Geological Survey of Canterbury. 109 



whilst a considerable number of diggers and navvies passing to-and-fro 

 made it their usual resting-place. At the same time, several parties 

 of sawyers were also at work, preparing timber for a number of 

 buildings still to be erected. 



For a day we were occupied with taking a number of barometrical 

 observations, and left on October 8th for the Pass, in company with Mr. 

 Edwin Blake, one of the Engineers in charge. Following the broad 

 shingle-bed of the Bealey, and crossing and re-crossing its clear water, I 

 enjoyed very much the contemplation of the beautiful landscape 

 around us. On both sides and in front of us rose fine mountain peaks, 

 possessing magnificent outlines ; but the effect was still heightened by 

 the existence of luxurious Fagus forest, which not only clothed the 

 mountain sides for more than two thousand feet above the valley, but 

 also formed charming groves in the latter. After five miles, we 

 reached Mr. Smith, the contractor's camp at the entrance of the 

 Bealey gorge ; here great activity reigned, and the principal work of 

 blasting in order to ascend Arthur's Pass, had already considerably 

 advanced. "We now followed the road to the summit of the Pass 

 formed in the lower portion in the deep gorge of the Bealey, and as at 

 one spot the bridge across it was not yet finished, a number of work- 

 men carried my dog- cart across. It would be impossible to describe 

 in detail the grandeur of the scenery around us, as we slowly ascended 

 to the summit of the Pass, and gradually exchanged the beech forest, 

 which now had become dwarfish and covered with TTsnea barbata (that 

 peculiar pendant greenish white lichen) with the varied and beautiful 

 sub-alpine vegetation of New Zealand. The Bealey had also become a 

 wild mountain torrent, tumbling its foaming waters over large blocks 

 of stone lying in its bed, and shut in by high rocky cliffs, where from 

 every crevice vegetable life had sprung into existence. High above us, 

 Mount Rolleston with its remarkably grand form, rose on our left 

 side, harbouring large snowfields on its flanks, whilst on the opposite 

 side of the valley several fine waterfalls hung on the rocky mountain 

 sides. On the Pass itself, where the road had been blasted through large 

 angular blocks of rock, mostly derived from morainic accumulations, 

 a rich and varied flora surrounded us, amongst which the Nene {JDraco- 

 phyllum Traversii, Hooker Jil.) a small palm-like tree, belonging to the 

 Ericece, and growing only on our low alpine passes, and the 

 Ranimculus Lyallii, Hooker jil. are the most remarkable. 



Having made a number of barometrical observations, we descended 

 about a thousand feet to the camp of Mr. Wright, the con- 



