RAMBLES ROUND DUNEDIN. 203 



basalt, characterised by its deep reddish-brown tint and 

 more profuse surface vegetation. 



Before leaving this ridge to turn away to the ascent of 

 Flagstaff Hill, it is worth noting that the contour of the 

 country forming the background of Dunedin is probably 

 dxie to two chief agencies : first, .the lateral flows of lava, 

 perhaps alternating here and there with beds of ash ; and 

 second, the denuding action of water. The streams of 

 water flowing down to the harbour have cut down to the 

 rocks along the lines of least resistance, flowing in between 

 the sheets of lava in many cases, and in others across them, 

 according to the hardness and compactness of the rocks 

 met with. As already pointed out, this denuding action 

 has washed down the softer parts of the hills into the 

 harbour and formed the present flat. But as the area 

 of the town became settled and the surface was broken 

 by roads, cuttings, and excavations for houses, the rate 

 of denudation would increase. The amount of material 

 carried down into the bay by surface water is much greater 

 to-day than it was fifty years ago. AVe have only to stand 

 on Roslyn ridge on any day following heavy rain and look 

 at the colour of the water flowing out along the foreshore 

 to realise that one deluge of rain will sweep more mud 

 into the harbour than the dredge can take out in a year. 

 One is tempted when standing here and looking down to 

 the harbour to moralise on the rapid filling up which is 

 going on ; but the harbour will outlive our time, and I 

 must resist the temptation and carry you off to other 

 ground. 



Walking from Maori Hill to Halfway Bush, and from 

 thence by the summit of Flagstaff Hill to the crest of 

 Swampy Hill, we have on our right hand the various 

 tributary streams which flow into the Leith. The first 

 of these is known as Wakari, or School Creek, so called 

 because it rises behind the old school at Halfway Bush, 

 now known as the Church of the Good Shepherd. This 

 little stream flows into Ross's Creek a short distance below 

 the Reservoir. Its course used to be very beautiful, and its 

 thickly-wooded banks were favourable exploring grounds 



