EXPEDITION TO THE PITZHERBERT, REEFS.

Manawatu Times, Volume V, Issue 109, 19 January 1881, Page 2

EXPEDITION TO THE PITZHERBERT, REEFS.

[FROM OFE SPECIAL. CQttUBSPOITDENT.] I left Palmevston on Sunday morning at about four o'clock, there being about twelve m the party on horseback. The way for about six miles i 9 the track to the township of Fitzlierbert, when we turned to the left up the Kauterawa Creek for about three miles, when we ajain took the b.ush track, a little abore Mr. Enowles' old camp.. The road then for some miles is the old Maori track to Masterton, and for about four njiles after leaving the creek we ascended a hill, m many places very abrupt, and somewhat unsafe to ride over." Arriving at the top of the hill the road was undulating for about five miles, when we arrived at the Sir Arthur Gordon claim,, where a drive of about forty feet has been put m m the- side of the hili and stone found, but' whether it contains payable gold ■ is an important fact yet to be determined. Further on we. found Mr. Tiller, who bail- come 'from the new-' claim to bring bacK 'provisions, -and after a brief rest we again resumed: our Journey. The track was for the next three-quarters of ■ a mile descending- thei side of. a hilli'sb'steep m many places that we had to preserve our equilibrium by holicling on to stumps and supple- jacks. . At thefoofc- waaVstrsam 1 of .ice-cold water, at which, the day being very warm, we paid bur devotions', as if we were all disciples of Sir William Fox. In faot . one of our party, perhaps^hrough not being used to water, unqualified, .made himself :for a time seribuslyilL After a rough journey up this, creek of about two miles, -we arrived at Moss' claim, where he and about six others, Vho ( .tiayevpegged .out, are camped. Not having had sufficient time for a thorough examination, I do, not care to hazard a definite, ; opinion as to the quality of the stone m these claims, but although very little labor has a* yet been expended m developing its. nature, there appears to, be no scarcity of the materiaV, and- if only payable quartz be found, the creek affords waterpower sufficient to work any machinery. After resting about two hours we started on the return-journey, which, with the excep» tioh of & detour — over a hill by way* of a short cvt — was over the same ground as when going out,' : and{arrived m Palmers ton at 7 p.m., very tired and very hungry, but everyone qualified m hi? own opinion to talk about reefs for the rest of his }ife. For my own part I must confess that at a certain part of the journey, when the heat was in* tense, and the mosquitoes particularly busy, I began to reflect that Sabbath-breaking was sinful, and that I would never transgress again— unless under more favorable circuniv : stancei. - : - - -■' ' ■-'■■/ ■\ T " : '\