CHAP. XIV.] LAURISTON BAY. 225 



colours, and varying in point of hardness, and this 

 rock seems to be everywhere the lowermost, and to 

 compose the greater bulk of the mountain, having 

 in its formation variously acted upon and changed 

 the covering argillaceous rock. Both on the east- 

 ern and western coast other kinds of rocks may be 

 seeil) marly limestone, marble, in junction with 

 slates, conglomerates, sandstones, and lignite, of 

 which I shall have occasion to speak more fully 

 when describing the places in which they occur. 

 The flat alluvial land extending on the right shore 

 of the Awaroa to Rangaunu Bay is separated from 

 Lauriston Bay by an offset from this hilly ridge, 

 which juts out into the sea, and forms Kari Kari, or 

 Knuckle Point. These hills are low, covered in 

 some places with a little wood, in others with fern. 

 The first place which claims our attention in Lau- 

 riston Bay is Oruru, where a river, which takes its 

 rise on the eastern slope of Maunga Taniwa, and 

 which can be entered by a boat, empties itself into 

 the sea. On both sides of this river is excellent 

 level and clear land, which rises slowly towards 

 Maunga Taniwa. Oruru is separated by low hills 

 covered with a stiff white clay and a scanty vegeta- 

 tion from a similar valley, eight miles to the north- 

 ward, and out of which another river runs into the 

 sea. The road from Oruru into the harbour of 

 Mango-nui leads over a succession of steep hills and 

 narrow fertile ravines. The distance is about ten 

 miles. 



VOL. I. Q 



