The Arawata.

Of the remaining rivers, the Arawata, entering the sea in Jackson's Bay, is worth mentioning. I have only seen it at its mouth, but Dr Hector, who has explored its upper course, describes it as a true glacier river. Its main source issues from the Haast glacier, descend-page 230ing from the south-western slopes of Mount Aspiring. The valley of this river, about 26 miles long, has a nearly northerly course. South of this river, only smaller water-courses enter the sea, of which several at Cascade Point form a number of picturesque falls. I may finally observe, that none of the rivers in either province are navigable, all being too rapid and too shallow. However, some of them, such as Saltwater Creek, the estuary of the Ashley, the Waimakariri, and the Avon-Heathcote estuary (north of Banks' Peninsula), and the Grey, Taramakau, Hokitika, Piringa and Haast (at the West Coast), can be entered at highwater by small vessels and steamers. It is also possible to ascend many of our rivers with canoes and flat-bottomed, boats, for a considerable distance.