798 GLACIER ACTION ON MOUNT KOSCIUSKO PLATEAU, 



Before dealing with my own observations, it is convenient to 

 note that Dr. Lendenfeld found the strongest evidences of glacia- 

 tion in the Wilkinson Valley. Now, Mr. Helms admits that 

 wherever else he saw evidences of glaciation, he certainly sav.- 

 none in the Wilkinson Valley, and just in the same way as Mr. 

 Helms could see no evidence of glaciation, where Dr. Lendenfeld 

 found such evidences to abound, I confess I ha^•e failed to see 

 evidences of glaciation in any one of the localities indicated by 

 Mr. Helms. Mr. Helms issued a map with his paper, on which 

 map he coloured certain places (in blue) where what he terms 

 " glacier traces " are speciall}^ pronounced. He also marks certain 

 limited areas (in black) which he calls snow fields. From my 

 standpoint these glacial traces have no existence, and as for the 

 snow fields, I am able to say that on 20th January, 1896, there 

 was not a square yard of snow on any part of the Kosciusko 

 Plateau. I cannot, therefore, agree with Mr. Helms' opinion 

 that "they never entirely disappear even in the hottest summers, 

 and it may safely be said that they remain permanent over the 

 limited area." 



I leisurely examined every tract of country coloured blue on 

 Mr. Helms' map; and, taking that map as a basis, I will deal 

 with the so-called glacial traces, beginning with those immediately 

 under Mt. Kosciusko. There is one thing to be noted about this 

 map that has caused a good deal of confusion : Mr. Helms 

 (following Dr. Lendenfeld) calls the highest peak Mount Townsend, 

 and I have satisfied myself that he was not justified in so doing. 

 To begin with. Dr. Lendenfeld ascended a mountain which his 

 guides told him was Mt. Kosciusko* He discovered another peak 



* There was no other means of judging. No accurate maps were available 

 at the time of Dr. Lendenfeld's visit. All that is really known is that 

 Strzeleeki named the highest peak, or what he took to be the highest peak, 

 Mt. Kosciusko. Dr. Lendenfeld assumes too readily that Strzelecki did 

 not ascend the highest point, although the distinguished Polish traveller 

 had quite as many facilities for observation as had Dr. Lendenfeld. It 

 must be remembered also that the two peaks, Mts. Townsend and 

 Kosciusko, are within an easy walk of each other. 



