W. Travers. — On Extinct Glccciers in the South Island. 305 



this range is Mount Franklin — not over-estimated at 10,000 feet — whilst 

 around it are several minor peaks avei-aging from 8,000 to 9,000 feet in height. 

 The Buller River, which rises on the north side of the range, has its soui-ces in 

 Mount Travers, and empties itself, after a course of about 15 miles, into Lake 

 Arthur, which, with the valley above it, lies between a spur of Mount Robert 

 on the west, and the base of the St. Arnaud range on the east ; the general 

 trend of the valley and lake being due north. After leaving the lake the 

 river flows to the westward until it reaches the sea, its waters being increased 

 on its course by numerous large rivers, several of which have their sources on 

 the western side of the Spencer Mountains. A line of road from Nelson, 

 leading origiiially only to the Wairau Valley, now branches, in the heart of a 

 great forest familiarly known as the " Big Bush," to the gold fields of the 

 Inangahua and Lyell, passing through the valley of the Buller and the rugged 

 gorge of the Devil's Grip. Almost immediately after leaving the point of j unction 

 the Buller road enters the line of an ancient moraine, along the flank of which 

 it runs for several miles, until it opens a small valley excavated in the moraine 

 itself, in a direction nearly parallel to the northern shore of Lake Arthur. 

 Crossing this valley and ascending the moraine on the southern side of it the 

 lake opens out, forming a noble sheet of water, which is seen stretching for 

 miles into the great mountain range. The waters of the lake are of a rich 

 blue colour, and throw up in bold relief the massive spurs of Moiint Robert 

 and of the St. Arnaud range, whose lower slopes, covered to the very edge 

 with dense forest, dip abruptly into them ; whilst far to the northward, 

 closing in the view, rise the rugged snow-flecked peaks of Mount Travers. It 

 is impossible to imagine a scene of greater beauty, unless we can look forward 

 to the time when the shores of the lake will be studded with villas, giving to 

 it that appearance of life and animation which are alone wanting to complete 

 its loveliness. 



Along the front of the lake, parallel to the small valley above referred to, 

 lies a considerable portion of the huge moraine, rising from 100 to 150 feet 

 above the level of the water, the outlet of which has made its way through it 

 at its south-west corner, cutting it down to the depth of from 100 to 120 feet. 

 On the opposite side of the valley, and about a mile and a half from the water, 

 is a range of hills rising from 300 to 400 feet higher than the upper surface of 

 the moraine, and which are composed chiefly of boulder beds, gravels, and 

 sands, in no degree cemented, very little inclined in stratification, and in many 

 places exhibiting perpendicular sections several liundred feet high, particularly 

 in places where the foot of the hills has been washed by a liver. The materials 

 are all water-worn, and exhibit the common appearance of gravels and sands 

 which have been deposited in quiet water basins. Captain Hutton, who 

 accompanied me during a late visit to this locality, treats these beds as of 



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