Geological Survey of Canterbury. 4<T 



its existence. The view from a small hill, consisting of micaschist — a true 

 roche moutonnee rising above the alluvium near the station — is very 

 extensive and grand in all its details. Beyond the foreground, consisting 

 of well-grassed downs, appears the deep blue surface of Lake Wanaka, 

 surrounded by high mountains of wild serrated forms, often a mass of 

 barren crags, one rising grimly above the other ; but above them all 

 stands conspicuously the high and steep pyramid of Mount Aspiring, 

 glistening brightly in its snowy white garment. The lake with many 

 arms enters far between the spurs of the precipitous ranges, walls of 

 rocks rising abruptly from deep water. In its contours it closely 

 resembles the Lake of Luzern (Yierwaldstatter See), and it is, 

 without doubt, one of the finest spots in New Zealand. Looking 

 south, the aspect of the broad terraced valley, with the large river 

 meandering through it, bounded by high rocky mountains on both 

 sides, is also very striking and characteristic of New Zealand alpine 

 scenery. 



As I intended to reach, if posible, the West Coast by the headwaters 

 of the Makarora, the principal affluent of Lake Wanaka, Mr. William 

 Young, Assistant- Surveyor, joined me here as topographical assistant, 

 that gentleman having, at my request, been attached to me for this 

 expedition by the Chief Surveyor of the Province, in order that I 

 might have some help in the arduous task before me. On January 

 13th, 1863, I started for the head of the lake, following its western 

 shores, and after crossing the broad delta of the Matukituki river, 

 which advances far into the lake, we arrived on the afternoon of the 

 next day at the station of Messrs. Stuart, Kinross, and Company. 

 Having here ascertained that it would be impossible to continue my 

 journey overland to the head of the lake with my horses, owing to the 

 precipitous rocky nature of its shores, I availed myself of the kindness 

 of Mr. H. S. Thompson, partner of that firm, who placed a boat at 

 my disposal during my stay in this part of the country, and we started, 

 therefore, on January the 19th, reaching the mouth of the river 

 Makarora the same evening, and camping the next day at the Makarora 

 bush, where a number of sawyers were at work — the goldfields on the 

 Molyneux and its tributaries, which are mostly devoid of timber, 

 offering them a splendid market for the products of their industry. This 

 forest is of considerable extent, and contains a great number of fine 

 pines such as Kahikatea, Totara and Matai, which grow here to large 

 dimensions. Altogether the vegetation on the shores of Lake Wanaka 

 with its neighbourhood, showed that its climate is very propitious. 



