500 Transactions. 



ing the source of the Pourewa on the northern side, and, after 

 passing around Tauporae, followed a spur down to the Turakina 

 River, just below where it is joined by the Mangapapa. About 

 here are to be seen many remains of old cultivations and forti- 

 fications, possibly being a place of retreat, as it is at the head 

 of the portion of river navigable for canoes, and some forty 

 or fifty miles from the coast. The eastern branch skirted 

 the source of Pourewa, falling into the valley of the Makohine, 

 another tributary of the Rangitikei, and again ascending the 

 Whakawae Ridge and descending to the Otara kainga, near 

 where Ohingaiti now stands. From there to the coast com- 

 munication would be easy either by canoe or down the valley 

 of the Rangitikei. 



The subject of these notes, a large piece of kauri-gum, was 

 discovered by some bushfellers lying on a leading ridge parallel 

 to the one which Murray's Track follows, immediately to the 

 south and about 30 chains from the Mangaone Stream. One 

 of the bushmen, in preparing to boil the " billy," observed what 

 he expected was a round stone, and, as such is a curiosity in 

 this country entirely devoid of gravels, he inquisitively struck it 

 with the back of his axe, to find it splintered into fragments 

 of gum. Finding it would burn he utilised the most of it to 

 boil his precious " billy," but luckily he retained a few pieces, 

 and I afterwards obtained a few ounces from him. From his 

 description the lump would be several pounds in weight, and 

 was completely moss-covered, and lying half buried in the mould 

 near the crown of a sharp ridge, in dense bush ; and there were 

 absolutely no indications of any track of any kind, the under- 

 growth being, if anything, denser than usual. There would 

 be no old Native clearings within ten or twelve miles of the 

 spot as the crow flies. As will be observed by the sample for- 

 warded with this, the gum is a hard, brittle, semitransparent 

 gum, to all appearance just as if taken out of the ground. 



Upon ascertaining that the find was really kauri-gum, a 

 mild sensation was caused among the immediate settlers, who 

 were then led to believe their lands had once been clad with 

 kauri, and would in future be rushed by diggers anxious to search 

 for the buried wealth. However, possible such a thing may 

 be, but it is most improbable. 



Geologically the country throughout this part consists of 

 the lower and middle beds of Tertiary clays, commonly known 

 as " papa," and covered with a comparatively thin coating of 

 clay mould. The existing forest consists of totara, rimu, kahi- 

 katea, matii, tawa, titoki, kowhai, &c. 



The presence of this kauri-gum in such a locality, together 

 with the traditional record of an ancient track by the Maori, 



