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plenty of Veronica Lyallii, a small plant with delicate pale lilac flowers, Raolias 
Rhabdothamnus with bright crimson leaves, trees of Olearia in bloom, and the 
ground strewn with Lomaria alpina ferns. Just before crossing the river there 
were magnificent plants of Todea superha, of which our landlord kindly got 
me a large quantity carefully packed up, but alas, they had to be left behind as the 
coach was too full. The following day he went with us to Arthur’s Pass, my 
niece and I riding in turns, and we very much enjoyed our expedition. We saw 
the celebrated gorge to great advantage in light and shade, which is generally 
wanting, as the coach passes through in the afternoon when the sun has left it. 
It was shining brightly in the morning when we went, and the effect was most 
beautiful, especially from the bridge across the gorge, where we could look up and 
down. Near the top the Hoheria or Lace-bark trees [Plagianthus Lyallii) (plate 34), 
were in full blossom with bunches of cherry-like flowers, and close alongside 
of them were trees of crimson Rata {Metrosideros Lucida), making a lovely con- 
trast; also bushes of Veronica, amass of white flowers (Olearia ilicifoUd) (plate 21), 
and many others. We descended into a valley and then mounted up to Arthur’s 
Pass. I was very sorry to find most of the flowers were over, but I could see 
how many more I could get if I came earlier in the season on another occasion. 
I was delighted to find a small piece of New Zealand Edelweiss (Onaphalium 
gratidiceps) (plate 31), the beautiful Celmisia Monroi (plate 5), the plants of which 
were in such profusion that the whole Pass must have been studded earlier in the year 
with its large starry white flowers. There were Veronicas Senecios, Celmisias, of 
different kinds, the little Uticularia, lovely white Gentians (plate 24), the long-spike of 
spear-grass, and many others. In the valley we had passed through by the side of 
the stream, there were numerous plants of Ranunculus Lyallii, or Mountain Lily, as 
it is called. We returned in the evening through the gorge, with baskets full to 
overflowing with flowers, only a few of which I could paint at the time, others we 
packed in tins and took with us to Christchurch. Some we pressed, as well as the 
ferns, and were kept busy until the coach arrived by which we went on. The lovely 
Veronica Lyallii was growing by the side of the road. On the other side of Arthur’s 
Pass we had a glimpse of a glacier. By-and-bye we came to a narrow road, made 
of loose boulder stones, with a steep slope down into the river far below, which had 
often before given way. We felt anxious for those on the top of the coach, some 
of whom had their feet dangling over the side when it swung about, sometimes 
nearly over the edge. Further on we came to a pass down the side of a mountain. 
The gentlemen walked down a short cut, but we had to remain in the coach ; 
the road was very narrow, and we went full gallop in and out, round the points 
and rocks which we nearly grazed, and once when we jumped a water-course we 
thought the coach was really over, it seemed to sway right over the precipice. 
But one lady stayed on the top all the way. After crossing sixteen times, the last 
