190 Report of the Commissioners on the 
luxuriance and beauty according as we ascended, having 
climbed for two miles over dislocated granite rocks and fallen 
trees, and through dense scrub, we came in upon the river, 
where it formed a magnificent cascade, the water falling over 
immense granite rocks for a height of fifty feet, the sides of the 
stream being formed of granite blocks, in the interstices of 
which the tree-ferns grew in the greatest luxuriance, forming 
a scene of great beauty. In this lovely spot we rested under 
the shade of the tree-ferns, and having tasted the water were 
surprised at its extreme coldness. We continued our ascent 
up the stream, sometimes forcing our way through dense scrub 
and climbing from rock to rock; the stream gradually decreas- 
ing in volume, being fed from its sides by small supplies of 
water, which we observed frequently ousing out from a dense 
spongy mass composed of tree-fern roots and other vegetable 
matter, on the surface and in the interstices of the granite. We 
at length arrived at the summit, which is near that of Mount 
Disappointment, where there was still a very slight stream 
flowing in a small gully, on apparently table land, where it 
turned to the left. 
Having thus traced up the eastern arm of the River 
Plenty to its principal source, we beg to offer the following 
opinion as to the mode by which that source is fed :— 
The eastern arm of the River Plenty, taking its rise near 
the summit of Mount Disappointment, flows over a granite 
bed down a deep gully, the sides of which are composed of 
immense granite blocks, the surfaces of which are covered 
and the interstices filled with a mass of spongy vegetable 
matter, capable of retaining a large quantity of water, and . 
giving it out slowly. The natural fissures of the granite 
serve the same purpose of storing the water, which was 
proved by its intense coldness on a very hot day. 
This description appears to be the general character of the 
Ranges, and coincides with Mr. Hodgkinson’s report on the 
source of the western arm. 
We therefore, conclude, that as these interstices and fissures 
store an immense body of water obtained from rainfalls, and 
a moisture from clouds that are attracted over, and lie upon 
Mount Disappointment, they hence constitute the original 
and only constant source of supply to the River Plenty. 
The summer supply of the Plenty is derived wholly from 
these sources, excepting after heavy rains, as it was evident 
that it received no surface drainage whatever, when we 
measured its discharge, but was solely supplied by its eastern 
arm which led from one of the sources. The discharge of 
