263 



extend. The highest ascertained limit above sea level of the forest is 3500 

 feet. 



The comparatively dry interior districts, extending principally between the 

 Clutha and Waitaki Rivers, have no forests. There have been, however, 

 forests in the interior districts at one time, for the charred trunks of trees are 

 still found on the Rock and Pillar Range, and on the Waitaki side of the 

 Kurow Mountains. In the Lake Districts, similar evidence of a greater 

 extension of forest is also found. The apparent cause of the anniliilation has 

 been fire, but it is qiiite probable that natural causes may also have operated. 



If we examine any of the forests on the East Coast in their natural state, 

 and before a litter of rejected timber and branches has accumulated in them, 

 it seems difficiilt to imagine that a fire could make its way through them. 

 But the forests in the Lake Districts, and generally in high altitudes, are free 

 from the tangled undergrowth of the East Coast forests. In place of it the 

 soil has a covering of foggage and moss, often a foot deep. In a dry season 

 this readily ignites, and as it smoulders rathers than burns, the work of 

 destruction is very sure over the surface the fire extends. In this way a 

 portion of the forest in the Te Anau District was destroyed some years ago by 

 a grass fire kindling the foggage. 



The Maoris frequently traversed the forests of the Lake Districts in their 

 hunting excursions, and no doubt their fires would cause the destruction of 

 parts of the forest from time to time. 



Speaking of the Lake Districts in a general manner, it may be observed 

 that, considering the extent of agricultural, pastoral, and forest land that 

 abounds in them, their mineral products, their delightful climate, and extent 

 of inland navigation, they have within their own borders all the main elements 

 that render communities prosperous and floui-ishing. 



Art. XLVIII. — On the Sand Hills, or Dunes, in the neighoourhood of 

 Dunedin. By P. Thomson. 



{Read before the Otago Institute, May 31, 1870.] 



These sub-aerial formations in this vicinity are very extensive, and pi-esent a 

 series of phenomena of a very interesting character. It is not the intention 

 of the writer to go very deeply into the causes of these phenomena, but to give 

 a few rambling notes descriptive of the present appearances of the dunes, which 

 may perhaps serve as data for future observations. These may be divided into 

 three heads : — first, their locality j second, their extent ; and third, the rate at 

 which they are progressing, if it can be made out. 



Beginning with those to the south, beyond Green Island^ we find that at 

 the Brighton end of the beach, where the schistose rocks crop out above the 



