196 



Tranmctions. 



North-west from Ahipara the coast-line consists of a range of sand- 

 dunes, consolidated and recent, on the landward side of which are smaller 

 sand-dunes, among which are numerous small lakes and lagoons. Inland 

 from these are extensive peat-swamps, and farther inland firmer flat land, 

 subject to inundation during the heavy rains. From Ahipara southward 

 the coast-line is more rocky. The Tauroa Peninsula, which terminates in 

 Reef Point, is chiefly a series of elevated sand-dunes, rising to a height of 

 about 700 ft. From the Tauroa Plateau radiates a fanlike series of hills 

 towards the north and east. 



The first line of hills runs parallel with the coast, at an average distance 

 of five miles, from the Tauroa towards Awanui and Mangatete. There are 

 two breaks in this line— the Herekino Gorge, through which run a small 

 river and the road to Herekino ; and the Kaitaia Valley, which extends 

 towards the east, and branches into the Victoria, Takahue, and Fairburn 



Sketch-map of Part of Mangonui County. 

 f (Scale, twelve miles to an inch.) 



Valleys. The highest point in this range is Taumata Mahoe (1,881 ft.). 

 Between Kaitaia and Mangatete this high land spreads out, forming a table- 

 land at an elevation of about 600 ft. From this plateau ranges of hills run 

 through Fairburn towards Oruru and Mangonui, the highest point being 

 Kopu Okai, commonly known as Trig. 27 (1,063 ft.), a few miles from Fair- 

 burn. 



Eastward the county is broken but less elevated until M^e come to Raetea 

 (2,436 ft.), the highest point in the county ; from thence nms a range to 



