22 



THE FOREST OF THE WAITAKEREI RANGE. 



The nearest locality to Auckland where a really characteristic 

 example of the indigenous vegetation can be seen is the Waitakerei 

 Range, distant about fifteen miles in a westerly direction, 

 forms 'a much broken and dissected plateau about twenty-two miles 

 in length with a width of eight or ten, its average elevation being 

 about 1,000 ft. On the eastern side it rises gradually from the low 

 undulating country through which the northern trunk railway runs, 

 but on the western side drops very abruptly into the Pacific Ocean, 

 the sea-cliffs ranging in height from 400 ft. to 800 ft. The central 

 portion of the plateau is occupied by two streams : one, 

 Nihotapu, flowing southwards into the Manukau Harbour ; the 

 other the Waitakerei, pursuing a northerrt course for several miles 

 and then turning abruptly to the westward and discharging into 

 the sea. Both these streams descend from the plateau by waterfalls 

 of considerable height, that on the Waitakerei measuring 373 ft. 



At the commencement of European settlement the whole plateau 

 was covered with dense and luxuriant forest, and a considerabl 

 part of the central and western portions are still untouched, 

 eastern slopes have suffered severely, and in some places are 

 denuded almost to the summit. The commonest tree is the tawa 

 (Beilschmiedia tawa}, which probably forms three-fifths of the forest 

 Other common species are the rata (Metrosideros robusta), the 

 tangeao (Litsaea calicaris), and the rewarewa (Knightia excelsa}. 

 Large forests of the kauri (Agathis australis) formerly existed on 

 the eastern slopes, but practically the whole of these have been 

 cut down A considerable quantity still remains in the central 

 and western parts of the district, and, as the first of these is now 

 reserved, much may yet escape destruction. The red-pine, or 

 rimu (Dacrydium cupressinum], is still comparatively plentii 

 few species like Pittosporum Kirkii, Drimys axillans, and Ixerba 

 brexioides are confined to the higher part of the plateau 

 undergrowth is chiefly composed of Alseuosmia macrophylla, 

 supplejack (Rhipogonum scandens), kiekie (Freycinetia Banksn), anc 

 various species of Astelia and Gahnia. Ferns are abundant, espe- 

 cially in the deep and narrow gullies, where the Hymenophyllaceae 

 are particularly well represented. In the higher central valley 

 the ground is carpeted with mosses and Hepaticae, particularly 

 of the genera Hypnum, Isothecium, Hypopterygium, Plagiochila, an 

 Gottschaea. 



Altogether the Waitakerei Range affords an excellent illustrate 

 of the forest of northern New Zealand, and is well worth a visit. 



T. F. CHEESEMAN. 



THE KAURI FOREST. 



The kauri pine (Agathis australis}, the most noble and impressive 

 of the forest-trees of New Zealand, and one with few equals in other 

 countries, has a limited range, being confined to the district between 

 the North Cape and a line drawn from Tauranga Harbour on t 



