REPORTS OF COMMITTEES. 285 



When the avalanche melts in late summer, a tarn forms at the foot of 

 the precipice. These tarns were very numerous, and sometimes 

 SOOyds. in diameter. 



I append a map showing what I believe to have been the area 

 covered by ice during the greatest glacial extension in New Zealand. 

 The mafi shows the South Island only, for no glacial extension has yet 

 been noted in the North Island. In this connection it is worthy of 

 note tnat there are small glaciers on Mount Ruapehu 9,175ft. now. 

 The largest of these is on the south-west face of the mountain. In- 

 cluding neve, it is one and a half miles long and half a mile wide. It 

 shows all the features of an ordinary glacier in moraines, crevasses, &c. 



The terminal faces of the large glaciers were retraversed in 1905. 

 The Mueller has slightly advanced, but the Tasman is stationary. 

 The rates of movement have also been observed. The information is 

 contained in the Lands and Survey Report. 



On December 25th, 1902, Rev. H. NeA\i;on lost an ice axe two 

 miles from the face of the Franz Joseph glacier. It was found by 

 Batson on January 15th, 1905, sticking in the ice of the terminal face. 



2.— NOTES ON SOME OF THE NEW ZEALAND GLACIERS IN 

 THE DISTRICT OF CANTERBURY. 



By R. SPEIGHT. 



The following notes were collected as the result of three journeys 

 into the country at the head of the Rakaia, Rangitata, and Waima- 

 kariri Rivers, all of which flow from the eastern side of the Southern 

 Alps through the provincial district of Canterbury. All these rivers 

 rise in glaciers which are the shrunken renniants of great glaciers 

 which formerly extended out of the present mountain valleys into the 

 coastal plain on the east, as is recorded in various papers by Haast, 

 Hutton, and others. 



The first portion of this note deals with the rapid recent retreat 

 of some of the present glaciers. With regard to the Rangitata glaciers, 

 my notes relate to those up the east branch of the River Clyde, the 

 principal feeder of the Rangitata River. The glaciers here occupy 

 a small part of the head of the valley, so that they may be called valley 

 glaciers. The front of this glacier, perhaps, shows signs of recent small 

 advance, judging from the overhanging character of its terminal face, 

 but the evidence is unsatisfactory. Observations of the river valley 

 immediately below show that rapid retreat has taken place at a very 

 recent date. Lateral moraines occur at places along the side of the 

 valley and at but slight elevation above its floor, and at a spot about 

 five miles below the present terminal face, a well-defined terminal 

 moraine stretches more than half way across the floor of the valley. 

 As this is exposed to the erosive and transporting action of a large river, 

 subject to heavy floods, and flowing on a mean slope for this part of its 



