538 JOURNAL OF SCIENCE. 
south-west, the pass lies on the left hand, or directly behind the 
mountain standing south of the lower part of the creek, and 
already mentioned. The pass is a shingle saddle, apparently 
easy to be gained from the basin below, and cannot be more 
than 800 to 1,200 feet higher than the bush-line, which on the 
Lake Harris Range is limited to 3,300 feet. When seen from 
Lake Harris, about the end of March, no snow was'to be seen on 
the saddle nor on the adjoining range for another 800to 1,000 feet 
of elevation, which leads me to believe that I have not under- 
estimated the height of the saddle itself. 
“What is the nature of the descent to the westward could 
not be seen from the point of view on the Harris Range, but as 
placed upon the map the distance to the Cleddau River is as far 
as from the saddle to the Hollyford River. The first part is evi- 
dently along the bottom of a deep gorge, to reach which from 
the saddle may be a very abrupt descent, although this may prove 
easier than it appears to be. If the west side is not greatly 
more difficult than the approach to the saddle trom the east, 
there is no doubt that this pass can be used during the summer 
months as a short route—and, as it seems, the only possible one 
by land—from the Lake District to Milford Sound. While in 
this district, had the weather been less stormy than it was, or the 
Hollyford River crossable, the nature of the western approach to 
this saddle would have been ascertained.” 
Unless mistaken as to names and dates, on March roth, 1880, 
I met Mr. Wilmot at the Upper Routeburn hut, he making his 
way to, andI returning from, the Hollyford Valley. At that. 
time Messrs. Sutherland and McKay were stirring in the matter 
of a low pass, which they supposed would establish communica- 
tion between Milford Sound and Te Anau Lake or Queenstown, 
and thinking it possible to cross the range at the point already 
described, I mentioned to Mr Wilmot the low saddle I had seen, 
which he promised to further examine as opportunity offered. 
Such opportunity presenting itself, the credit of being the first 
to reach the top of the range and the saddle itself is due to Mr. 
Wilmot ; but, in so far as this may prove a possible means of 
crossing the mountain, this had been already suggested ; and to 
Dr. Hector’s account, written in 1863, must we turn for the first 
announcement of its discovery, as described in the passages 
already quoted. - ALEX, McKay. 
Museum, Wellington, 13th July, 1883. 
