16 Historical Notes on the 



valley, where there was some grass for the horses, and proceeded the 

 following day to the glacier at the head of the valley, the outlet 

 of which forms the principal source of the Ashburton. We 

 had to climb for some distance amongst large blocks of rock 

 before the glacier was reached, the terminal face of which I found to 

 be 4832 feet above the level of the sea. This glacier, although smaller 

 than those at the head of the principal branches of the Eangitata, is 

 exceedingly beautiful. The ice is quite pure, and is broken half a 

 mile above its termination into numberless fine seracs, forming one of 

 the most splendid ice cascades I ever saw. On both sides the 

 mountain slopes are very precipitous, consisting often of nearly 

 perpendicular walls of rocks several thousand feet high, which offered 

 an instructive insight into the geological structure of that stupendous 

 mountain chain. The weather was exceedingly favourable, fine 

 cloudless days, rendering travelling quite an enjoyment ; but the 

 nights were here so very cold that the water was frozen every 

 morning in the pools near our tent. 



To reach again the Upper Ashburton, I followed the river to the 

 point at which it enters these plains. We had some very deep and 

 rocky gorges to cross, but found the scenery very picturesque. 

 Another week was devoted to an examination of the Clent hills, where 

 I made a rich harvest of impressions of fossil ferns ; I also descended 

 Trinity valley to its junction with the Eangitata, where small coal 

 seams in the palaeozoic rocks, like those of the Clent hills, raised my 

 hopes that large and workable seams might be discovered if I persevered 

 in my search ; and finally I visited Lake Heron, with its remarkable 

 sugarloaf hill, a fine roclie moatonne'e, and its neighbourhood. The 

 winter, with mist, rain, and snow, had now fairly set in, and I was 

 therefore obliged to retreat to lower regions, leaving with great regret 

 the magnificent alpine scenery which for several months past had 

 afforded me so much instructive enjoyment. On June 1st I started 

 on my return journey, and reached Christchurch on June 5th. 



EXPLOEATION OF THE MaLVEEX HlLLS A2TD MOE/XT TOELESSE, 



1861. 

 The Provincial Grovernment being very anxious that I should under- 

 take an examination of the Malvern Hills as soon as possible, I started 

 again, in the middle of June (1861), for that district, where I was 

 occupied for six weeks in surveying that important region, principally 

 in reference to the coalfields and lodes of copper, said -to exist there ; 



