358 Transactions. — Geology. 



12ft. across, and about 80ft. in height, so that the water de- 

 scends, as it were, through a half-funuel, and with such force 

 as to project a constant shower of spra_y (strange to say) in 

 one particular direction only — viz., that immediately opposite 

 the back of the cylinder. Under this spray some plants fre- 

 quenting the locality (notably the Myosotis) flourish in the 

 abundant moisture, whereas beyond the sphere of its influence 

 they seem but indifferent specimens by comparison ; whilst 

 other varieties, not requiring such a constant state of moisture, 

 are affected in a contrary direction, and struggle in vain to 

 rival their brother-specimens on the mountain-side close by. 



To this glacier and fall we have affixed the name of 

 "Burnett," in honour of the only man who had previously 

 visited the valley, and whose sheep-run is most contiguous to 

 the locality. 



An infinite variety of subalpine flora is found in the Mur- 

 cliison Yalley, and at this time the slopes were gay with the 

 rich blossoms of Banunculus, Celviisia, Myosotis, and the 

 golden heads of many varieties of the Spaniard. The valley 

 would carry a large number of sheep during the summer 

 months if it were possible to get them up ; -but I should imagine 

 the risk of having them snowed in during the autumn would 

 be considerable, even were it practicable. 



At this point the course of the valley trends to a more 

 northerly direction, the compass reading about north-east. 

 Soon we arrived at the terminal face of tire glacier, which by 

 aneroid measurement determined the altitude at 3,700ft. above 

 sea-level. Yon Haast gives the figure as 3,540it. ; but it is 

 strange that he makes no mention of a visit to the spot in his 

 work. Possibly he estimated the height from observations 

 taken at the spot where the river joins the Tasman Glacier. 



The lower part of the glacier is all moraine-covered, and 

 presents a wall about 200ft. in height blocking the whole of 

 the valley, which appears to be about a mile and a half to two 

 miles in width at this part. The moraine is composed of 

 unusually large polyhedral masses of rock, piled up in mounds 

 and ridges in a state of the wildest confusion, amidst which 

 very few outcrops of ice can be detected. This moraine is one 

 of the roughest I have seen. 



Wending our way up the western side of the moraine, we 

 soon arrived at the junction of a second large glacier descend- 

 ing from the Malte Brun Eange on our left. This glacier lies- 

 in a double basin in the mountain-side, and pours down a 

 steep declivity, bearing with it quantities of morainic matter 

 from above, and, like the Burnett Glacier, is accompanied by a 

 waterfall descending (in this case for some hundreds of feet) 

 from its south-western portion. After obtaining His Excel- 

 lency's permission, we have named this glacier the Onslow 



