Page:Old Westland (1939).pdf/226

202 a fortnight at Hokitika was about 5,000 ounces.” Mr. Seed also visited the Brunner mine, the first, by the way, to be opened up in New Zealand, which was being worked by Matthew Batty and party, and notes that a tunnel had been driven for a distance of 110 feet on the north side of the Grey River, and further that 40 tons per week were being sent down the river to Greymouth.

The report also made it plain that the writer was strongly in favour of Canterbury West being proclaimed a separate Province, pointing out that its inhabitants had come mostly from Nelson, the North Island and Otago, and that they had nothing in common with Canterbury. This statement is noteworthy, as it was the first shot fired in the agitation which followed for the severance of Westland from Canterbury.

About this time the Canterbury Provincial Government, alert to the necessity of constructing a road to the goldfields, had surveys made of all practical routes, and after mature consideration decided to construct a highway over Porter’s Pass, on to the Cass, and then along the Waimakariri to its junction with the Bealey: over Arthur’s Pass to the Otira, down the Taramakau to the Wainihinihi, through the bush to Arahura, and then along the beach to Hokitika, the total distance from Christchurch being 156 miles. Construction