Fiord. This distant tract, whoso mountains, " far off amid the melancholy main,” are the first to catch tho southern blasts as they oomo bowling up from the Antarctic Pole, is famous for several reasons. Its Sounds are tho admiration of tourists; its Alps, the despair ol surveyors ; and finally it was one of tho few favoured districts in Now Zealand, which, io the days of Abolition, were specially exempted from the operation of the Counties Aot. Major Atkinson himself recoiled from Fiord.

A short while ago, however, its deso-

lato beauties were tbrenUmdl witb an invasion, tho advanced guard of which baa juat gone forth and returned. The Cange wna an opinion espreMod and published by Dr Hector, that within this land, there might exist—that from a scientific point of view there ought to exist—considerable deposits of valuable minerals. This opinion reprinted in the Otago papers sounded the knell of tho lonely liberty of Fiord. Bo long as its only attractions wore of on artistic nature, it might base remained undisturbed, but no sooner was a scent of profit blown from its ranges, than tho olfactory organs of tho good people of Dunedin became at once pleasantly titillated. A company "The Fiord County Prospecting Association,” was quickly launched, and towards tho cod of last October business wow begun, by tho despatch of some explorers of experience to the western shores of Lake Manipori. Theso have now returned, and on tho tenth of this month their report was read at a meeting of the Association. They appear not to have done very much ; to have penetrated but a moderate distance into the unknown territory, and, unlike tbe twelve historic spies, to have returned empty-handed. But unlike, also, the timorous majority of the personages before referred to, their story is hopeful in the extreme. They did not go far because the weather was boisterous ; they did not see much because the mountains were covered with mist ; and they obtained no alluvial gold because tho river up which they journeyed was In full flood. But they found timber in the valley of the Speybnrn, growing on flat fertile soil, and near tho Micabnru, a tributary, they struck a quartz reef, which farther prospecting might show to be auriferous. They were, moreover, convinced that a practicable route to tbe West Coast might be fonnd on the line of their exploration. The scenery, so for as it unveiled itself, was described as grand and imposing. In conclusion, the explorers asked for nothing more than fair weather and permission to try again. This they will doubtless obtain, and before long we shall doubtless hear more of Otago’s Little Lone Land. Meanwhile we commend to the notice of those ot onr readers who have the time, means and experience requisite lor a summer Alpine trip, tho suggestion of Dr Hooter, that they should try their bands on Fiord County. True, the way would appear to be a trifle rough, but, after all, the tourist needs bat three qualities. He should be a practised bushman, otherwise he will not bo so certain to make his way as to lose it; he should he a gifted artist, that he may sketch the glories ot nature; and he should be a geologist learned enough to detect copper when be finds it, and to tell the difference between gold and iron pyrites. Now these three attributes are unhappily not always combined in the ordinary climber of mountains. Bat we remember a suggestion made in the London Punch at a time when burglaries were almost as common In tbe English Metropolis as they would seem to have been of late in Auckland. Three things. Punch observed, were, according to tbe critics, necessary in the policeman who would successfully cope with housebreakers. Great intelligence to find oot the whereabouts of his man, extreme activity to catch him, and irresistible strength to overpower him when caught. Now, as Punch sceptically remarked, one was not likely to find all these very often united in a single policeman. Bat, as be brightly proposed, they might all be obtained by sending the guardians of tbe public peace out burglar-hunting in small parties of three. Even so would we send onr tourists three and three into Fiord Oounty. by which means they might not only get into that mysterious land, bat get out again, and bring with them, on their return, some tangible result of their visit