Park. — Ascent of Mount Franklin. 355 



On the 24th March we arrived in Nelson, the trip having occupied just 

 fourteen days. 



During the trip the scarcity of birds was a subject of frequent comment. 

 A few paradise ducks, usually in pairs, grey ducks and teal, and black 

 swans, were seen on the tarns at Tarndale, and Lakes Guyon and Tennyson. 

 The blue mountain duck, the whio of the Maoris., was more plentiful in the 

 mountain streams. Even wekas were rare, and of the kiwi, kakapo and 

 kea, nothing was seen or heard. 



Geological Observations. 



In the ascent of Mount Franklin it was found that two formations enter 

 into the structure of the Spenser Eange, — a metamorphic series, consisting 

 of chlorite schists and quartzites ; and a younger series, probably of car- 

 boniferous age, consisting of hard grey and green sandstones, with numer- 

 ous quartz veins, clay slates, purple jasperoid slates and slate breccia. 



The chlorite schists and quartzites occur as a low rounded ridge in the 

 bottom of the higher basin of the Waiau. The strike of these rocks is 

 north-west, with a southerly dip at high angles. They run in the direc- 

 tion of Lake Thompson, but their exact position in that direction was not 

 ascertained. This outcrop occurs in the core of an old anticline, its expo- 

 sure being due to denudation. Gold is reported to have been found in the 

 Upper Waiau, no doubt derived from these rocks, and in prospecting this 

 country they are worthy of a careful examination, not only for gold but 

 also for other valuable metals. 



The sandstones, slates, etc., lie unconformably upon the upturned edges 

 of the metamorphic series, and compose the mass of the Spenser Moun- 

 tains. Their general strike is north-east. The sandstones on account of 

 their hardness form all the peaks and rocky projections, while the slates, 

 being softer and more easily removed, have been selected by the creeks in 

 which to cut their channels. A band of black slates, interbedded with 

 the sandstones, is highly charged with peacock copper ore, a variegated 

 variety of copper pyrites. 



Botanical Notes. 



From 4,000 feet to the snow-line Mount Franklin is such a waste of bare 

 rock as to be almost destitute of the numerous fine alpine forms for which 

 the St. Arnaud Eange, a short distance to the north-east, is celebrated. 

 Appended is a list of the plants collected during the trip. This is by no 

 means an exhaustive collection, but is merely characteristic of the flora of 

 Mount Franklin from 4,000 to 6,500 feet. For the identification of the 

 species I am indebted to the kindness of Mr. J. Buchanan, F.L.S., Botanist 

 to the Geological Department. 



