Canterbury and Westland. 219 



been drained, issuing, after a tortuous course of six miles measured in a 

 straight line, into the Canterbury plains, where it has high terraced 

 banks on both sides. Here it receives several affluents from the north, 

 amongst which the Okuku is the most considerable. In its course 

 across the Canterbury plains, its southern banks, for nearly 12 miles, 

 are formed by the Moeraki Downs, which fall abruptly towards the 

 river, but slope gently towards the south. 



The Waipaba. 



North of the Ashley, the Biver "Waipara is situated. It drains the 

 smaller ranges east of the Okuku branch of the first mentioned river. 

 With the exception of six miles, where it crosses the northern exten- 

 sion of the Canterbury plains, its bed breaks through the mountain 

 ranges, which, although of inconsiderable elevation, nevertheless offer 

 fine scenery to the tourist. The banks of this river, in its middle 

 course, are noted as the principal localities for the collection of 

 Saurian remains of many genera and species. Building stones of 

 good quality can also be obtained in abundance there. 



The Selwyn. 

 Another river, the Selwyn, is of similar dimensions to the former. 

 Its principal sources are situated on the eastern slopes of the Thirteen- 

 mile-Bush range. It consists of four main branches, the most northerly 

 of which, the Hawkins, rising in Russell's peak in the Malvern hills ; 

 the second, the Wai-aniwa-niwa, has its sources near the saddle lead- 

 ing into the Selwyn near Hart's coal-mine. It drains a swampy 

 district lying in the centre of the Malvern Hills. The Wakaepa, 

 or Selwyn proper, rises on the eastern slopes of Big Ben, and 

 after flowing through the Malvern hills in a succession of pic- 

 turesque gorges, where it receives some important additions from 

 the western slopes of the Thirteen-mile-Bush range, and the high 

 banks of the Bakaia near Fighting hill, it enters the Canterbury plains, 

 where it flows along the depression between the two huge shingle-fans 

 formed by the Bakaia and Waimakariri, emptying itself into Lake 

 Ellesmere, into which it has already advanced its delta considerably. 

 The most southerly branch of the Selwyn is the Hororata, coming 

 from Snowy peak in the Bockwood ranges, and joining the Selwyn 10 

 miles below the entrance of the latter into the Canterbury plains. 

 After a continuance of fine weather, the channel of this river, on the 

 plains, is generally dry with only here and there small water holes in 

 its wide shingle bed. 



