Page:Native Flowers of New Zealand.djvu/14

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plenty of Veronica Lyallii, a small plant with delicate pale lilac flowers, Raolias Rhabdothamnus with bright crimson leaves, trees of Olearia in bloom, and the ground strewn with Lomaria alpina ferns. Just before crossing the river there were magnificent plants of Todea superba, of which our landlord kindly got me a large quantity carefully packed up, but alas, they had to be left behind as the coach was too full. The following day he went with us to Arthur's Pass, my niece and I riding in turns, and we very much enjoyed our expedition. We saw the celebrated gorge to great advantage in light and shade, which is generally wanting, as the coach passes through in the afternoon when the sun has left it. It was shining brightly in the morning when we went, and the effect was most beautiful, especially from the bridge across the gorge, where we could look up and down. Near the top the Hoheria or Lace-bark trees (Plagianthus Lyallii) (plate 34), were in full blossom with bunches of cherry-like flowers, and close alongside of them were trees of crimson Rata (Metrosideros Lucida), making a lovely contrast; also bushes of Veronica, a mass of white flowers (Olearia ilcifolia) (plate 21), and many others. We descended into a valley and then mounted up to Arthur's Pass. I was very sorry to find most of the flowers were over, but I could see how many more I could get if I came earlier in the season on another occasion. I was delighted to find a small piece of New Zealand Edelweiss (Gnaphalium grandiceps) (plate 31), the beautiful Celmisia Monroi (plate 5), the plants of which were in such profusion that the whole Pass must have been studded earlier in the year with its large starry white flowers. There were Veronicas Senecios, Celmisias, of different kinds, the little Uticularia, lovely white Gentians (plate 24), the long-spike of spear-grass, and many others. In the valley we had passed through by the side of the stream, there were numerous plants of Ranunculus Lyallii, or Mountain Lily, as it is called. We returned in the evening through the gorge, with baskets full to overflowing with flowers, only a few of which I could paint at the time, others we packed in tins and took with us to Christchurch. Some we pressed, as well as the ferns, and were kept busy until the coach arrived by which we went on. The lovely Veronica Lyallii was growing by the side of the road. On the other side of Arthur's Pass we had a glimpse of a glacier. By-and-bye we came to a narrow road, made of loose boulder stones, with a steep slope down into the river far below, which had often before given way. We felt anxious for those on the top of the coach, some of whom had their feet dangling over the side when it swung about, sometimes nearly over the edge. Further on we came to a pass down the side of a mountain. The gentlemen walked down a short cut, but we had to remain in the coach; the road was very narrow, and we went full gallop in and out, round the points and rocks which we nearly grazed, and once when we jumped a water-course we thought the coach was really over, it seemed to sway right over the precipice. But one lady stayed on the top all the way. After crossing sixteen times, the last