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The greater part of the peninsula between the Wanaka and Hawea Lakes;

The upper part of the Cardrona and Motatapu Valleys;

The greater part of the ridge between the Nevis and the Clutha Valley;

All the spurs coming down from the ridge, of which Breast Hill and Trig Hill are parts.

Under inferior, there will be included—

The high table land stretching between Cruffel, Queensberry, and Pisa, and merging into barrenness before it reaches the latter summit;

The higher parts of the ridges already mentioned under good;

All the country along the margin of the west and upper east sides of the Wanaka Lake, together with the upper west side of the Hawea Lake. This country is excessively broken, rugged, and much overrun with fern; it rises so quickly, and to such height, that an arbitrary line drawn round the Lake, at a distance of two miles from the margin, would enclose all that is of vegetation; to the west of this imaginary line there is not a blade of grass to be seen.

The stocking of such country as that around the Lakes evinces a spirit of much enterprise, for, unlike the Clutha Valley, it is not at once available: the stockowner must put forth his capital and energies, years before there can be anything like an adequate return; the difficulties of shepherding there must always be great, and even dangerous; a full muster at shearing time is never obtained—the heights which to most animals would be a wall and a fence, afford on occasion a retreat to the sheep, free from any interference whatever. Last season, a shepherd, whose duty it was to tend a flock on the spurs of Mount Alta, went out one morning to see to his flock; not returning as usual, a search was made for him for some days, without success. The conjecture is, that he had been endeavoring to collect some of the stragglers of his flock, and in doing so, had missed either his hold or footing, and been precipitated down into some nook among the rocks.

Of Agricultural Capabilities, it may be affirmed that one-half of the Clutha Valley, including the Lindis part also, is well adapted, as regards climate and soil, for the growing of cereal crops; the other half, owing to its shingly element, is too dry and hard. Vegetables grow well and arrive at good maturity, as seen in some of the gardens at the stations. A great drawback to agricultural settlement would be the want of bush, the nearest being at the head of the Lakes.

The Bush consists almost entirely of black birch; the stems of the trees are from 12 to 18 inches diameter, they do not taper quickly, split well, and when the posts are charred, make a pretty durable fence. During the Survey, contractors were at work in both the Hawea and Makarora forests: those in the Makarora report the discovery of a sprinkling of totara, and black pine through it; and there is manuka on both of the wooded islands in the Wanaka Lake.

Means of Communication.—In reference to this, it may be proper to mention, that the only outlet at present possible for dray traffic, is by the Lindis Pass, and down the Waitaki Valley to Oamaru. Pack horses can be taken over the Dunstan Mountains at several places, and over the crown ridge at the head of the Cardrona. The estimated distance from the junction of the Wanaka and Hawea rivers to Oamaru, by the dray-track, is 150 miles; and to Dunedin by the Dunstan and Shag Valley, also 150 miles; to Ree’s Station, on the Wakatipu Lake, 45 miles. According to information, the Lindis Pass is liable to be shut up by snow, for intervals of a few weeks in winter. The bridle-tracks, owing to their elevations, are sure to be shut for several months in each year; this season, they were open till the 17th May. The Survey party crossed the Dunstan Pass on the 20th of the same month; there were nine inches of snow on then. The depth of the Clutha renders fording impossible; drays therefore, on that account, can go no further inland than the junction of the Wanaka and Hawea rivers. Passengers and goods have to be ferried across. It may be added that in midwinter, when the Lakes are low, the Clutha may be forded on horseback, by first crossing the Hawea river, and then the Wanaka river, or vice versa. In the month of May, the marks were beginning to appear above water that indicate when this may be ventured by those acquainted with the fords. The only means of communication to the head of either Lake is by boat; this has hitherto prevented the occupation of 10 square miles of good cattle run at the head of the Wanaka Lake—but has not done so in regard to the country at the head of the Hawea Lake: for Mr. Jones, of Oamaru, has established a station there, after much labour and difficulty,—he had to boat his sheep a distance of two miles, so as to round Rocky Point. This is the abrupt termination of the mountain ridge between the Dingle and Timaru rivers; it descends into the depths of the Lake in so precipitous a manner, that to go round it was utterly impossible, and to attempt to go over it, just as impossible. Cattle cannot be boated like sheep, and as cattle are best adapted for the swampy pasture of the Hunter Valley, Mr. Jones resolved to have a track cut, so as to drive them round. During the six months previous to the Survey, two contractors had formed one mile of side cut.