2 2 Transactions . 



Commencing the descent, a sharp dip of 400 ft. brings us to a valley 

 where a chain of tarns stretches down the slope. From this point a well- 

 defined arete leans to Mount Dennan. 



A hill between Mounts Dennan and Hector has its vegetation cut into 

 lanes running south-west and north-east. 



Just before reaching Mount Dennan, 4,200 ft., the main ridge is broken 

 up into several. The small valleys thus formed aSord good protection to 

 the snow-grass, which flourishes exceedingly. Astelia beds are also inter- 

 mixed with snow-grass and AciphyUum Colensoi. Many of these hollows, 

 with snow-grass leaves in abundance on the ground, would make an ex- 

 cellent camping-ground. We reach our old camp at " Table Top " at 

 7.15 p.m., and, too tired to pitch tent, merely pull it over us, and sleep 

 soundly through the starry subalpine night. 



There is little more to tell. The next morning, the fourth since leaving 

 Kaitoke, we dally long on " Table Top," around the camp, collecting speci- 

 mens and taking notes. Here the rare Liparophyllwm Gunmi is plentifully 

 gathered in the habitat originally found by Mr. Petrie. It is late in the 

 forenoon when a start is made for the Forks camp at the junction of the 

 Waiotauru and Otaki Rivers. The descent through the bush to the river 

 is only eventful in our passage through the subalpine scrub {Olearia 

 Colensoi), and over "Dry Camp" (a ridge where all the trees have been 

 blown down, and lie inextricably mixed) — incidents which bring home in a 

 very human manner the feebleness of language, upon occasion, to express 

 one's thoughts. 



Avoiding all tracks leading to the right, from a fear of entering the 

 dreaded portion of the Otaki Gorge above the Forks camp, we strike the 

 Waiotauru rather farther to the south than we intended. Here we eat 

 our remaining provisions as the dusk rapidly deepens into night. Although 

 only a few more miles remain, they are among the most trying of the trip. 

 The bush track is deeper than our boot-tops in mud, the night is dark, and 

 a stump of candle soon burns out. It is not until 11.30 p.m. that we reach 

 the cottage of Mr. Murraj', at the Gorge Settlement, where, after being 

 mistaken for burglars, we are hospitably sheltered for the night. 



Plants seen in the Valley of the Pakuratahi, 



Clematis indivisa, Drimys axillaris, Cardamine hirsuta, Melicytus rami- 

 florus, Pittosporiwi tenuijolium, Stellaria parviflora, Plagianthus betulinus, 

 Aristotelia raceniosa, Elceocarpus dentatus, Coriaria ruscifolia (tree-tutu or 

 tupakihi), Pennantia corymhosa, Carmichaelia odorata, Rubus australis, R. 

 schmidelioides, Carpodetiis serratus, Weinmannia racemosa (towhai), Myrtus 

 pedunculata, Metrosideros ftorida, M. hypcrici folia, M. Colensoi, M. scandens, 

 Epilohium junceum var. macro phyllum {E. erectmn, D.P.), E. pubens, E. 

 rotundijoJium. E. nummularijoUum, Fuchsia excorticata, Panax arboreum, 

 Schefflera digitata, Pseudopanax crassifolium, Coprosma grandiflora, C. lucida, 

 0. robusta, C. fostidissima, C. Colensoi, C. microcarpa, Olearia Cunning- 

 hamii, Gnaphalium luteo-album, Erecktites prenanthoides, Brachyglottis re- 

 panda. Leucopogon fasciculatus, Myrsine salicina, Olea montana, Parsonsia 

 capsularis, Muehlenbeckia australis, Hedycarya dentata, Beilschmiedia tawa, 

 Knightia excelsa, Loranthus Colensoi, Urtica incisa, Fagus fusca, Podocarpus 

 ferrugineus (miro). P. dacrydioides (kahikatea), Dacrydium cupressinum 

 (rimu), Earina autumnalis, Gahnia setifolia, G. pauciflora, Mierolcena avenacea, 

 Lihertia ixioides, Rhipogonum scandens, Astelia nervosa, Dianella intermedia. 



