into two branches at Ivakatea, which unite again near its mouth, and enclose the flat, alluvial island of Inch Clutha. This river increases very little in size during its course of about 100 miles through the district, appearing to have all its principal sources among the Snowy mountains near the West coast. Its breadth varies from 100 to 200 yards, with a deep and rapid current; and its waters, though clear, have a peculiar blue tint. It is affected by the tide for several miles, but, notwithstanding, the current runs constantly outwards at its mouth. The next river in point of size is the Taieri, which rises in Lammerlaw, from whence it winds through an alluvial flat, in a north-westerly direction; into the north-eastern districts of the Province; after flowing round the north end of the Rock and Pillar mountain, and through the plain at its foot, it enters a deep, rocky ravine, from which it emerges into the Lower Taieri plain, after winding through which, and about five miles from its mouth, it receives a tributary from the Waihola and Waipori lakes, and then entering a deep gorge in the coast hills, it finds its way to the sea. This river is affected by the tide as far as Scroggs’s creek, to which it is navigable for large boats—a distance of ten miles from its mouth. Its principal tributaries in the south-eastern districts are—the Waipori, Sutton’s, Lee’s, and the Deep stream, by which it receives nearly all the drainage of the Lammermoors.

The Pomahaka is nearly the same size as the Taieri, being the principal tributary of the Clutha in this district. It rises in Mount Benger, one of the Umbrella Mountains, and drains the south-east face of these ranges, together with the country between them and the Tapanui hills. Its course is first southerly, the first few miles being through a deep ravine, where it is joined by several mountain streams; it then winds through a marshy plain, and; passing a gorge in a low range, enters a fine, well-wooded valley, on leaving which it is joined by the Waipahi, which drains the country about Otaraia. The Pomahaka now bends to the east, and enters the Clutha river, after a course of 43 miles in a straight line from its head. The other streams in the districts are considerably smaller.

The Waitahuna rises among the long spurs running down from Lammerlaw, and flows generally in a south-west direction through deep gullies and over a slippery, rocky bed to the Clutha, which it enters a little below the junction of the Pomahaka.

The Tuapeka rises in Lammerlaw near the heads of the Waipori, and, after passing through some pretty little valleys, falls into the Clutha at the lower end of the Scrubby Gorge.

The Waiwera rises in a mossy valley behind the Kaihiku ranges, through which it passes out by a deep gorge, when it receives some smaller streams and falls into the Clutha close below the junction of the Pomahaka. The Kaihiku rises behind the range of that name, and its general course to the Clutha is parallel to the Waiwera.

The Puerua rises among the razor back ridges, behind the Kaihiku ranges, after emerging from which it receives several half-stagnant tributaries, and falls into the Clutha close to the sea. The lower part of its course is through an alluvial flat, where it is deep and sluggish, which renders it navigable for boats as far as Tanemomo bush, where is situated the landing-place for goods destined for Warepa and the interior stations.

Catlin’s river has two branches, the larger rises in the Forest range, near Bleak hill, runs a few miles in a deep valley, and then enters the bush. Its smaller branch rises out of the same peat bog with the Waiwera, and runs through a narrow open valley surrounded with wood. After entering the bush it appears to join the larger branch, and soon afterwards falls into the sea. At the mouth of this river is a boat harbour, where was once a native settlement.

The Tautuku rises also near Bleak hill, its course seems to be entirely among dense bush, and only the upper part of its valley was seen. It falls into the bay of the same name, and at its mouth used to be a whaling station.

The Waikawa is formed by the junction of several streams running in narrow, open valleys. About three or four miles below its main junction it enters the bush, through which it flows for about five miles, when it enters the sea, forming a small harbour at its mouth, where also used to be a whaling station.

The Mokoreta rises among the peat bogs near the sources of the Waipahi,