DIARY OF AN EXCURSION OVERLAND FROM NELSON TO THE EAST COAST. 1842.

%Nov. 17. — At noon, started from the extrety of the base line, Waimea South, and proceeded a distance of four miles S.S.W., up the eastern arm of the Waiiti valley. This valley is not, on an average, more than ten chains wide, but opens into a basin of 300 acres at the end, containing also some few trees. Proceeding S.W. we gained some high table land, partially covered with grass, sloping from the mountain range, and descended from thence into a fine grass valley of about 40 chains wide, which is also a branch of the Waiiti. Distance 6 mileß. Course S.W. by S. Encamped on a stream in valley. Nov. 18. — Started W.S.W. among several ranges of hills, covered with fern and manuka, and in three miles made the valley of the Waiiti. At this point the valley is wooded, about 20 chains wide, general course S.E., and terminates in a narrow gorge in the mountain range bearing E.N.E. Crossed the valley, and took up a high range of hills bearing about south, and, after two miles walking, discovered a large valley and river to the westward, which I took to be the Motuaka. Fouud a valley of easy ascent between the Waiili and Motuaka, running W.S.W. about two miles, by which we entered the large valley, and encamped in it three miles higher up, S.S.E. This valley is of a poor soil, generally covered with grass, and of an average width of 30 chains ; the hills covered with fern and flax, and of very great elevation. Distance 10 miles. Nov. 19. — Followed the valley for two miles, when we discovered the river to arise from a narrow, steep ravine in the mountain range bearing E.N.E. Ascended a high range westward of the valley, and proceeded three miles, having a deep, narrow -valley between us and the mountain range. Discovered a pass in the mountains to the left, but a large extent of forest lay between us and it. Also discovered another valley and river to the westward, which appeared to be connected with the pass. Made the valley, and found it covered with grass, soil very poor, land rising in terraces. Encamped about.. a s mile inside the wood. Course S.S.E. Distance 10 miles. " > 5Vt " Nov. 20. — Proceeded through the wood S.S.E. about 12 miles, all black birch, very little underwood, and soil composed of rotten trees and leaves. Nov. 21. — Followed the pass for two miles S.E., then E. three miles, and arrived at the summit level, and found water flowing eastward, land falling considerably in that direction ; wood of the same character. Observed a large wooded valley stretching S.W., bounded E. by a snowy range. At seven miles broke out of the wood into the valley of the Wairoo, 40 chains wide, covered with grass, and a large river running through it. Proceeded eight miles down the valley, and encamped on the river's bank, with a snowy range on each side. Above the point of junction with the Wairoo, it is a thick black birch forest. Nov. 22. — Two miles below last encampment a low range of hills cross the valley, leaving only a passage, on the southward, for the river. Crossed the range, and, as the river took close to the north side of the valley, we waded it, though with 6ome difficulty and with a good wetting. After making, a fire and drying ourselves, proceeded a little further down this valley, and encamped by the river's side. Distance 10 miles. Course N.E. Nov. 23. — At one mile crossed a river, which proceeds from a narrow gorge S.S.W., and which, from the quantity of water, appears to come a long way in that direction. Continuing down the valley, at three miles walked over a low range of hills running across the valley, except the opening of the river to the northward. From this range the valley appeared of one character, about a mile and a-half wide here, and increasing as it proceeded, and all covered with grass as far as the eye could reach ; the river, always running on the north side, in a channel averaging half a mile in width, descended into the valley, and travelled N.E. by E. for ten miles, always over grass land, sometimes very thick, and quite fit for the scythe, sometimes thin and atony. We also passed a bed of fine flax, growing on high, ground, of nearly a thousand acres. Encamped on the j river. Distance 15 miles. Nov. 24. — Travelled over several flax swamps and regained the high grass hind. At ten miles went into the hills south to look for a pass, but found hill upon hill rising in the rear, with many deep ravines and much heavy fern, so that we were glad to retreat to the plain. On our return, found the Wairoo on the south side of the plain, the valley not more than one mile wide, and a large growth of flax in it. Distance 22 miles. N.E. by E. Nov. 25. — Started down on course E. by N. Ascended a bank at two miles, and could see nothing but an unvarying plain of grass as far as tfie eye could reach. At three miles crossed a large valley and river coming from S.W., after which the plain of the Wairoo rapidly widened. We now had a succession of remarkably green grassy valleys and low easy hills, all covered with dean grass, and watered by many hill streams, till, at the distance of twenty miles, we reached the bluff that was in the extreme distance in the morning, and attained the head of the alluvial flat. The valley of the Wairoo at . this point appears full ten miles wide, without taking into account the branch valleys, many l of which run twenty miles up to the southward. ; There are some swamps as you come down from the table grass land into the alluvial flat, but with good natural facilities for draining. This flat is particularly rich land, covered with docks, aoyr thistle, and other plants indicative of a good soil, besides having the advantage of a

deep navigable river for eighteen miles through it, and the water level ranging from four to ten feet below the surface of the flat. 1 Encamped on the river, with Port Underwood lying north, and the White Bluff Head £. by N. Distance 22 miles. Nov. 26. — Made for the White Bluff, crossing rich alluvial flats and very extensive mud flats, and tideways, which are the resort of thousands of ducks. At twelve miles made the White Bluff on the beach. Bearing of seafrontage of the Wairof*, W.N.W. 25 miles, and the outlet of the river in or near the middle of the valley. Rounded the White Bluff on the beach two miles S.S.E., then overland S. by E. four miles to a fine large river called Kaipari ti Hau, which we crossed and encamped. On taking to the land, found a beautiful undulating plain, thickly covered with grass, clear of all bushes and fern, and soon opened a large valley, running as far as the eye could reach to the S.W. Nov. 27. — Travelled over low undulating hills to the S. by E., all grass. At ten miles arrived at a large lagoon, with little water, but occasionally covering 500 acres. Crossed the lagoon, and travelled S.E. up a fine valley six miles, and over some high hills, where we got sight of the sea on the east coast. Descended into a valley about a mile from the sea, and encamped. All the large hills here are thickly covered with grass and sowthistle, the latter occasionally very high. Distance 20 miles. Nov. 28. — Travelled one mile S.E. to the sea, and then down the beach eighteen miles. High hills form the coast line, which run back far into the interior. White sandstone and white clay are the principal geological formations. Distance 19 miles. Nov. 29. — Travelled fifteen miles down the beach, with the same hilly coast on our right. Took into the bills to view the country, but found them so very high and cragged as utterly to preclude any chance of getting an extensive view, and, night coming on, we encamped in the hills. Nov. 30. — With some difficulty, found our way out to the beach, satisfied that hill upon hill stretched into the interior. Pushed on for ten miles southward, when we were brought up by a deep, rapid river, which it was impossible to cross. We learned that this river is called Waipopoo, and lies about twenty miles north from Lookers-on. In. the evening returned 10 miles northward, and encamped. Dec. 1. — Retraced our steps 20 miles along the beach. Dec. 2. — At four miles passed the point at .which we had made the beach on the 28th, and rounded Cape Campbell, encamping under some white cliffs. Dec. 3. — Walked round Kaipari ti Hau. There is much flat land on the side of the lagoon. Crossed the large river, passed the White Bluff, and encamped on the Wairoo. Dec. 4. — Returned to the river Kaipari ti Hau, where we fell in with a schooner ashore and her crew. We were plentifully supplied with provisions, and left, in a whale-boat, for Cloudy Bay on the 6th. Dec. 7- — We left Cloudy Bay in the same boat, and arrived at Nelson on Sunday the 11th. J. S. COTTERELL.