CHAP. XIII.] HILLS NEAR KAITAIA. 219 



the interior of the country, are wooded, and only a 

 lew miles from Kaitaia they are covered with kauri- 

 forest. Near the entrance to Rangaunu Bay are 

 very fine groves of this valuable tree, mixed with 

 tanekaha, rata, towai, and other excellent timber- 

 trees. An arm of the sea, which is joined here by 

 a fresh-water creek, the Mangake, and which flows 

 through a considerable extent of forest, affords faci- 

 lities for floating the timber down, or for establish- 

 ing saw-mills. 



The alluvial land, as already observed, is for the 

 most part fit for immediate cultivation : the herds of 

 cattle and horses belonging to the missionaries are 

 in excellent condition, and show that there is a suffi- 

 ciency of pasturage. 



In the neighbourhood of the mission-station there 

 is found a white, hard, and very closely-grained 

 sandstone, which would prove an excellent building- 

 stone. 



The hills near the western coast, on the left bank 

 of the Awaroa, consist of basaltic masses, of rounded 

 forms and of moderate height. They are covered 

 with a mixed forest ; no kauri is found there ; and 

 all the land to the westward of the Awaroa must be 

 considered as excellent, notwithstanding its hilly 

 character. The hills on the right bank, which ex- 

 tend through the interior of the island, are com- 

 posed of a soft argillaceous slate, reposing upon a base 

 of hard volcanic rock,' phonolithe, or clinkstone. 

 Where the clay stone and the phonolithe are in con- 



