Cox.—Notes on Valley System on Western Flanks of Mount Cook. 577 
Arr. LXXXIX.— Notes on the Valley System on the Western Flanks of Mount 
Cook. By S. Herserr Cox, F.C.8., F.G.S. 
[Read before the Wellington Philosophical Society, 30th September, 1876.) 
Tue following observations were made by me during a trip in January last 
to the West Coast, south of Hokitika, on work connected with the Geological 
Survey, and are placed before the Society with the permission of Dr. 
Hector. 
The points to which I wish to call attention in this paper are more 
specially connected with the West Coast Glaciers rising in the vicinity of 
Mount Cook, pointing out the position of the snow-fields from which these 
derive their origin; this being of special interest, as showing the discon- 
nection which exists between the older crystalline range and Mount Cook 
proper. 
I intend on a future occasion to read a paper before this Society on the 
glaciation generally of the West Coast, and simply bring the present facts 
before the notice of the members as a ground-work for further remarks in 
the future. 
Mr. McKay and I arrived at Gillespie Beach on the 22nd January, 
having come up overland from the Abbey Rocks, where we had been landed 
by the ** Waipara”’ on its way from Jackson Bay. 
We had previously settled in our own minds that we would go inland 
from this point to the Fox Glacier, and endeavour to get back on to 
the main range, and also see with what prospect of success an attempt 
to aseend Mount Cook from the West Coast was likely to be attended. I 
do not think we were ever sanguine enough to fancy that we could ascend 
the mountain ourselves under the circumstances in which we were placed, 
and if we ever did indulge such an idea for a moment we had abandoned it 
before reaching Gillespie Beach. 
However, we wished to get as far back as possible, our object being, if 
practicable, to reach the junction between the older crystalline rocks and 
the overlying Maitai slates ; and accordingly having hired a pack-horse, and 
prevailed upon a man who had been to the glacier often before, and knew 
the fords of the river well, to accompany us, we started on the morning of 
January 25th, arriving at the foot of the glacier the same night. 
When Mr. Fox visited this glacier, and indeed until comparatively 
recently, the river headed from the northern side, and the passage from 
one side to the other was readily accomplished. Now, however, the river 
heads from almost the southernmost boundary of the terminal face, and to 
cross the glacier is a matter of considerable time and difficulty, the result 
being that, having been obliged to leave the pack-horse a mile or so below 
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