Geological Survey of Canterbury. 107 



saddles, only to be crossed by experienced mountaineers. At the 

 request of the Provincial Government, therefore, I prepared a 

 report on the possibility of finding a road to the West Coast across 

 the Mackenzie Country, in which I gave copious extracts from my 

 journals, bearing upon the subject, and by which, so far, the question 

 at issue was settled.* 



JOTJRNEY TO WesTLAND BY AeTHUB's PASS, RETURNING BT 



Bbow:ntng's Pass. Octobeb, 1865. 



Although the road over Arthur's Pass wa3 pushed on all along the 

 whole line with such energy as never before had been witnessed in 

 the Colony, there was considerable dissatisfaction expressed in the 

 Province that a road was not at once constructed over Browning's Pass 

 at the head of the Wilberforce, notwithstanding that several Engineers 

 had reported as to this alpine saddle being too high and unsuitable for 

 the purpose. Their views were considered to have been biassed for 

 some reason or other. The Secretary for Public Works therefore 

 instructed me to visit both Passes, to report generally upon their 

 physical features, and to take also a number of altitude observations 

 with the barometer. In order to secure the greatest accuracy, three 

 Aneroid barometers which I took with me were compared by Mr. E. L. 

 Holmes, Provincial Meteorologist, regularly during four weeks, with 

 the standard barometer in the Christchurch station, with which they 

 were found to agree very closely. One of them was compensated for 

 temperature, and found to work in the field very well, to an altitude 

 of about 1800 feet, above which its readings were too high, and con- 

 sequently of no value ; whilst the two other instruments not only 

 worked admirably together during the whole journey, and in all 

 situations up to 5000 feet, but when returning, agreed with the 

 Christchurch standard barometer within 2-100ths of an inch. 



After these necessary preparations, I left Christchurch on October 

 2nd, to reach the West Coast by first visiting Arthur's Pass. I was 

 accompanied by my friend Mr. B,. L. Holmes, who had been my 

 companion on my first journey across the Southern Alps, and by 

 whose energy and perseverance the main objects of my journey were 

 much furthered. 



* Beport on the Head Waters of the Eiyer Waitaki: Fol. Christchurch, 1865. By JuLict 

 Haast, Ph.D., Brovincial Geologist. 



