344 Transactions. — Botany. 



Ejnlobhmi 2^c(-^i'i(^^floriim, Myriophylhim varicefolmm, Hydro- 

 cotyle asiatica, and H. novce-zealandice. were all abundant. 

 Near the margin of the lake extensive patches of Glossostigma 

 and LimoscUa were observed. I learnt with surprise that 

 large quantities of kauri gum had been obtained from the 

 swamp and from the bed of the lake, the diggers being princi- 

 jDally Maoris. In the lake (which is very shallow throughout) 

 it was obtained by diving from canoes ; but in the swamp a 

 somewhat curious method was followed. The swamp was 

 first sounded with long gum-spears, quite 15ft. in length, until 

 a large piece of gum was felt. A pointed iron-rod, with 2ft. 

 or 3ft. of its lower end furnished with projecting barbs, was 

 then forced into the swamp and moved about until the barbs 

 became embedded in the gum. Another rod was then fixed in 

 a similar manner to the other side. The rods were then 

 drawn out simultaneously, usually bringing the gum with 

 them. I was informed that the smaller lakes and swamps 

 situated to the north of Tongonge also contain plentiful 

 deposits of gum. 



The kauri-tree never grows in low and swampy situations, 

 hence the presence of large quantities of gum in such localities 

 incontestably proves that great changes have taken place in 

 the physical features of the district. When the country 

 between Kaitaia and Eangaunu Harbour was covered with 

 kauri forests the land must have stood at a much higher 

 level, in order to provide free and rapid drainage to the sea. 

 This period of elevation, though recent in a geological sense, 

 is by no means so in the ordinary acceptance of the term, for 

 it was evidently prior to the foundation of the great bulwark 

 of sandhills stretching along the western coast from Ahipara 

 to Cape Maria van Diemen. Even the older and more con- 

 solidated sandhills can be seen to overlie the swampy 

 deposits containing gum ; and, besides that, they could not 

 have been formed in their present position when the land 

 occupied a much higher level ; or, in other words, came into 

 existence only when the period of elevation had passed and 

 the land had sunk to somewhat near its present level. 



Proceeding in the direction of Ahipara, the road traverses 

 a stretch of low-lying country mostly covered with tall 

 LeptosjJcrnmm, mixed with Cordyline and PJiormium, and 

 with an occasional undergrowth of Pteris incisa and Ilyjjolepis 

 tenuifolia. Veronica elongata was picked in several places, 

 mixed with such plants as Epilohiuni rotundifolium, Hyperictim 

 japonicnm, Mentha, Callitriche, &c. The inland form of 

 Pasp)alxim distichiim was abundant in some half-dry ditches 

 by the roadside. At Waiake we passed some abandoned 

 cultivations completely overrun with dog-roses and sweet- 

 briar, interspersed with clumps of Alhizzia lojjhantha. 



