CHAP. XX.] AUCKLAND. 279 



slightly undulating, and forms small bays, which 

 open towards the harbour, and are partially wooded 

 at the bottom. The rest is covered with high fern 

 and manuka. In the immediate neighbourhood of 

 Auckland there is no wood, but opposite to it a 

 small stripe of kauri and other forest-trees near the 

 sea-shore has escaped the general conflagration by 

 which the greater part of the former woods has 

 evidently been destroyed. From this spot the town 

 is provided with timber and firewood. All this land 

 is bad, as is also that at the head of the harbour ; 

 but the soil is much better in the immediate neigh- 

 bourhood of Auckland, and thence towards Manu- 

 kao, and to the eastward, where it is fit for all kind 

 of horticultural and agricultural purposes. 



One feature which contributes to the beauty of 

 the scenery around Auckland is the pohutukaua- 

 trees which line the coast, and which, about Christ- 

 mas, are decked with purple flowers ; but, unfortu- 

 nately, one after another these beautiful trees are 

 cut down, and thus the naked sandstone cliffs are 

 laid bare, although these trees in no way interfere 

 with architectural or commercial improvements. 



Auckland is well supplied with fresh water, not 

 only by the small water- runs in the valleys, but also 

 by springs, from which it is readily obtained by dig- 

 ging a few feet below the surface. 



Several volcanic cones rise in the immediate neigh- 

 bourhood of the town, at the base of which hard 

 scoriae for buildings and roads can be obtained, and 



