THE SUTHERLAND WATERFALL Dunedin, October 12.

Te Aroha News, Volume VI, Issue 308, 17 October 1888, Page 5

THE SUTHERLAND WATERFALL Dunedin, October 12.

The following is Mr Mackenzie's (M.H.E. ) account of the Sutherland waterfall : — The first view we obtained of the fall was at a distance of two miles, and then we could only see the upper portion, the trees and hills intercepting the view, but from what we did observe we concluded that a great treat was in store for us. Another hour enabled us to cross the hill, and brought us in full view, and after about a quarter of an hoar's scrambling over stones and rocks we reached the fall. The fall consists of three leaps in an almost direct line, but when standing about a quarter of a mile away it has the appearance of a straight leap with two breaks. The two upper leaps are about equi-distant, and the lower shorter. The fall must be between 2,000 and 3,000 feet high, with quite double the volume of water of the Bowen Falls. It issues from the top of a perpendicular wall of rock, with a long horizontal line to the left, whilst on the right is a sharp peak rising fully 7,000 feet high, which Mr Sutherland has named the Mackenzie Mountain Fall. It is fed by a great glacier beyond. Standing even at a great distance from the foot of the fail, we got thoroughly soaked with spray. Stones and debris of all kinds were projected over, and and at times the flood formed a great mound about the basin, which is hewn out by the great fall of water. The whole surroundings are giand in the extreme, peak rising on peak, and on every side covered with perpetual snow and ice. Most prominent are Mount Balloon, at the back of Castle Mountain, Mount Hall and Mount Pillans (another mountain so named by Mr Sutherland. ) We camped at the foot of a bare wall, free from snow owing to its steepness, and consequently clear of avalanches, but opposite they came down to within 300 yards of us, and during the night the noise of falling avalanches was almost continuous. The lower portions of the raountains,where they are not too precipitous, are clothed with bush up to about 3,000 feet, chiefly birch, with numberless varieties of uncommon ferns and plants. Birds are not so numerous as might be 'expected. The scarletwattled crow, a lovely ' bird, New Zealand thrush and saddlebacks are very numerous, and kiwils, nouse (the wingless birds of the world), and kakapo (the ground parrot) are fairly plentiful.