190 Eeport of the Commissioners on tile 



luxuriance and beauty according as we ascended, bavlng 

 climbed for two miles over dislocated granite rocks and tailen 

 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 ot the 

 stream being formed of granite blocks, in the interstices ot 

 which the tree-ferns grew in the greatest luxuriance, torming 

 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 ot 

 water, which we observed frequently ousing out from a dense 

 snono-y mass composed of tree-fern roots and other vegetable 

 matter, on the surface and in the interstices of the granite. W e 

 at leno-th arrived at the summit, which is near that ot 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. t?- 



Having thus traced up the eastern arm of the Kiyer 

 Plenty to its principal source, we beg to offer the followmg 

 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 ot 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 ot the 

 Ranges, and coincides with Mr. Hodgkinsons report on the 

 source of the Avestern 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 oyer, and lie upon 

 Mount Disappointment, they hence constitute die ouginal 

 and only constant source of supply to the River ? 6^*7- 



The summer supply of the Plenty is derived wholly from 

 these sources, excepting after heavy rams as it was evident 

 that it received no surface drainage whatever, when ..e 

 measured its discharge, but was solely supplied by its eastem 

 arm which led from one of the sources. The discharge ot 



