Lake Mintaro.

This pretty little sheet of water, situated right at the foot of the Clinton saddle, looks temptingly cool to the whole of us as we makes our way to the hut door, tired and perspiring. We had pushed on rapidly for the last: mile or two, and as we reckoned we had ample time to have a refreshing dip before the lady member of our walking party arrived on the scene we undressed and plunged in without more ado. [unclear: Roes] had warned us not to stay in long, but the advice was unnecessary. The watar was icy cold, and a couple of plunges beneath the surface were quite as much as any of us could stand. We quickly dried and dreaded ourselves, and our guides having by this time got our dinner ready we have settled down to do full justice to the meal when Mr and Mrs B. make their appearance. We testify our appreciation of the walking powers of the lady by a further round of applause, and we all enjoy the refreshing tea and other good things our guides have laid out for us The prospect of our getting over the saddle and reaching the Beech Huts before dark having been discussed, the momentous question is settled by Ross saying we have all walked so well that he believes we can do the rest of the distance without knocking up. We are warned, however, that we have a very stiff climb before us, and that it will take at least four hours' steady walking before we reach our destination. We learn that we are at present at an altitude of about 1950ft above sea level, of which we have ascended about 1350ft since leaving the head of the lake in the morning, and that we are now about to ascend a farther height of 1400ft; while in our tramp to the Beech Huts in the Arthur Valley we shall descend 2600ft. The ascent of 1400ft and the descent of 2600ft on the other side means a walk of about three miles and a-half, principally over rough bush tracks, As it is going to take four hours to do three miles and a half the reader will see that mere mileage in such a trip as this does not give the uninitiated any idea of what he is undertaking.