TONGARIRO NATIONAL PARK.

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XXXIII, Issue 9079, 20 February 1908, Page 8

TONGARIRO NATIONAL PARK.

FLORA AND FAUNA. Press Association. F Christchurch, February 18. £ Dr. Cockayne, who is engaged on a geographical'and botanical survey of the Tongariro National Park, returned to Christchurch on Sunday to rest, as he had injured one of his knees in crossing a river, and was prevented, therefore, from carrying on his work. Speaking to a Press reporter, Dr. Cockayne said that from the biological point of view the deserts—for they were veritable deserts, consisting of cinders ’or volcanic sand—were an extremely interesting feature of the|park. There was a vegetation peculiar to the deserts, and the bush scenery was without its like in New Zealand. Birds are very abundant in the forest, and the whitehead, reported by the late Sir Walter Duller to he extinct in New Zealand, is extremely plentiful. The most common bird is the little bush wren. Strange to say, a sea bird, the well-known mutton bird, is found in great numbers, making its nest in the loose debris ou the banks of the rivers.

Dr. Cockayne’s camp is situated just in the shade of Ngauruhoe, which at present is extremely quiet, although at times clouds of steam rise from its crater, and explosive noises are heard almost daily. The Red Grater on Tongariro is still very lively, and its rumblings can be easily heard at a distance of a mile.