293 



Art. LIV. — Notes on the Thermal Springs, in the Hanvier Plains, Province 

 of Nelson. By Julius Haast, Ph.D., F.R.S. With letter from Dr. Hector 

 to the Superintendent of Nelson on the same subject. 



l^Read before the Nelson Association for the Promotion of Science and Inclusfry, 



Hay 4, 1870.] 



Amongst the manifold blessings boiintiful ISTature has bestowed upon New 

 Zealand, to which hitherto veiy little or no attention has been paid, none deserve 

 our consideration more than the thermal springs situated towards the central 

 parts of both islands. 



Owing to the difficulty of access, and the native disturbances, those in the 

 North Island have generally been of little use to the colonists, although they 

 are frequently resorted to by the natives ; and I fear that it will take some 

 time, from the two principal obstacles alluded to, before the colonists will be 

 able to visit them with comfort and safety. 



Of the thermal springs in this island, those of the Hanmer Plains, in the 

 Amuri District, Province of Nelson, are the best known ; but hithei'to, from 

 various reasons, of which I shall presently sj)eak, they have been in most 

 instances of no avail to those of our suffei'ing fellow colonists who were in need 

 of such remedies as they afford for the restoration of their health. 



During a geological examination of the Amuri District, undeii;aken for the 

 Geological Survey of New Zealand, I paid a short visit to these springs, and 

 examined them as well as the means at my command would allow, and I now 

 lay the observations I made before the Association. I hope at the same time, 

 that these few notes will assist in making these valuable thermal waters — the 

 healing qualities of which have in many cases been proved in a most I'emarkable 

 manner — moi-e accessible to suffering humanity. 



The Hanmer Plains ai'e about fifteen miles long, and two to three miles 

 broad, and are without doubt a former lake basin, in which the Waiau-ua, the 

 Hanmer, and some other smaller streams emptied themselves. 



This lake, partly filled up by the detrital matter broiight down by the rivers, 

 at last cut the channel of its outlet so deep that it could empty itself by the 

 gorge of the Waiau-ua, by which process the plains were formed as we now 

 see them. The River Waiau-ua passes through their western side in a west 

 and east direction, to about their central part, when it turns rapidly at right 

 angle to the south, passing through the picturesque gorge over which Mr. 

 Blackett, the Provincial Engineer of Nelson, has built that splendid bridge — 

 the admiration of every traveller who passes that way. 



However, before the Waiau-iia enters the gorge, it is joined by the River 

 Hanmer, a small mountain torrent running in the opposite direction to the 

 main river, namely, from east to west. 



The shingle terraces by which these rivers are enclosed on both sides are 



