A TRIP TO LAKE HAUROTO. 121 
where it was to be hoped few or no human beings had been 
before us ? 
Our party was three in number; one of whom was to be res- 
ponsible for the geographical and geological observations, while 
the other two represented botany and zoology respectively. All 
the necessary paraphernalia for scientific work was provided, 
and great results were anticipated. The large share of bad 
weather met with, marred these results however, to a great extent. 
Hauroto is about eighty-six miles from Invercargill by the 
only available route, and about thirty from Clifden Station, on 
the Waiau. The latter place is an easy day’s journey from 
Invercargill, as the rail to Otautau leaves only about twenty- 
four miles of good road to be traversed. 
Clifden Station stands on the terraced west bank of the 
Waiau, which, from being confined here within a rocky channel 
only about a hundred yards wide, runs with a swift current 
(apparently about eight miles an hour), and is very deep. What 
an enormous amount of power nature has here at present 
unutilised by man! The time will no doubt come when inven- 
tion will turn to account the immense force available in New 
Zealand’s many and rapid rivers, when numerous industries 
will spring up along their—at present—uninhabited banks. 
The large isolated masses of limestone rock, which stand 
like islands on the level river terraces in the vicinity of the 
station, constitute a peculiar landscape feature. They are appa- 
rently portions of the adjacent and underlying limestone 
formation, from which perhaps they have been isolated by past 
action of the river. The garden at Clifden Station, placed 
under the shelter of one of these island cliffs, testifies to the 
wonderful richness and warmth of the soil—fruit of all ordinary 
kinds come to the greatest perfection, including standard 
peaches, mulberries, &c. 
Our trip really commenced at Clifden Station, and here we 
had been led to expect we could engage a couple of experienced 
bush hands to relieve us of the labour of pitching tent, cooking, 
and carrying swags. Unfortunately for us, none were to be had, 
which meant also the want of dogs, as none of the dogs on the 
station would have followed perfect strangers. For bush 
travelling dogs are almost a necessity, as, without them, neither 
kiwis nor kakapos can be had, and the traveller is frequently 
dependent on these nocturnal birds for food. As one result of 
our having no dogs, we got none of these birds, and perhaps 
failed to get our Votornis for the same reason, though this latter 
is an open question. We got a considerable amount of assist- 
ance at the outset of the trip, by engaging a man and pack- 
horse to take us as far as the lake, but the want of working 
hands afterwards seriously affected the results of our expedition, 
as it takes a great deal of time even to do the minimum of 
cooking, baking, and swagging incidental to moving about. A 
flower must needs be very rare or beautiful before one will stop 
to pick it up with a 7olb, swag on his unaccustomed shoulders, 
