58 Historical Rotes on the 



Mackenzie Country on May 5th. The weather had now cleared up 

 ao-ain, and fine cloudless days and cold bright nights followed the 

 succession of wet stormy days experienced in the Ahuriri valley. 

 Mr. W. Young, my topographical assistant, left me here, to con- 

 tinue his surveys in the lower Waitaki country. "With great 

 reo-ret I parted with this gentleman, who had not only been a 

 very cheerful, but also a very useful companion, having been accus- 

 tomed for years to ]S"ew Zealand bush travelling, and possessing 

 at the same time a quick eye for discerning readily the topographical 

 features of the country. After making some geological explorations 

 in the Mackenzie Country, which detained me a few days, I returned 

 to Christchurch, where I arrived on May 12th. 



Besides the results of the geological and topographical work done 

 durino- this journey, large collections were also obtained in zoology, 

 and botany, so that considerable additions were made to the material 

 brouoht from former explorations, which formed the foundation for a 

 public Museum in Christchurch. After having arranged this new 

 material in a large room allotted to me for the purpose in the 

 G-overnment Buildings, I presented, on May 16th, a preliminary report 

 on the main results of this journey to his Honor the Superintendent. 



Artesian Wells m Cheistchuech, 1863. 

 At the request of the Hon. John Hall, at that time Chairman of the 

 City Council, I examined also into the practicability of supplying 

 Christchurch with pure water by means of artesian wells, and furnished 

 that gentleman, on June 19th, with a report on that important 

 question, which was printed in the local papers at that time. From the 

 numerous observations made by me in and close to Christchurch, as well 

 as in many localities on the Canterbury plains, I concluded that the 

 geological structure of the district was favourable to obtaining water 

 by means of artesian wells, and I may be allowed to transcribe here 

 the last sentence of that report, having reference to the subject : — 

 " In summing up E may therefore confidently state, that the strata 

 through which the borer has to go will not, by their nature, offer any 

 serious obstacle, and that, reasoning by induction, all tends to confirm 

 me in the belief that, long before the volcanic rocks are reached, a 

 good supply of w .ter will be obtained." The subsequent remarkable 

 results of the borings by which an almost endless supply of pure water 

 was obtained for Christchurch and its neighbourhood, have thus amply 

 confirmed my views on the subject expressed in that report. 



