Maclaren. — On the Geologi/ of Te Moehau. 495 



and since then the summit has been visited some half-dozeti 

 times only, and then mainly by surveyors using the "trig." 

 during the late " boom." 



Mr. Adams ascended from Waiaro, on the western shore, 

 but the easier route, and the one that is generally used, is 

 that from Port Charles. From Port Charles the track crosses 

 to Sandy Bay, and thence up the Okahutahi Creek, which has 

 its source in Moehau. The andesitic lavas and breccias, seen 

 on the coast, continue for about a mile up the creek, when 

 slaty shales and mudstones appear in the bed of the stream, 

 though high up on the spurs on either side the overlying 

 igneous rock, which has resisted the denuding efforts of 

 nature, still appears. Taking one of the slate spurs to the 

 left, after a somewhat arduous climb of nearly 2,000 ft. the 

 main ridge is reached, along which a track, worn into mud by 

 the wild cattle that abound on Moehau, runs north for about 

 three miles to the foot of the peak. The whole of this ridge, 

 averaging about 2,100 ft. above sea-level, is composed of de- 

 composing yellow slaty shales and mudstones, showing occa- 

 sionally sheddings of quartz. At a height of about 2,400 ft. 

 the vegetation becomes stunted and covered with lichen, clear 

 indications of the average climatic conditions. Here also was 

 found the first evidence of the igneous nature of the summit, 

 in the shape of boulders of nmch-decomposed andesite lying in 

 the water-holes of a small creek. The ascent now becomes 

 verv sharp, and with the rapid rise the trees gradually di- 

 minish in height until they are only breast-high. Kimu 

 {Dacrydium cupresdnum) are seen 4 ft. high with trunks 1ft. 

 in diameter. Higher still the trees disappear, and the last 

 100 ft. of ascent is accomplished over a grassy sward. The 

 summit is steeply precipitous v?ith cliffs 50 ft. -100 ft. in height 

 on three sides. 



The view from the top is, to say the least, magnificent. 

 Under-foot, apparently, lie the green flats of Port Charles, 

 Waiaro, and Cabbage Bay, constituting a pleasing relief to 

 the prevailing sombre hues of the densely clad bush ranges. 

 On the one hand lie the glancing waters of the Hauraki Gulf, 

 studded with island gems ; over and beyond are the Waita- 

 kerei Ranges, fading away to a blue haze. On the other 

 hand, and in front, the horizon is unbroken, save for the 

 rugged outlines of the Great Barrier. To the south the eye 

 travels over valley after valley, range after range, apparently 

 interminable — mute monuments of nature's sculpture. 



Considerable variation of opinion exists between previous 

 writers on the subject of the geology of Te Moehau. Mr. 

 McKay, the Government Geologist, from information supplied 

 to him, considers that the peak is formed by one large dyke 

 of andesite, and that the mass of the mountain consists of 



