182 Physical Geography of 



southern Ashburton are situated. On the southern side of this high 

 chain, the more eastern branches of the Pangitata take their rise ; the 

 Havelock, the more westerly branch, coming from the central chain 

 proper, or the Tynaall range, as I have here designated it. The south- 

 western and highest point of the Tyndall range forms Mount Tyndall, 

 a lofty mountain of a conspicuous dome-like form, situated at the head 

 of the great G-odley glacier. It is here surrounded by very large snow- 

 fields ; towards the Havelock glacier, it falls so steeply that only a 

 comparatively small amount of snow can accumulate there. 



I may here add that from "Whitcombe's peak, a high alpine range,, 

 the Lange range runs for a considerable distance in a northern 

 direction, its eastern slopes augmenting the waters of the Hokitika 

 considerably, whilst the glacier sources of the "Waitaha are situated on 

 the opposite side. The "Wanganui, another important river of "West- 

 land, reaching the sea thirteen miles south of the former, issues from 

 the glaciers which are formed from the vast snow-fields opposite the 

 sources of the Eakaia, and which encircle the summits of Mount 

 Ramsay and Mount Lyell. and the north-western slopes of the Tyndall 

 range. The vast snowfields of Mount Tyndall, Mount Petermann, and 

 the Keith Johnston ranges form the magnificent Godley glacier, being 

 in extent only second to the Tasman glacier. Mount Petermann, a 

 sharp pyramidical peak, is separated on both sides by a deep neve 

 saddle from the Two other ranges mentioned. Another important 

 branch of the Godley glacier descends from the southern portion of the 

 Keith Johnston and northern portion of the Hector range. From 

 Mount Tyndall a divergent chain runs in a southerly direction, 

 terminating at the junction of the Macaulay and Godley rivers; for 

 about 18 miles it is covered with perpetual snow, having in Mount 

 Porbes still a height of about 10,000 feet. Prom this chain, the Pitz- 

 gerald glacier descends to within half-a-mile of the Godley glacier 

 under which its outlet flows. On the western flanks, lie the Porbes 

 glacier, the outlet of which falls into the Havelock ; on the south slopes, 

 several glaciers are situated which form the sources of the Macaulay, 

 whilst some others of smaller extent reach into the upper waters 

 of the G-odley river. Pxcepting Mount Cook, which is visible from 

 the summits of Bank's Peninsula, from Lake Ellesmere and Southbridge 

 as well as from Timaru, Mount Porbes is the only peak of the Southern 

 Alps proper which can be seen from the Canterbury plains ; it appears 

 at the head of the large Ashburton opening as a sharp pyramidical 

 peak. 



