ROUTES TO THE MATAURA.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 231, 16 September 1862, Page 5

ROUTES TO THE MATAURA.

(To the Editor ofthe Dailt Times.)

Sir.—ln a letter to the Colonist, I gave a description of the various routes to the Dunstan diggings, and alter comparing their various merits, stated that I considered the route from Dunedin by Woolshed, Tutoefca, and Blackhill, by rivers Bowmont, Talla, Frui'd, Menzion, Tima, Teviot, Carebum, and Knobby Ranges the best, being the shortest (101 miles from Dubedin) and lowest, with plenty of firewood and good grass, and it would connect aU the gold fields by continuing up the Clutha tbe road which must be made to Tuapeka at any rate, and that bo engineering obstacles to its construction exist. Since then rumors have got abroad of diggings somewhere about the sources of the Mataura. It is doubtful from the rugged nature of that country, with its " domes/ " obelisks," and "remarkable gaps," if a feasible road cau be got direct from the Dunstan to the Mataura. If miners wish to proceed from the former to tlie latter, their best course seems to be to cross the Clutha by Musgrave and Anderson's boat (till Government procures onsVto Mea Flat, thence across the ranges from the head of Bengerburn to the head waters of the Pomahaka (there is a hut of Chalmers' four miles from Moa Flat) following down the valley to the back of Blount Yalpy by Cbaliners' dray track, through the runs of Ch;dssers and Btugrie, and Roberts', to M'Kcnzie'e, where tbere i» a good dray track to the Mataura. Miners who bad the pleasure of following the Bine M&ratain (Mount Valpy) rush, may know the path from the Clutha at Archbald'*, between the Pomahaka on the left, and Mount Yalpy on the light crossing the spurs cf the latter to Gauimie and Grant's station in the Pomahaka Valley, thence crossing the Potna-. bakat) M'Kenzie'shome station, opposite, which is only about 26 miles from the Clutha at Arcbbalds, and 38 from Gabriel's (instead of 87 miles by the old Clutha' ferry), but this path is too steep for packhorses, though good enough for footmen, and there is abundance of timber. If, however, there are packhorses (drays cannot cross the Clutha at ArchbaW c. as there is no punt), there; is a very good dray road crossing the Pomahaka a.sbort way,above Wilsons fence, thence to M'Kcnzie's dray track near Popa, The best route from Tokomairirois lw_ Mmtland's, crossingthe Clutha by the new punt at Hill End (distance 18 miles), thence to Waiwra Bridge (10 miles), thence keeping Popatunoa to the left,.*"™ to"0™"* M*Kerizie's track to his shepherd's (Eskale) hutj(2s lailes)-^ milesfrom -his home station—thence by a good dray road (except a soft place near tbe^cjwsmg of a st-eaai, three miles from the Mataura) to M'Wab s B tation(2omUes), where there is a good ford of the Mataura, and a good dray road leads for 30 miles up either sideof the river. T ' "'/ ;"".y// "'"■'

/X^'^WM; ARCHIBALD MURRAY. MountStuart,tokomairiro,; 12th Sept., 1862.