III.— GEOLOGY. 



Akt. XLI. — Narrative of an Ascent of Rtiapehii. 



By James Pabk, Geological Survey Department. 



[Read before the Wellington Fhilosophical Society, 24t/i Ftbruary, 1886.] 



During the progress of a recent geological survey of this dis- 

 trict, I had occasion to ascend Mount Kuapehu, and, by 

 permission of the Director, I am now enabled to place before 

 you an account of my trip. 



Euapehu is the highest mountain in this island, attaining a 

 height of almost 9,000 feet above the sea. It is situated at the 

 southern extremity of the great volcanic chain that extends 

 north to Lake Taupo, and occupies a most prominent and cen- 

 tral position, being almost equidistant from the sea on three 

 sides. It reaches far above the snow-line of this latitude, and 

 maintains immense snow-fields throughout the year, this being 

 perhaps as much due to its huge massive character as to its 

 height. 



It is the source of many large and important rivers, the 

 principal of which are the Waikato, which drains its eastern 

 slopes and falls into the sea some distance south of the Manu- 

 kau Harbour ; the Wangaehu, with its large tributary the 

 Mangawhero, which drains its southern slopes and discharges 

 into Cook Strait ; and the Manganui-a-te-ao, which rises on the 

 west side of Parataetaitonga, and joins the Wanganui about 

 8 miles above Pipiriki. 



The first ascent of Euapehu appears to have been made by 

 Sir George Grey,* but I am unable to ascertain the precise 

 date ; however, it must have been previous to 1867. 



The present ascent was made on the 8th January of this 

 year, or about two and a half months earlier than any previous 

 ascent, as far as I can learn. I was accompanied by Mr. Dun- 

 nage, Mr. A. D. Wilson's cadet, who was sent with me to erect 

 a signal on the summit for triangulation purposes, and also by 

 Dalin, a survey hand. 



We left Karioi on the 7th January, and the same evening 

 pitched our camp at the foot of Euapehu, at about 4,000 feet 

 above the sea. Our intention was to have pushed on to the top 



* " Hochstetter's N.Z.," 1867, p. 878. 



