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Transacfio/if 



that the drainage from the moimtains went in the direction of the present 

 Rangitaiki. When this took place the series of lakes were in existence to 

 Avhich reference has been made. The whole of the Taupo comitry to the 

 north was in process of being fornied. It can be readily luiderstood that 

 swamp-areas would likely be formed within an area that had already been 

 subject to volcanic forces. 



From the hotel on the left bank of the Rangitaiki. Taupo Road, to 

 Lake Taupo is twenty-three miles. A reference to fig. 1 will show that 



Fig. 2. — Sketch-map of Lake TArrpo. 



the plateau between the hotel and the lake presents two distinct areas of 

 drainage. The entire area after passing a range of low bush-clad hills on 

 the left is a mass of pumice of unlaiown depth, interspersed here and there 

 with volcanic grit, magnetic iron, sand, and angular and rounded pieces of 

 heavy rhyolite-andesite lavas that suggest water carriage without much 

 wearing, because bedding is traceable in the pumice w^herever washaways 

 occur. 



From the 80th to the 85th milestone the country to the south-east and 

 north-west presents a high ridge, and this constitutes the line of separation 



