From Parliamentary Papers.

Manawatu Herald, 27 October 1894, Page 2

From Parl iamentary Papers.

The Auckland Islands have but a brief geological history. They display evidences of volcanic origin. There are no traces of past forests. The native trees and* sTftubs^ are nowhere of an age beyond a few

hundred years. The trees, chiefly ironwood, that fringe much of the eastern 1 doast-HHei are of small dimensions, in few instances exceeding one foot in diameter. Above this belt, at an average height; of 250 yards, the country is open and well clothed with grasses peculiar to the islands, of o stout and succulent nature, together with the New Zealand tussock, and herbage of various kinds* Dhe whole of the country is adapted for jlastSral purposes, although undoubtedly wet and spongy over its general surface. Sea-lions frequent the coast-line, and go long distances inland. The climate is humid, but singularly equable. The condition of the sheep which have been landed at several ' places and at various times, rank high. There is sufficient country to depasture at once from 20,000 to 30,000 sheep and a fair proportion of cattle. On Enderby and Hose Islands rabbits swarm, they were introduced some forty years ago. Game is scarce, only a few flightless ducks and small wading birds were met with. On Adams Island is the breedingplace of the albatross and other sea birds, whose nests are placed on the highest ground. The extreme altitude of any of the land is under 2000 feet, the great bulk of it being from 100 feet to 1000 feet above sealevel. Looked at from seaward it is comparable to the best tracts of the east coast of New Zealand. Adams Island is fully equal to the main island for pastoral purposes. There is a complete severance between the fur seals and the sealions. The west coast of the Aucklands is the habitat of the fur seals, and the eastern inlets and harbours of the sea-lions. The sea-lion is a migratory animal, but the fur seal is a permanent resident of the isolated rookeries. Some of the rookeries are exceedingly difficult of access, either from landward by means of ropes or from seaward by boat. Sea lions were met with at nearly every point touched at among the Auoklands, and also at Campbell Island. At Eose Island ninety were counted on the beach, and among the scrub some hundreds of yards inland, There is certainly no reason to continuously protect the sea-lions. There is practically no danger of , their complete extermination, as they are migratory. Regarding the habits of the seals, it may be said that their time is divided pretty equally between fishing in the sea, and sleeping, or rather dozing, on the land. Un» gainly and sluggish in their movements ashore, no sooner do they enter the water than their whole structure seems to undergo an entire change. Without apparent effort they dart and dive with such arrowy swiftness that one has no difficulty in understanding how they may get their living by fishing, But their activity has rendered the finny-tribe scarce, and it would go hard with them at times if it were not for the teeming abundance of crabs of two kinds, one in shape resembling a gigantic spider, and the other a counterpart of the larger kind, common on the coasts of Great Britain. Of these, the sea-lion in a few dives of three or four minutes' duration can obtain enough to occupy his digestive powers till next day. It i 3 more than suspected that he occasionally varies his diet by preying upon penguins, and other sea-birds and their eggs. Where he goes in the winter months is thus far a mystery, but that it is to some islands or shaol waters in the further south there can be no question. Captain Fairchild considers it quite feasible to .follow the sea-lions and penguins on their journey, the latter more especially going in immense flocks, and swimming at a rate of from four to five miles an hour— a pace that even during the night would enable a steamer to keep within range of them.