536 JOURNAL OF SCIENCE. 
Grass at Cobar, and is regarded asa sure indication of that metal, 
growing only, it is said, upon the outcrop of a lode. Mr. Haviland 
suggested that it might be a species of Xerotes. 
Mr. Macleay exhibited a living specimen of Tvachydosaurus asper, 
brought by the Honourable P. G. King from Narran country. 
(Zo be continued.) 
CORRESPONDENCE. 
——_ - > —__ — 
EXPLORATION \OF THE HOLLYFORD VAELEY, 
WEST COAST OF, OTAGG. 
> 
TO THE EDITOR. 
SIR,—I have read, not without interest, Mr. E. H. Wilmot’s 
report published in the last number of the SCIENCE JOURNAL, 
in which he claims to have discovered a pass across the Darran 
Mountains, by which communication may be established between 
the Hollyford Valley and Milford Sound, added to his descrip- 
of which are the following words: “I believe this is the first 
time the practicability of any track to the Sounds. has been 
demonstrated.” . . 
Without encroaching too far on your valuable space, I may 
take leave to doubt that the practicability of the pass has been 
demonstrated ; at least such impression is left me after reading 
Mr. Wilmot’s report. That Mr. Wilmot was the first to ascertain 
the existence in these mountains of a depression low enough to 
admit the possibility of their being crossed, is also matter for 
doubt, the saddle in question having been observed by Dr. 
Hector twenty years ago, from whose report on the West Coast 
of Otago, printed November 5th, 1863, I make the following 
extract descriptive ot the appearance of this pass from the 
Hollyford Valley :— | 
“The Darran Mountains, which encircle the head of Milford 
Sound, and form the west side of Kakapo (Hollyford) Valley, 
have a striking appearance from this point, although from the 
profundity of the valley the higher peaks are completely shut 
out from view. There is only one place where there is the 
slightest appearance of a gap in this range, but even there the 
saddle cannot be lower than 3,000 feet. The high slopes, above 
5,500 feet, seem to be covered with perpetual snow.” During 
the progress of these explorations, sketches of the Darran 
Mountains as seen from the Hollyford Valley were made, some 
of which, snowing the depression in the mountain range, the 
position of the saddle, and the eastern approach thereto, are still 
in the possession of Dr. Hector. 
Again, speaking of the western approach to this pass from 
Milford Sound end, in the report above quoted he says: “ The 
fall of the (Cleddau) river is very quiet ; and the bed of the 
