Means of Communication.

The district is fairly well provided with means of communication. The railway now extends from Hokitika, viâ Greymouth, to Reefton, branching at Stillwater to Jackson, in the Upper Teremakau; and a further extension to Otira is now being constructed. Coaches twice a week connect with Canterbury, viâ Arthur's Pass, and ply daily between Ross, Hokitika, Kumara, Greymouth, and the neighbouring towns: while once a week a mail is conveyed on horseback southward to Gillespie's Beach, and once a fortnight to Jackson's Bay. A subsidised steamer runs between Hokitika and the numerous southern ports as far as Jackson's Bay, plying every two months, thus enabling settlers to obtain supplies and to ship their cattle and produce to market. The Government steamer also calls at Big, Jackson's, and Bruce Bays on her quarterly trips from Dunedin. Steamers also trade regularly between Hokitika and Greymouth, and other parts of the colony. The Main South Road, which for many miles skirts the foot of the main range, has been so greatly improved of late years that the traveller can now ride comfortably and safely viâ Haast Pass right through into Otago. Numerous bridle-tracks branch from the trunk line to various points, while the large open river-beds likewise give access to the country on either hand. From Jackson's Bay horse-tracks have been made, viâ Cascade River and Barn Bay, to open up the southernmost country. Sundry cols, varying in height from 1,800 ft. to over 7,000 ft., leading down the central range, have been explored, mapped, and during the summer months are crossed from time to time by experienced mountaineers. Of these depressions, the only sub-alpine saddle is Haast Pass, all the others being liable to blocks by winter snows. A coach-road Over Arthur's Pass and a horse-track through Haast Pass have been made. Another bridle-road is also in course of construction across Whitcombe's Pass, but between these points no trans-insular road exists. Tracks have also been constructed giving easy access to the Franz Josef and Fox glaciers, and in the future, as population increases, doubtless tourist and stock tracks will be constructed along many of the intervening routes. From Okarito northward the district is in direct telegraphic communication with the rest of the colony.