Geological Survey of Canterbury. 165 



ready and stood by the boat for several hours ; but, contrary to our 

 expectations, the surf did not decrease, so we watched anxiously 

 through the night for a change. With the first dawn of day we were 

 again ready to start, and as the sea appeared a little smoother than 

 usual, and there was the appearance of a fine day with a favourable 

 wind to return to Bruce Bay, we watched our chance, and, although in 

 passing through the surf we shipped a sea by which the boat was half 

 filled, we were safely on our way just when the first rays of a brilliant 

 autumn sun gilded the highest peaks of the Alps. It was a glorious 

 morning; the Southern Alps lay before us in all their majesty, forming 

 a panorama of indescribable grandeur, and a gentle breeze brought ug 

 speedily towards Bruce Bay, where we landed safely in the afternoon, 

 after our somewhat hazardous trip, through which I became acquainted 

 with some of the wildest coast scenery of Westland. Next day I 

 started on my return journey to Okarito. On the northern banks of 

 the Weheka, which I ascended for a considerable distance, we were 

 detained by heavy rain for a short time. The small rills of water, 

 which fall in great numbers over the perpendicular moraine walls along 

 the beach, were so swollen, that most of them formed small waterfalls, 

 descending in one clear leap, like the shoot from the roof of a house. 

 To give some idea of their frequency, I may say that I counted fifteen 

 of them in less than five minutes' walk. On March the 28th I arrived 

 in Okarito. The steamer Bruce having arrived the same morning, I 

 was fortunately in time to proceed by her to Jackson's Bay, Cascade 

 Point, and Lime stone -cliff Bay, George river, where we landed gold- 

 mmers and provisions, and through which a welcome opportunity was 

 offered to me of gaining some knowledge of the southernmost portion of 

 the coast of Westland. The weather was most splendid — the Southern 

 Alps appearing on both trips without any clouds or mists hiding their 

 grand features. On April the 1st I returned to Hokitika, and taking 

 the coach, I reached Christchurch on the 4th. 



The Provincial Council having decided some time previously to 

 dispense with the Geological Survey on June 30th, 1868, as a Provin- 

 cial Institution, the time was now rapidly approaching when the 

 maps, sections, and other results of the Geological Survey had to be 

 delivered to the Provincial Government. However, it was only towards 

 the beginning of August, 1868, that the work was so far advanced that 

 I could hand over the two maps of the Province, both on a scale of 

 four miles to an inch, or of 1=253,440, one containing the result of 

 my topographical survey of the interior of the Province (Southern 



