THE WANGAPEKA.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume V, Issue 31, 7 February 1870, Page 2

THE WANGAPEKA.

We are indebted to the Provincial Secretary for the following report received this morning from Mr. .Marchaut : — Survey Camp, Wangapeka. Feb. 4, 1870. | Sir — Your letter of the 28th January ! and enclosed telegram, I regret to say only arrived this evening. In answer to your request that I should inform you, "how far the survey is advanced," "what results, if any, are obtained," " how much of the survey I was instructed to make remains unfinished, and the probable date of completion," I have the honor to report, that from the 12th to the 18th ult., I Wits engaged, in accordance with my i insl ructions, in ascertaining what points ! were to be taken as those called Mount | Arthur and Mount Owen. ! The miners considered an eastern peak i upon Mount Arthur as the highest, and consequently the northern extremity of the goldfields boundary line, I ascertained however, that the western peak, generally recognised as such, is the highest. The determination of the southern extremity of the bounday line is not such a simple matter. The Mount Owen contended for hy the miners, I fiud to be a range extending from the Wangapeka river southward to the river Oweu, where enclosed between two branches of that river, it attains its greatest altitude (5500 feet above the sea). It corresponds in position with the mountain of that name shown upon Stanford's map, and it is over this that Donald's track passes. To the westward, and adjoining this mountain, is situated another of greater altitude, and by far the most remarkable mountain in the district, lying between the western branches of the river Owen. These two jointly, form. I am satisfied, the Mount Oweu group of Mr. Richmond's map. Three quarters of a mile west of the mouth of the Owen lies a range from 3,000 to 3,600 feet high, being a spnr from a mountain which branches southwards from the western side of the group. There are three main peaks upon this range, and it may be said to be timbered from the top to the bottom. This, I believe to be the Mount Oweu shown upon Mr. Burnett's map, though considerably out of the position shown thereon. I should state that I did Lot ascend the peaks. Mr. Haast named Mount Oweu from a point somewhere north of the junction of theßulleraud Mangles rivers, and, strange to say, in the only clear view I obtained, four miles above the Maugles, I saw the Mount Owen group directly over the timbered range above mentioned. Culliford's reef lies about two miles to the westward of a line from Mount Arthur to the Mount Owen of Stanford's map. I have been engaged for the past few days upon a survey to determine the true position of the reef from this line, as also from a line between Mount Arthur and the highest point in the group which lies further to the westward. This survey, if possible, is to be completed by the 9th instant. To .ascertain the exact position of the reef from lines between Mount Arthur and the three points would necessitate a triangulatiou carried up from the plains, taking perhaps a month for its completion. A work of this character I have not been instructed to execute. I shall be happy to furnish any further infoimation in my power which you may require. I have, &c, J. W. A. Marchant, The Provincial Secretary, Nelson.