256 FORESTRY IX NEW ZEALAND. 



The area of plain surface in New Zealand is not large, but the 

 plains are agriculturally the most important districts of the 

 country, the largest being Canterbury plains, on the eastern side 

 of South Island. The plains consist of material brought down 

 from the mountains by the rivers. 



The coasts provide comparatively few harbours, and little 

 shelter to shipping. They are generally not steep, and fringed 

 throughout great distances by sand or gravel beaches. 



The rivers of New Zealand are not large, owing to the limited 

 size of the islands, especially in breadth. In South Island, the 

 main watershed is comparatively close to the west coast, so that 

 the rivers flowing to the east have much longer courses than those 

 running to the west, the latter being generally mountain torrents. 

 In North Island, owing to the lesser height of the mountains, the 

 rivers have generally more gentle grades. 



There are three classes of lakes, those of the glaciated district, 

 the volcanic country, and lagoons near the sea coast. 



Great differences seem to exist as regards the stratigraphical 

 geology of New Zealand. Schists, sandstone and shales are the 

 principal mountain rocks of the country. The oldest rocks are 

 found in the south-west of South Island and in Stewart Island ; 

 they are gneisses. 



2. Climate. 



The main features of the New Zealand climate are the equable 

 temperature due to insular position, the uniform rainfall at nearly 

 all seasons of the year, and the large amount of sunshine. At the 

 same time, there are considerable differences in the several parts 

 of the Dominion, due to latitude, elevation above the sea, the 

 local configuration of the country, the prevailing winds, &c. The 

 mean annual temperature of Auckland is given as 59 degrees, and 

 that of Dunedin, which is 13 degrees further south, as 50, a 

 difference of 9 degrees, due to the difference in latitude. The 

 temperature at WeUington, situated about half way between the 

 other two stations, is given as 55. The difference between the 

 east and west coasts is small, and those between the mean maxima 

 and minima are much smaller than those prevaihng in England. 



The rainfall seems to be much affected by a succession of 

 cyclones travelling from west to east. Nearly all parts of the 



