Cheeseman. — 0)1 the Flora of the North Cape District. 337 



especially on the western side, where they form a continuous 

 belt stretching from Ahipara to within a short distance of 

 Cape Maria van Diemen. Both the swampy deposits and 

 the consolidated sandhills contain large quantities of kauri 

 gum, which for several years has given employment to a con- 

 siderable number of gum-diggers. 



The arrangement and mode of formation of these Eecent 

 deposits show that the northern extremity of New Zealand 

 has been subjected to considerable fluctuations of level since 

 the close of the Tertiary period. Before the formation of the 

 older sand-dunes the greater portion was under water. The 

 high land at the southern side of the entrance to Doubtless 

 Bay was then the North Cape of New Zealand, and from it a 

 shallow sea stretched westwards to Ahipara and northwards 

 beyond the present North Cape. The hills at Cape Karakara, 

 now constituting the north-west side of Doubtless Bay, pro- 

 bably formed one or two little islands in this sea. Further 

 north Mount Camel stood out as another island ; while be- 

 tween Parengarenga and the North Cape quite a little archi- 

 pelago existed. Still further to the north the Three Kings 

 Islands probably reared their higher peaks above water. 

 This period of depression was followed by elevation, and 

 elevation to such an extent that the land stood much above 

 its present level, and probably extended as far as the Three 

 Kings. Magnificent kauri forests covered most of the country, 

 flourishing where now nothing but swamp and lake exist. 

 Then the land sank to somewhere near its present level, and 

 the first line of sandhills was formed — now consolidated and 

 covered with vegetation. Then, after a considerable pause, 

 and possibly after a still further slight subsidence, the 

 younger sandhills came into existence, and the country gradu- 

 ally assumed its present aspect. 



The exploration of the district naturally commences at 

 Mangonui Harbour, where the traveller disembarks after his 

 day and a half's voyage from Auckland. It is situated at the 

 south-eastern corner of Doubtless Bay, with which it commas 

 nicates by a narrow channel barely more than quarter of a 

 mile in width. The township stands on the southern side of 

 this channel, and consists of a narrow street following the 

 sinuosities of the shore. The harbour is perfectly land-locked, 

 and is surrounded by low clay hills devoid of bush, and 

 covered with a stunted growth of Leptospcrmum and Ptcris. 



Many naturalised plants were observed in the township. 

 Immediately after leaving the wharf one's gaze was arrested 

 by large patches of the cardoon (Cynara cardunculus) growing 

 5ft. or 6ft. in height, and forming a mass of prickly vegetation 

 impenetrable to man or beast. The local authorities ought to 

 extirpate it; for, judging from its phenomenal increase in 

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