230 Physical Geography of 



ing from the south-western slopes of Mount Aspiring. The valley of 

 this river, about 26 miles long, has a nearly northerly course. South 

 of this river, only smaller water-courses enter the sea, of which several 

 at Cascade Point form a number of picturesque falls. I may finally 

 observe, that none of the rivers in either province are navigable, all 

 being too rapid and too shallow. However, some of them, such as 

 Saltwater Creek, the estuary of the Ashley, the "Waimakariri, and the 

 Avon-Heathcote estuary (north of Banks' Peninsula), and the Grrey, 

 Taramakau, Hokitika, Piringa and Haast (at the West Coast), can be 

 entered at highwater by small vessels and steamers. It is also- 

 possible to ascend many of our rivers with canoes and flat-bottomed 

 -ioats, for a considerable distance. 



