Telegram-herald., 1889-11-15
HIGHEST IN THE WORLD

New Zealand can still boast OF one
natural selecrity, which will compensate
~ a measure for the loss OF those unique
marTels Of nature the pink and white
terlaces. which were sO suddenly de-
stroyed BY the disastrous earthquake OF
1855. The credit OF the discovery =, the
stupend0us waterfall, which is still. IN
known 20 the Uorld az large. but which
IL now found to be the highest OF any
any hitherto brought TO light in any
other portion OF the globe, rests with a
Mr.. Sutherland well-known explorer OF
the west coast sounds.
A few months ago small party OF gen.
tlemen OF scientific tastes started on an
expedition, not free from danger, with
the object Of reaching and, if possible,
measuring and fixing the position OF the
Sutherland waterfall 90 called after its
discOverer who up 10 then was the only
human being known to have accomplished
the feat. The first step on their journey,
Milford sound, vas reached on the 9th
Of September. and here were landed all
the necessary swags, the colonial term
for knapsack, and provisions, together
with material for a canvas boat for use
iDland in crossing Lake Ada. The fol-
lowing account Of their adventure is
taken from notes by one OF the party,
Mr. Mackenzie. NJ H. r.. and published
IN the Otago Daily Times:
In passing. mention must be made
that the grandeur OF this spot can hardly
be realized by those who are not ac-
4uainted with the New Zealand bays.
Lovely as is the peculiar beauty of the
Swiss Alps, and reminded, as one con-
stantiy Is in this country. OF tire unspeek-
able charm OF its picturesque valleys
and snOw-laden mountains, yet there is
an immeasurably awe-inSpiring grandeur
10 this unknown region, where the foot
fall OF man is unheard, and the only
sounds are the songs Of strange aad
beautiful birds, and the ripping or roar
OF waterfalls aud courses.
From Milford sound, each party pro-
ceeded 70 Lake Ada, 20 which stores,
swag5, boat, etc, had to be carrieS bod
lily through the bush; no easy uRdcrtak-
ing. thrclgh its unyielding and prickly
tangle. However the lake was reached
and next day saw the frail canvas craft
put together which was To carry the ad-
venturers across 10, This trip, says Mr..
Na Senzie, proved very danger
ous one, the whole surface Of the lsko
being mass 0f snags. Accounting for mis-
he says that at some early period. n
h.ayy avalanche is supposed 20 have come
down and formed = moraine across The
mouth OF tine Arthur river, thus trans
forming n comparatively level fiat OF
high birch trees into n lake Of from ten
% forty feet Ceep. The trees have de-
cayed between the air and the water
line. tho water preserving the timber. go
that now the lake simply bristles With
sharp edged tops OF huge trees. some
foot above water, other six inches some
Hf.. 3 81.
al depths The wind was blowing
little fresh. Just causing a ripple su1i-
Cient 20 prevent our seeing the sub
merged points A consequence. We
were continually getting on 70 them but
fortunately none came through. although
the sixteenth ~ an inch Of cotton canvas
vas was All that was between Us and
than
The lake is about four and half miles
long 9y a mile % q mile a1d . half wide
On either hand huge mountains ri7e al
most perQoua'cu.ariy from Che wa-evs
edge covered with snow and ice. and
raterfaAs come tumhilng down on all
Sides tn t1e right. Terror Peaks aad
Grants Gates 100 feet are the most
remarkable features Ducks OF every
variety SKIM upon the surface of The lake.
such "a Farada 40. ri1e mountain. gray
and zeal. These abound and paw Lftls
heed 20 s-rsurers Several gigantic
mountalns--auonz them the Castle. the
Danger Mount Han and Mount Daniel
surround ae. rising from six 90 seven
thousand feet li-a and we saw some
due AVA reaes coming down the Barron
slopes wi-a 3 laundering roar Several
rivers faa into r1e bead - Tho Jake We
s'leetet tne center one. which turned 0ut