92 Historical Notes on the 



district. In every prospect we obtained gold, but it occurred in 

 such small quantities, that it would not pay for its extraction by the 

 mining processes now in use. A wild mountain landscape surrounded 

 us here, and as the river was flowing in a nearly straight valley for a 

 considerable distance, the eye could follow the outlines of the spurs 

 which appeared behind each other — those most distant getting 

 generally higher and more rugged. Heavy rain set in again, which, 

 however, did not prevent me from returning to Hokitika, and we 

 reached it, owing to the swollen state of the river, in about three hours- 

 and-a-half, having been three days ascending to the same camp. My 

 two Maori companions had here ample opportunity to show their skill 

 in guiding the canoe through all the obstacles in our way, of which 

 drift trees were the most dangerous, but which they accomplished 

 most successfully. 



I have not yet alluded to the fine and extensive panoramic view 

 visible from the beach at Hokitika, and which stretches from the 

 mountains in the north, to the Hooker range in the south. A chain 

 of wooded mountains situated between the Totara and Wano-anui rivers 

 their outrunning spurs nearly reaching the sea, are prominent in the 

 south. They are about 2000 or 3000 feet high, wooded to the summit 

 and form a very interesting feature in the landscape. Above 

 them rise, conspicuously, the highest summits of the Southern 

 Alps — Mount Beaumont, Mount de la Beche, Mount Haidino-er, Mount 

 Tasman, Mount Cook, Mount Stokes, and the Moorhouse ran ere. In 

 very clear weather, other snowy mountains show above the horizon of 

 the sea, but often so faintly that they very often may easily be mistaken 

 for white clouds. 



I now prepared every thing to go down the coast, taking with me two 

 Maoris and one European, and started with them on June 3. Having 

 ascertained that, as far as the Wanganui river, provisions could easily 

 be obtained, we took only tents, blankets, powder and shot, and my 

 instruments, with us. The road leads, for the first five miles, along a 

 fine sandy beach, where, two miles from Hokitika, the wrecks of the 

 schooner Glasgow and another small cutter were being broken up. 

 Another mile further and the steamer Waipara was lying on the beach. 

 After six miles we left the sea beach, and, crossing the dunes we 

 travelled along a lagoon, stretching from here without interruption 

 to the Totara river. Its tranquil water, in which the beautiful forest 

 vegetation reflected its rich foliage, formed a pleasing contrast to the 



