Geological Survey of Canterbury. 12*7 



side of the Pass, I came, after having descended about 30 feet, to the 

 terminal face of a glacier, of considerable dimensions, descending from 

 the north-eastern flanks of Mount Whitcombe, and filling a deep 

 cauldron-like valley. When examining the other alpine Passes of the 

 Province, I observed that invariably a glacier descended on each side, 

 going in opposite directions ; and although on the ranges above some of 

 them, true glaciers lie, which are now several thousand feet above the 

 watershed, the glacier shelves and remains of lateral moraines, with 

 which the surrounding mountain side's are covered, show at once that 

 much larger glaciers existed formerly in those localities. These extensive 

 ice-masses have, without doubt, planed the central range on both slopes 

 in opposite directions, till the ridge has been worn down to its present 

 form. Here, on the Whitcombe Pass, this instructive phenomenon is 

 still visible, as the Sale glacier reaches now across the valley, and if 

 the Martius glacier would only advance a few hundred yards, the 

 moraines of both, and perhaps even the ice-masses would meet on the 

 summit of the Pass, although descending in different directions. Thus 

 we observe how nature, to accomplish gigantic ends, uses very 

 simple, but effectual means. In fact, no more simple method 

 could be devised to grind down part of an inaccessible mountain 

 chain than these ice-ploughs, or perhaps, better styled ice-planes, 

 working in opposite directions, which thus open a passage through an 

 otherwise impassable barrier, and allow commerce and civilization to 

 unite the shores of this rich and beautiful island. 



I spent the next day in arranging my collection and notes, and the 

 following being wet, I was only able to continue my researches on the 

 17th March, when I started on horseback to visit the glacier stretching 

 across the valley. It was a beautiful day, the atmosphere clear and 

 pure after the rain, and the aroma of the white flowering Carmiclicelia 

 odorata and the splendid Se?iecio cassinioides was so strong that the 

 whole air was filled by it ; the latter was, in many localities, so thickly 

 covered with yellow blossoms that scarcely any leaves could be detected. 

 We were able to ride to within 300 yards of the glacial cave, but 

 then the raging torrent issuing from it set against the rocky banks, so 

 that it was impossible to proceed any further. I therefore ascended 

 the mountain side, formed by ice-worn rocks, and soon stood in 

 front of this remarkable glacier, over which the wild stupendous 

 mountains rose in sublimity and grandeur. I shall leave its description 

 to another portion of my narrative, when giving an account of my 



