818 Transactions. — Botany. 



running northwards forms the Hakarimata mountains opposite to Ngarua- 

 wahia, and at its lowest pomt, near Whatawhata, is crossed by the road 

 leading from the Waipa to Eaglan. The southern range ultimately sinks 

 into the limestone plateau, between the Waipa and Mokau rivers and the 

 western coast. From the mountain itself numerous spurs and ridges radiate 

 in all directions, separated by deep and, in many places, precipitous ravines, 

 These are all occupied by mountain-streams, some of them being of con- 

 siderable size. Those flowing from the eastern and southern sides of the 

 mountain drain into the Waipa ; those rising on the north-western flank 

 form the source of the Waitetuna, discharging into Whaingaroa harbour ; 

 while all those which spring from the western and south-western sides flow 

 into some of the many inlets of Kawhia harbom'. Standing on the top of 

 the peak overlooking Alexandra, the summit of the mountain is seen to be 

 almost split in twain by an immense chasm, over a thousand feet in depth, 

 probably representing an old crater with its outer edge broken down. A 

 similar, but smaller, chasm exists on the southern face of the mountain, 

 and, if Maori report is to be trusted, also on the western side. The separating 

 ridges are in many places little more than sharp-edged walls of solid rock, 

 rising here and there into domes and peaks, and now and then sinking into 

 comparatively low saddles. A peak on the western side is the highest on 

 the mountain, but several of the other summits almost equal it in height. 



The whole of the mountain proper is covered with luxuriant forest ; but 

 between its base and the Waipa river there exists a narrow strip of open 

 country, low, fern-clad hills, varied here and there with swampy gullies, and 

 supporting a uniform and somewhat scanty vegetation. Pteris, Leptosper- 

 vnmi, and Pomaderris are the most abundant plants. Coriaria, Gaultheria, 

 Leuco-pogon, Ejnlohimn, Haloragis, are all commonly met with ; in fact, the 

 facies of the vegetation is precisely that of the tertiary clay hills in the 

 immediate vicinity of Auckland. The swamps contain the usual dense 

 growth of Typha, Cladium, ScJicenus, and Carex. A rather local species of 

 the latter genus (C inversa) was noticed in one or two localities. Among 

 naturalized plants Htjpericum perforatum was seen in some quantity. It 

 may be remarked, in passing, that this species is spreading rapidly through 

 the Waikato district, and threatens to become a troublesome weed. At 

 Matamata, in the Thames valley, some old pastures have been completely 

 overrun with it. 



Entering the forest, the ascent of the mountain is fairly commenced, 

 though for a considerable distance the rise is very gradual. Here our guide 

 pointed out to us the old camping ground — only a few yards distant from 

 the track — where, a few years back, the unfortunate Mr. Todd was murdered 

 by the Maoris while sleeping in his whare. The forest is at first almost 



