Geological Survey of Canterbury. 49 



about three miles, partly over very rugged ground, we again met the 

 Fish stream coming from the west, and still flowing in a deep and rocky 

 channel ; but observing still the opening in the high ranges before us, 

 we crossed, and went again forward in the same direction, and soon 

 arrived on the banks of a small watercourse, which we followed for 

 nearly a mile. Observing that its banks, about fifteen feet high, 

 consisted of debris, sloping as it seemed to me, on their upper surface to 

 the north, I ascended, and found to my great satisfaction that the level 

 of the swampy open forest had really a slight fail in that direction. 

 Soon the small waterholes between the sphagnum (swamp moss) 

 increased, a watercourse was formed, which was running in a northerly 

 direction, and thus a most remarkable pass was discovered, which in a 

 chain of such magnitude as the Southern Alps of New Zealand, has no 

 equal. 



From three observations on this pass, I found that its altitude was 

 only 1,716 feet above the sea level, or 724 feet above Lake Wanaka 

 (992 feet) . At this point, the mountains on both sides reach their 

 highest elevation, being covered with perpetual snow, and glaciers of 

 considerable size. On the evening of January the 24th we reached a 

 large stream coming from the west, being soon joined by several 

 tributaries from the east. For three miles we followed this stream, 

 flowing in a north-north-east direction, through a comparatively open 

 valley, with occasional patches of grass on its sides, and arrived then at its 

 junction with a large stream of glacier origin, and of the size of the 

 Makarora, which came from the eastern central chain, and to which, 

 according to the direction of His Honor the Superintendent, I gave 

 my name. This river forms, before it reaches the valley, a magnificent 

 waterfall, several hundred feet in height. ■* 



Next day, accompanied by Mr. W. Young, I ascended the mountain 

 above our camp, which I named Mount Brewster, in order to use it 

 as a central topographical station, and for geological examination, 

 the glaciers of which give rise to the Haast, Makarora, and Hunter 

 rivers. From the slopes of this grand mountain, from an altitude of 

 about 6,500 feet, we had a most magnificent view over the Alps. Lake 

 "Wanaka appeared far in the south, its blue mirror-like surface set 

 amongst wild rugged mountains. All around us rose peak above peak, 

 their rocky pinnacles towering in grand majesty above the snow and 

 ice upon their flanks, whilst deep below us, in narrow gorges, we could 

 look upon the foaming waters of the torrents almost at our feet. The 

 whole formed a picture of such wild beauty that it can never be effaced 



