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these ranges. The Long Valley is well grassed, and the pasture continues tolerably good on the Raggedy ranges up to nearly 3000 feet altitude; this is caused probably by a drier climate. The pasture on the south side of the Manuherikia, near its mouth, is very fine, but the ground is much encumbered by rocks and stones, which however will be useful as shelter—and as wood is scarce, will be found a ready material for huts and fences. On the opposite side, and also farther to the east the grass becomes rather thin, and consists almost entirely of one species—a kind of oat grass, with a black seed. The table-land between Sutton’s and the Deep Stream, and between that and Lee’s Stream, has excellent pasture for sheep, also generally all the Mount Stuart ranges and the Waitahuna and lower part of the Tuapeka country. All the eastern margin of the Clutha bears good pasture, except that at present much of it is encumbered with matakuru scrub. This, however, is always a sign of good land, and can be completely destroyed by fire in two or three years. On the west side of the Clutha, and between it and the Kaihiku ranges, the pasture is generally good—rather ferny near the sea, and becoming somewhat sour and coarse about Popotunoa, Wairuna, and the Waipahi. It is probable, owing to the low level, that if the snow grass on these parts was burnt out at the proper season, finer grass would in a year or two take its place. The pasture about Otaraia, Mokoreta, the head of Catlin’s river, and the Puerua, is generally good, and on many of the hills superior; but it becomes sour and coarse in places near the Mataura, and ferny near the sea. Farther north, the pasture about the Waikaka, Pomahaka, and Mataura, is also generally good, except where the elevation is too great. In some few places, however, the flats and low spurs incline to retain wet during the winter in what are called “podge holes.” The south-east slopes of the Umbrella Mountains are so steep as to be almost unavailable, and the pasture on the Tapanui ranges is much limited by bush and scrub. The frequent fires which occur in the district appear to have considerable effect in altering the character of the vegetation. In one instance, where a fire had been stopped by a creek, coarse snow grass was observed to prevail on one side, and superior pasture, consisting of brood-grass, anise, &c., on the other.

Both sides had evidently at one time been of the same quality, for the black stumps of the snow grass still remained. This fire had occurred about three years before, and in the month of March. At another creek, coarse grass and scrub were found on one side, and fine grass on the other. These are instances of the good effects of fires; but, on the other hand, a very great deal of mischief may be done by reckless and unreasonable burnings: a great part of the pasture in and around the Otago Block has been much deteriorated by this cause. The small patches of bush and manuka scrub are also fast dwindling away.

AGRICULTURE.

The parts of the districts adapted for agriculture are of course limited for the present by the heavy expense of land carriage; and besides good soil, access to wood and a run for cattle are required. The most of the agricultural produce of this district is raised in the Taieri and Tokomairiro plains, and the lower valley of the Clutha. The plain of the Taieri contains much excellent soil, and grows very heavy crops where the ground had been naturally covered with grass; the fern land is not so good. The Tokomairiro Plain also grows generally fair crops, but as it lies open to the north-east and south-west, it is swept by the prevailing winds, and is also subject to untimely frosts. Heavy crops are grown on the alluvial flats of the Clutha, but cattle-keeping has hitherto been the principal employment of the settlers there. Cultivation is now rapidly extending at Warepa, and the crops are generally good. The only other places suitable for farms at present might perhaps be the valleys in the Tautuku bush, about the Waikawa river, and other places, where are many pretty sites that might be fancied, having at the same time plenty good soil, wood, and water. The principal drawbacks to these localities might be in the cattle straying into the bush, but the North-east Valley and Anderson’s Bay districts are as badly situated in this respect.

ROUTES.

The district generally admits of being travelled over with horses in almost any direction, the principal obstacles being the Clutha river, the Snowy mountains in the north-west, and Tautuku bush on the south coast. Drays can now be taken from Dunedin to Popotunoa, from whence there is a