Page 1 Advertisements Column 6

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 7, Issue 367, 29 October 1863, Page 1

OTIAGO. Our news lienee is to the 10th inst. The melting snow was discovering the bodies of persons lost during the winter. Several had already been found and it was expected more would be. The most important item however is the following extracted from the Daily Times of the 9th and 10 insts. “ e have much pleasure in announcing the return of Dr. Hector, iu excellent health and spirits. He arrived yesterday afternoon by coach from the Duustan, to which place he had proceeded from Queenstown. He reached Queenstown on Sunday last, having left the West Coast eleven days previously, We have not yet been furnished with full particulars, but we gather that Dr. Hector left, the schooner in a newly discovered Lake, to which easy access was obtained from the Coast by a navigable river, also not previously indicated on the map. Dr. Hector was accompanied by three companions, and succeeded in making Lake Wakatip in eleven days after leaving the schooner. Only some 46 hours were consumed in actual travelling, the rest of the time was occupied by detentions on jtbe road through bad weather and other causes. Ihere cap be no question that the route can be made readily usable. We also understand that some available land lias been discovered in the vicinity of the coast, in connection with a port iu the Otago Province.

It appears a Maori story concerning an accident which Dr. Hector met with, was exaggerated. Instead of his arm being broken it was dislocated. After three weeks, its use was recovered. Our readers must be content to wait for further particulars until the publication of the official report which will no doubt be immediately forthcoming ; meanwhile we are sure they will join wfth us iu hearty rejoicings at Dr. Hector’s safe return, and in congratulations at the valuable additions he has made to the geographical knowledge of the Province. The existence of an available passage to the West is alone a discovery, the value of which cannot be over estimated. We should add that the climate is described as much more favourable , than previous accounts would lead one to' suppose. Dr. Hector intends to return in a few days. “The circumstances connected with the discovery combine to render it more valuable. Dr. Hector has not alone found it a practicable route but he has connected it with a country ~on the West shores suitable for settlement. A navigable river leading from an available seaport into a magnificent lake skirted by land that invites settlement—-such are the splendid features of the West Coast terminus to the route. The river is subject to tidal influences; and consequently is as easily navigable up as down—and all the year round retains its depth of water. ' The port, with which the river connects, is the nearest point of all New Zealand to Australia, and Otago will thus be brought into quicker communication not only with that continent hut with England. To give full effect to the value of the discovery a railway is obviously demanded—the iron horse must connect the East and West Coasts. From what we can learn the difficulties would not be great, nor the expense excessive. We are afraid to picture the gorgeous results that would fellow on the realisation of such a project. Dunedin would be brought within so easy a distance of Melbourne as to secure the course of Post by Overland Mail. The traffic ofthe East and West Coastsofthe'Middle Island would pass through Otago, which would become the great highway, the Suez or Darien, of the Island. Its inland waters would resound co the busy hum of population ; unnumbered industries wonld spring up; a wilderness be. converted into a garden. It is natural to be enthusiastic on the first receipt of glad news. Much, no doubt, remains to be done before the picture we have drawn is realised; but those who hold the reins of power will indeed be blind to their own interest if they should suffer unnecessary delay to intervene. A railway from east to west, passing through the Wakatip district, is now not alone a measure of necessity, but one of preservation.

A Difpvcult Question. —A meeting was recently held at the Arrow, “ to hear what Captain Anderson had to say in the way of inducing yourg fellows to join the Auckland Militia.” After the beauties of the Waikato country and the advantages that mud inevitably accrue to any one from the possession of 50 acres of such a country, had been eloquently described, some amusement was caused by a husky voice in the background calling out, “I say, what about the 50 acres if the Maoris lick?” It was a rude question to ask, and consequently was not answered. Recreation in the Bush. The Invercargill Times says :—“ There was a free fight the other day amongst the sawyt rs at Waikivi, which resulted in one man receiving a pretty severe wound in the face. It appears that those fiyhts are an essential in life at Waikivi. We are told that a Donnybrook comes off about once a week, whan everybody treads upon the coat tails of everybody else, and there is a battle royal. When the combatants grow weary with hitting and being hit, they are 'accustomed to shake hands, and resume the utmost cordiality.