The Beech Huts to Te Anau.

It rained steadily all night, and when we a woke in thi morning there was no appearance of it [unclear: casing,] Were it to continue we knew it would be quite impossible to cross the creeks in the Clinton Valley even did we succeed in getting over the saddle. We had the comforting aasurance of young Ross and Garvie, however, that if the rain did stop the creeks would go down as quickly as they had risen. We therefore remained in bed for an hour or two while our clothes were given an additional chance of drying at a freshly built up fire. At 10 o'clock, to our great joy, the rain ceased, and it was considered that by 12 o'clock we would be safe in making a start. Breakfast was prepared and disposed of, and at 12 we were all ready. Ross decided to go with us over the saddle to Mintaro and possibly on to one of the worst of the creeks in the Clinton Valley to see us safely ever, and he insisted on carrying my swag, notwithstanding my remon-strances. Owing to the misty clouds hanging round, we were unable to see the numerous waterfalls in the Arthur Valley mountains as we left the huts. This we regretted very much, as the sight would have been a magnificent one under the great rainfall. We made first-rate progress and got through the bush in good time, finding ourselves again among the mountain [unclear: lities] and celmisias shortly after 1 o'clock. Well on towards the top we stopped by a little stream which flowed beside a huge overhanging rock. Here we rested, had a few biscuits, with draughts of the purest water drunk from the cup-shaped leaves of the mountain lily, and then finished our climb, stopping on our way to procure a few celmisia and other plants. We reached the little