46 Historical Notes on the 



sound accompanying it was in the first instance like the firing of a 

 great many guns of heavy calibre, or like a very loud peel of thunder, 

 followed by rattling sounds lasting for several minutes, resembling the 

 platoon firing of an army. The first crash was without doubt produced 

 by the main fall of the avalanche, whilst the latter was the effect of 

 smaller masses of snow and rocks being brought down in its trail. 



On December 21, we attempted to reach the glacier at the head of 

 the valley, in which we succeeded at last, but not without great 

 difficulty, as the small torrents falling here into the main river were so 

 swollen that they were exceedingly difficult to cross. Also, another 

 impediment presented itself in the form of an enormous avalanche 

 which lay across the whole valley, and through which the turbid water 

 of the river had already eaten a subterranean passage, forming a cave 

 over which the snow formed an arch. We climbed up about 80 feet 

 to the surface of this remarkable avalanche, which was nearly a quarter 

 of a mile long, and found on it good travelling ground. There were 

 numerous fragments of rock lying amongst the snow, and remains of 

 "vegetation of the higher alpine localities torn away from their lofty 

 abode. The descent into the river-bed was more difficult, the avalanche 

 being here greatly destroyed and undermined by the waters of the 

 river, which without doubt bad been dammed up for some time ; so that 

 we could not descend directly into the valley, but had to take to the 

 rocky mountain side which was separated from the snow wall by a 

 yawning crevice, across which we had to jump. Having made the 

 necessary examinations, the results of which, however, were not very 

 satisfactory, as to the auriferous nature of the rocks, I retraced my 

 steps to Lake Ohau. but my return, owing to the flooded state of the 

 river, was not accomplished without great loss of time. 



After having reported to the Provincial Government as to the 

 unauriferous nature of the district. I started again on January 3, 1863, 

 and crossing the Ahuriri, wended my way by the Lindis Pass to the 

 valley of the Molyneux, which- 1 ascended to the junction of the two 

 outlets from Lake Hawea and Lake Wanaka, establishing my head 

 quarters at Mr. E. Wilkin's station. A number of provision stores 

 were erected close by on both sides of the river, and active life reigned 

 here in consequence of the gold diggings in the neighbourhood, and 

 the arrival and departure of prospecting parties in all directions. An 

 examination of the shores of Lake "Wanaka showed that, like the three 

 lakes in the Mackenzie Country previously visited, it was encircled by 

 enormous moraine walls, to the presence of which it doubtless owed 



