TONGARIRO NATIONAL PARK.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 125, 19 February 1908, Page 9

TONGARIRO NATIONAL PARK.

-'FLORA AND FAUNA. THE EXTIiS'CT. ■. j; : (BT . TBUMRArH—Sr«OIAfc I, COBRXSPOHDXNT.) • I v /,'Ch r istchut-cK," February 18." , ; Dr. Cockayiio, who. is engaged on a geographical and botanical survey of the Tongariro .National Park, ' returned to Christchurch on Sunday to -rest, ;aslho.' liad injured ono of his knees in 'orossing a river, and was prevented,therefore,- from carrying l on his work. • ! Speaking to:a- 11 Press'.' reporter, .Dr. Cockayne said that from. tho. biological point of View.tho 'deserts.—.for they wero veritable deserts, consisting,'of .cinders or'volcanic an oxtrpmoly interesting featuro of the park. Thero was a vegetation peculiar t/O tho . deserts, and tho, ,bnsh scenery was without its liko in New Zealand. ■ v Birds are ..very - abundant - in . tho forests, and tho whitehead, reported by tho-lato Sir Walter..Buller to, bo oxtiuct.in Now Zoaland, is. extremely'.plentiful..-.. Tho , most common bird is tho: litt-lo ,busli wren..-:iStrango -to say,, a sea bird, tho well-known mutton bird is-found in great numbers, making its'nest ill-.tho looso debris on tho banks of tho rivers.- •

...'Dr-' Cockayno's. camp;is- situated - just in the shade, of Ngauruhoo, which at present is extremely quiet,, although at times clouds of steam nso, from itscrater,,- and oxplosivo noises are heard- almost-daily, : Tho : Red Crator on Tongariro is still very lively! and its rumblings can bo easily heard at a distance of, a mile.