Cheeseman. — On the Flora of the North Cape District. 361 



1839, and was also noticed by the Eev. E. Taylor and others 

 of the early travellers and explorers ; but the first actual 

 record of its occurrence in New Zealand was given by Mr. 

 Kirk in the "Transactions of the New Zealand Institute " for 

 1868. It was once comparatively plentiful in Spirits Bay, but 

 the introduction of cattle, and frequent fires, have now pretty 

 ■well exterminated it. The few plants we noticed have been 

 preserved only on account of their growing in a swamp too wet 

 to be crossed by cattle or easily burnt. Fortunately it still 

 lingers in other parts of the North Cape peninsula, but it is 

 much to be feared that its ultimate extinction is only a ques- 

 tion of time. Naturalised plants were abundant in the Maori 

 cultivations, the most interesting being Sisyrinchium micran- 

 tJium, which has not been previously recorded from New 

 Zealand. 



Immediately to the eastward of Kapowairua, and lying 

 between it and Tom Bowline's Bay, is a rough and rugged 

 district mainly composed of basaltic conglomerate. Curious 

 peaked and dome- shaped hills are abundant, and everywhere 

 huge masses of basaltic rock protrude from the surface. The 

 highest peak, Uruwhao, has an altitude of 995ft., but several 

 other summits almost equal it. One known by the name of 

 Hairoa is remarkable from possessing a curious vault or cave 

 near the summit, from which the surrounding country can be 

 viewed. It is mentioned by Dieffenbach, and is sure to 

 attract the attention of all travellers. A branch of the Kapo- 

 wairua rises almost at the foot of this hill, and, flowing 

 through a narrow gorge, drops abruptly on to the flat below by 

 a pretty little waterfall of about 30ft. in height. That portion 

 of the gorge just above the fall is most picturesque. The 

 little stream winds among huge rocks of all sizes and shapes 

 piled together in the wildest confusion. The sides of the 

 valley are precipitous and wall-like, here and there worn into 

 hollows and small caves. One of the chief burial-places of 

 the Aopuri Tribe is said to be concealed somewhere in the 

 recesses of this valley, which is hence held as extremely tapu 

 by the Maoris. The vegetation is principally light bush, the 

 chief trees being the pohutukawa, puriri, tarairi, Dysoxylum, 

 Leptospermum ericoides, Pittosporum umbellatuvi, HoJieria, 

 Sophora, Alectryon, and Olcaria angulata. In sheltered nooks 

 by the side of the stream were large masses of Colcnsoa, its 

 pretty blue flowers giving it a very attractive appearance. 

 Clumps of Todea hymenopihylloides were seen, but no Hymeno- 

 phylla or Trichomanes. To the north and east of Uruwhao 

 and Hairoa is quite an extensive area covered with light forest, 

 apparently mainly composed of the trees mentioned above; 

 but time would only allow us to examine a small portion. 

 Still further to the eastward, and stretching as far as Tom 



