The Headwaters of the Molyneux.

Of the hydrographical basin of this, the largest river in New Zea land, only a small portion lies in this province, by far the greater part being situated in Otago. The most northerly branch of this fine river is the Hunter, the glacier sources of which are situated on the southern declivities of Mount Ward. After a nearly straight south-west course of 29 miles, and receiving numerous affluents from both sides, it empties itself into Lake Hawea, a fine sheet of water, situated in Otago, and considerably larger than any of the Canterbury lakes. The upper course of the Hunter has generally the character of a gorge, at the same time fine beech forests clothe its banks to within six miles of its glacier sources. Its middle and lower course, although some-page 216times narrowed by morainic accumulations and huge shingle cones runs in a valley of considerable breadth, and has a broad shingle bed. The Makaroa is another important source-branch; its longest branch the Fish river, has its glacier sources on Mount Dana. After a south west course of nine miles, it enters the remarkable opening at the head of which Haast's Pass is situated, where it is joined by its principal confluent, the Makaroa, having its glacier sources on the south-western flanks of Mount Ferguson. The united waters now flow for 15 miles in a broad valley, and in a south-south-west direction to Lake Wanaka, being however, occasionally confined to a narrow channel by ancient moraines and huge deltas of mountain torrents The Makaroa receives numerous tributaries, principally from the western side where the Southern Alps run parallel to it for a con siderable distance; of these tributaries, the Young and the Blue rivers are worth mentioning, but the most important is the Wilkin, nearly equal in size to the main river, the principal sources of which are situated on the north-eastern slopes of the Glacier Dome, near the southern boundary of the Canterbury Province.

Lake Wanaka, of the beautiful and diversified features of which it is impossible to speak too highly, is 27 miles long, and, on an average, nearly three miles broad. It is much indented, and the picturesque mountains which surround it rise mostly with nearly vertical walls from its clear and deep blue waters. In its conformation it closely resembles the Lake of Zurich (lac des quatre cantons) in Switzerland, and whilst, like Lake Hawea, it is surrounded at its lower end by gigantic circumvallations of morainic deposits, it differs from our other alpine lakes by its low position and by the peculiarity that the Maka roa at its entrance has not formed a swampy delta; well grassed land reaching to the very margin of the water, which, had we no other proof, would alone be sufficient evidence of its great depth. Several well ice-worn islets rise above its surface, of which, however, one near the entrance of the Matukituki has been joined to the main land by the enormous fluviatile deposits brought into the lake by that river.