‘THE HOLLYFORD VALLEY. 537 
stream is everywhere composed of glacier detritus. We followed 
up one of the branches to its source,” (The middle branch 
leading to the saddle). ‘‘ The stream ends quite abruptly against 
a glacialised surface of rock, which slopes to a height of 3,000 
feet at an angle of from 30deg. to 4odeg. The snow which falls 
from the mountains is unable to lie on this polished surface, and, 
sliding down, wedges in at the back of the moraine, forming a 
miniature glacier, though without true ice structure, at an eleva- 
tion of only 1,000 feet above the sea. The depth of the groove, 
which has been cut by this snow bank between the rock and the 
moraine, is not less than 400 feet. By a slightly dangerous climb, 
we got up the glacialised surface of the rock, and on to the top 
of the great moraine which is heaped up against it.” 
In the Geologicai Reports for 1879-80, I described the eastern 
approach to this saddle as follows :— 
“The Darran Mountains, from opposite the upper end of 
Lake McKerrow to Mount Christina, appear to be a range of 
mountains everywhere impassable. A large creek comes from 
this range south-east of Mount Christina, which may possibly 
lead up to a pass in the range, but such has not been found as 
yet. At no other point does it seem possible to cross this range 
as it is followed.to the north till reaching a point on the range 
opposite the junction of the Greenstone and Lake Harris tracks 
in the Hollyford Valley, where a large creek, which a little fur- 
ther down the valley joins the Hollyford from the west, looks 
from the opposite mountains as if it led toa saddle by which the 
Darran Mountains might perhaps be crossed so as to reach the 
Cleddau River, which, followed down, falls into the upper part of 
Milford Sound. 
“From the higher parts of the north end of the Lake Harris 
Range, the saddle and the whole of the approach thereto from 
the Hollyford Valley was distinctly seen. The creek by which 
the approach to this pass will have to be made, on leaving the 
lower grounds along the Hollyford River, is confined in its course 
(though not strictly passing through a gorge), and has, for the 
first mile, a rapid fall. It is here that the only difficulty on the 
east side of the range may be looked for. Higher up the creek 
the valley widens and slopes gently, having patches of open grass 
land along its banks, surrounded by bush. Along this part of 
its course the bed of the stream is from 1,800 to 2,000 feet above 
the sea. Beyond this an abrupt rocky barrier stretches nearly 
across the valley, which here is somewhat more than half a mile 
‘ wide. This parapet of rocks may be passed on the north side 
of the valley. Hitherto the creek has had a westerly course; 
now it turns to the south-west, and passes shortly to the south of 
its rocky part. The rocky barrier already mentioned marks the 
3,500 feet line, and the upward limit of forest growth. 
“ Having gained or passed beyond the rocky barrier at the 
height above mentioned, the ground to be passed over is again 
comparatively level, forming a sort of basin between the sur- 
rounding mountains. From the upper edge of this, if looking 
