1148 



A USTRALASIA ILL USTRA TED. 



side an assemblage of rocks, some grouped like the buildings of a Cyclopean city 

 deserted by its founders, some standing alone, stern and grim like sentries petrified at 

 their posts ; others again looking like the tombs of a colossal grave-yard, or the circling 

 seats of a vast amphitheatre ; and farther still huge groups and solitary masses like the 

 gigantic monoliths of Stonehenge." 



The forty-four miles remaining to be traversed, namely, from Springfield to Christ- 

 church, is compassed by train. At the township of Springfield, just beyond the Pass, 

 the coach is exchanged for the train, which at Rolleston Junction joins the main trunk- 





PORTERS PASS, ON THE WEST COAST ROAD. 



line extending from Dunedin to the capital of Canter- 

 bury. From the Junction, the railway line branches off 

 across the level country in the midst of which the capital 

 city of the province is situated. The course is now over 

 far-extending plains, that roll away to the horizon on all 

 sides in unbroken undulations whose continuity is broken 

 only by the far-away sky-line. From the windows of the 



railway carriage the traveller's eye is refreshed as he speeds along by the comfortable 

 and thoroughly characteristic English scenery which this part of the older settled districts 

 presents. Retired little hamlets, plantations of trees, broad meadows, fields of waving 

 corn, rich orchards, increasing and multiplying evidences of population, enterprise and 

 industry seem to course after one another in rapid succession as the traveller sweeps 



