DISCOVERY OF A PRACTICABLE ROUTE TO THE WEST COAST,

Southland Times, Volume 2, Issue 100, 12 October 1863, Page 3

DISCOVERY OF A PRACTICABLE ROUTE TO THE WEST COAST,

ARRIVAL OF DR HECTOR IN QUEENSTOWN. (From the Wakatip Mail.) The news that Dr Hector had arrived in Qneenstown on Sunday nighl from the West Coast, having discovered a prac icable route to the Wakatip, caused an excitement unequalled on this field at any period of its history. The streets and bars were thronged by eager and breathless crowds, anxiously canvassing the probable results of the discovery to this township. The fears that have prevailed relative 10 the Doctor's fate for the past month intensified the interest felt, and rumors of all kinds were current. A public meetiuj? was announced to be held at Bracken's Hotel on Monday about noon, to welcome hin.. The hall was crowded by an excited and enthusiastic audience, and the greatest order prevailed. J. S. Hickson, Esq., R.JVI., was unanimously called to the chair. The Chairman, in introducing Dr. Hector to the meeting-, touched upon the perilous journey ptrfomed by that indefatigable explorer, which without doubt would be hailed with Ihe utmost satisfaction by the miners and residents of the Wakatip district ; and he regretted that Dr Hector would be unable to satisfy their curiosity, till he had communicated with the Government. Mr Cass moved the followinn resolution : '* That this meeting desire to express its highest appreciation of the efforts made by Dr. Hector in exploring a country hiihoert unknown, under great difficulties, m 1 at the same time to offer him its warmest congratulations upon his successes and safe' return. Believing as this meeting does, that the interests of New Zealand

and other landsaii»the|southen)Uceaii will hereafter reap 1 * immense advantages from the discoveries niadtj by Dr Hector, ijt take 3 this opportunity of publicjy wel--coming him v back to •■<ytago ; as^ the firot successfuleX])lorer. of the :W'est Coast, and await with some anxiety, for his report of the expedition." -(Loud cheers. } | . Mr Gordon, in^secondiT>fjthe r m6tion' f i'6b: served; that tiiougli Dr 1 Heotorhrtd hot told .tlvem hk had co'mje from the^ We?VpoSst', there was i. ho duubt 'tjjiat he' had' done so| Jus he cei'tmnly had not dropped from the clouds, and it was only lately thatiihe Goj vernment had sent a ship far hint.- He hid safely traversed a country til rdatel>; deemerl inaccessible, and, deserved the tfest thanks of the community. (Cheers.) \ Dr Hector.rose to address the aieetingj .amid a perfect tempest of olieers; ...He said — Gantlemen, I regret that my official posi' ton precludes my saying miire than toi riturn my hanks for your kind welcome; I started for the examination of the Wesi; Coast in the month' of May las! ? for. the purpose of- 'ex tending 'the Geolbgi'da.l.Sur-i vey, on which I am at preset. t eijgas'e'd,which will doubtless be of great assistance' to the Province, and especially to the mining population. Since then, assisted! by a first-rate crew, in every way worthy of my confidence. I have been engaged in examining the \VYst Coast by sea. It would scarcely be becoming in me tO furnish you with the particulars of what I! have seen befoie communicating Tfritii the! Government; but my report"wiirbe.pub^ lUhed vary shortly, w'hsnyou will all havej ihu opportunity of reading it. I T.s.questedj the Government not to take any steps loj send a relief pirty in search of me before! the 28th of this month ; the time has not yet expired, and I hope I shall be able tocommunicate with them in time J^^pjiey end their doing so. The 1.)r.. again thanked the mesting, and sat down amid another demonstration of satisfaction. [)\ f; ] The resolution was read and cairiedl with (leafen'n^ acclamation.three stentorian cheers being given to Dr Hector,, sed a multitude " in." ' ' A vote of thanks was passed to the chair and the meeting separated. A'thouo;h Dr Hector was naturally chary : of Riving information before he had con>municated with .the Government, yet no amount of c.iuUon could prevent the circulation of rumcrs conuected with his passage hither from the cuast-^iumors which the companions of his ti'avels no doijb', though inadvertently aided. From a careful coiln'ion of these__rejsorls it appears that the exploring^ ■D.arAy, entered a bay comparatively u,njsnowf]i >s iia.v,ing atits mo u :li a bar in •fioini t ßevw» Ji t^.-}ten feet of water. A river named, as>n£aras we could ascertain, KutHputiki;" rcfag'lnfc-o'tliis hay, up which the party *proc t ede l a7 meeting on, heir route three o'her lakes;, when they stepped on shore being not more' than for y miles from Lake Wakatip. The*. country is described as consisting of fine agricultural land, thickly timbered, and practicable for drays. The climate is stated [jjo be beautiful in the extreme. \Ve .understand that two of Dr Hectoi's men are now enjja^etl . cutting a good track back' to 'the like, -, where their vessel is hing. The doctor arrived here in five days f pm the coast, and we lear-n that it could be easily accomplished in three. The track lies by way of the Greensione Kiver, on Messrs Von Tunzelinan's station, and it is said that no iraveller can mi3t»kc the way. ex plorinjj party encountered a Maori family on i he banks of U*e mer. *• j We arc sorry ta have to record an acci- J dent thnt befel Dr Hector. It appears that while lying in the bay above mentioned, a sudden squall struck the ship ; and a boom, after striking the capt?i ; n on the hend so a.s nearly to render him insen sible, dislocated the doctor's shou'rier Fortunately his assistants, under his direction, succeeded in remedying the injury, and we believe this intrepid traveller is now quite recovered.