THE SOUNDS.

Inangahua Times, Volume II, 18 August 1880, Page 2

THE SOUNDS.

EXPLOBATIVE DISCOVEBIES. We lave had an opportunity of con« versing with two men named Sutherland and M'Jvay, who for the last three years have bean resident in the wild and little known country lying between Jackson's Bay and Milford Sound, where they have spent their time in prospecting and cuts ting tracks. They claim to have made an important discovery, namely, a prac* ticable route between Milford Sound and Lake County Council :— ' The altitude rf the proposed track is no more than 100 feet above the sea level, passable all the year round, and presents no obstacles to communication by railroad. The country through which it passes is mostly timbered, is of fair quality, and about 10,000 acres are suitable for agricultural purposes. The timber consists principally of red and black birch, pine and cedar. We aho beg to state that in our own opinion the country possesses rich mineral re« sources.' They have also in the course of their wanderings discovered another pass, which in the not very distant future will probably form the route of either a railway or a road, as there is every iikeli" hood of large mineral deposits being brought to light in the district. This is from Milford Sound, through the Green« stone and Hollyford Valleys to Lake Alabaster, along the head of the Cascade Kiver, and down Jackson's ltiver to the Arawata, a distance of 00 miles, the high* est elevation on the route being 200 feet. From thence to Hokitika, 125 miles, the route is well known and is not a difficult one but the country from Jackson's Bay to Milford Sound hag generally been believed to be almost impracticable for a road. The whole of the country is stated 40 have the appearance of being rich in minerals, and these two men have cerdone good service to the colony, for which they are well deserving of re> ward, in discovering these two passes, which, if they are anything like as accessible as they are reported to be, will tend largely to the development of a valuable extent of country. Wot only have they given their time, but they have actually spent £360 in hard cash in the purchase of provisions, and tools, and

the upkeep of a whalehoat wh : ch they round necessary in their exp'orations. Tlinr case is ceriainly one which i« deserving of fome substantial reco an ition at the hands of the Government. Another discovery is reported by them, which, if not of so mni-h importune to tie welfare of the colony, is of interest to naturalise. It is that of an amphibious animal hither'o unmentioncd in tho history of NW Z,»lano\ It i s describe as of a brownish color, 20 fert in length anrl between four and five feet high, the less, of which there are four, being not more than fifteen inches in le.ngtfcr The body is round and in shape something like the cow fish.