Lecture on the Waimakariri River.

Thames Star, Volume XI, Issue XI, 25 June 1880, Page 2

Lecture on the Waimakariri River.

A lecture was given by Mr J. Adams, 8.A., on tbe above subject in tbe Congregational Church, under the auspices of the Young Men's Christian Association. After prayer by Mr James Eenshaw, Mr Hiltou sang the sacred song " The Landing of the Pilgrim Fathers," which was well rendered, but the applause which followed was hardly in place in a sacred place of worship—in fact it is not usual to applaud a sacred selection. Mr C. Hudson then sang " The Treasures of the Deep," being acccotnpanied by Miss Hudson. After a few remarks the Chairman (Mr T. James) introduced the Iceturer. Mr Adams said he was not at all an able lecturer, but he would endeavor to do his best. He gave a ihost interesting description of the geological formation of the banks of tbe Waimakfriri river in the Canterbury district. He pointed out on the map the relative position of the six rivers of which it forms the chief. Some of these rivers, which all ran through the Plains, were as much as 300 feet below their level. He traced the river down to I the Islaod of Eaiapoi, aid through the numerous gorges. This he said was the most uninteresting p»rfc of the river, as the banks were covered with nothing but cabbage trees and tufts of grass. The Waimakariri river threatened to lose its course, and that was the r< asou why the river is compared to the Po in Italy. They found coal on the banks, it was the ordinary brown coal of New Zealand, but was not so good as the Waikato or Bay of Islands coal. In order to obtain water for the miners they had recourse to Artesian wells. Anyone goin? from the .North to the Canterbury Plains would expect to see a stretch of country loaded with its own luxuriance. The lecturer said he was disappointed, as for forty miles he saw nothing but barrel tufts of grass. It was not like the country in the Waikato where the ground was heavily laden with produce, ard where the cattle roamed about knee deep in pasture. However, further on the river was very picturesque,

and the country presented a scene <? almost unrivalled beau'y, while the tui and other birds were waibHug forth their sweet ditties, nnd fearlessly came quite close as if to ask the traveller's business in that part of the country. Here the snow lay on the mountain; although the sun was high in the heaven of a summer's day. The Australian Alps contained all the other affluents of the Waiiaakariri Kiver. The basin did not look like a plain, but wns comprised of large rugged liills. He gave a very amusing description of the journey by coach from Swingfield to the middle basin, and sarcastically remarked on the habit of persons when on a journey where danger was to be apprehended, iv raking up all the accidents which had taken place on that spot, as not calculated to maintain a natural equilibrium of mind. At 6,000 feet the barometer stood at 26, and from that height the scene was a regular vale of misery. The snow-clad summits of this range were very drear and desolate, but the black butterfly was frequently seen. Here the houses were usually made of wood and mud, as the ordinary wood house would be uninhabitable in winter. Here the red birch flourished. Here the mountain sheep thrived, and the chief pursuit of the denizens of this bucolic region was that of sheep farming. The land in this part yielded' 68 bushels to the acre. The virgiu soil, when first cleared yields abundant crops, but - after a year or so they considerably decreased. Indeed this was not to be wondered at as the soil was in many places only a few feet deep. The lecturer concluded an able discourse by expressing a wish that his audience would enjoy the next lecture given better than they had his. A vote of thanks moved by Mr McGowan to the lecturer concluded the proceedings.