Geological Survey of Canterbury. 71 



part of wild rocky cliffs, between which the small remains of a luxuriant 

 forest are here and there visible, for the romance of the district has 

 been destroyed in nearly all the accessible places by the practical 

 hand of the sheep farmer, in order to obtain food for his flocks. 

 Burnt bare stumps, often of gigantic trees, show everywhere how 

 great this destruction has been. At some places enormous declivities 

 covered with taluses of debris descend from the mountains, four to 

 five thousand feet high, into the valley, the crossing of which with 

 horses, owdng to their steepness, is often attended with great difficulty. 

 The path continues along the mountain side for a few miles, often 

 ascending three or four hundred feet, then again nearing the river- 

 bed. At some places it had been necessary to blast the road through 

 the hard bluish sandstone rocks, but in spite of the great improve- 

 ments that had been made by the Government roadmen during the 

 last two months, I found the road in many places so steep and narrow 

 that the heavily laden horses could scarcely find room to pass by the 

 often overhanging cliffs, or to obtain a foothold on the slippery 

 shelving ground. Various accidents had already taken place here, 

 without however any human life being sacrificed, only some horses and 

 cattle having been lost. 



The view of the jagged mountains, of the deep blue Hurunui rushing 

 down its wild gorge, or of the romantic lonely valleys in which crystal 

 streams trickled down, w^as really enchanting, and I was never tired of 

 admiring the ever changing picture before me. After three miles, the 

 valley opens out, and a little flat goes along the southern side of the 

 river, on which Mr. Taylor's woolshed is situated. A storekeeper, who 

 also sold spirits, had settled himself here, and was doing a good 

 business. A great many gold-diggers had also erected their tents 

 here, and a stirring bustle prevailed when I arrived towards evening. 

 The rushing of the river and the melodious song of the birds woke me 

 before daybreak, and on going out of my tent I found that many of the 

 travellers had already taken theirs down, and were preparing to 

 continue their march. The forest here on the southern side also is 

 nearly all destroyed, whilst on the other side, on the steep rocky 

 mountains, often 5000 feet high, it is preserved, as the country is too 

 wild and inaccessible for the sheep farmer. A mile above our camping 

 place we reached the so-called South Hurunui, near its junction with 

 the principal river, w^here a tent for selling spirits was erected, and 

 horses kept in readiness to take foot passengers over the river, which, 

 when low, is about three feet deep, for the payment of a shilling. On 



