for instance in the Oamaru Valley after one heavy snowfall with high wind in July, 1954. In stands of induced pole beech at higher altitudes localized damage may be severe, poles being snapped, uprooted, or bent into hoops. This has been observed both in narrow bands along a contour and also in basins with an easterly aspect. Damage in the former case appears to be due to exceptional ice formation, probably followed by heavy snowfall. One such belt was observed in the Cook's Horn Basin in the winter of 1936, and a second, more extensive one some time between 1940 and 1943. Similar damage had occurred near Kiwi Saddle prior to 1938; but the second type of snow break, apparently due to wet snow lodging on lee slopes in southwesterly gales, did equally spectacular damage in the hollow just north of Kiwi Saddle in September, 1956, where several acres of pole timber have been almost completely destroyed (Fig. 4). This particular snowfall appears to have been responsible for widespread damage, not only in pole timber, from Kiwi Saddle north-west at least as far as Otutu Bush. History The Kaweka, like the Kaimanawa Range, forms a block of high country with comparatively low easy country surrounding it on all sides. Consequently the Maori principal routes lay on its margins, the ranges themselves being penetrated only by hunters, traditionally hunting for kiwi, which are frequent in both ranges at the present day. The Mohaka and Oamaru Valleys form a main route to the interior, and some settlements along this route persisted into European times. The settlements, Otorehinanui and Ngaawapurua, according to tradition, lay off this route: they were probably refuges, or at most lay on a minor route. Another main route into the interior ran through the Kuripapango Gap along the general line of the present Inland Patea Road. Fragments of obsidian have been picked up at two points in the Oamaru Valley and also on the Black Birch Range, on the line of traditional routes. Recorded information dates from 1851, and refers almost entirely to the southeastern part of the area. In 1851 Colenso crossed to the Inland Patea by the Ngaruroro-Kuripapango route. “Bousefield's Map” (but see note under reference) bears the legend against the Southern Kaweka, “Hills covered with black birch; principally dead”. Colenso similarly notes at Kuripapango, “Tawai (Fagus) forests which formerly covered several of the nooks and crests of the mountainous hills and cliffs having been withered and destroyed”. The Kaweka Reserve (50,000 acres) was bought by the Crown in 1859 and the Mangatainoka Block (17,000 acres) in 1875. The central forest block (roughly the “Area 2” of this paper) was gazetted State Forest in 1900. About 1905 the pastoral runs (the main range and the eastern approaches) were mustered off and lay derelict till 1940, when they were added to the existing State Forest. In the 1950's further marginal areas totalling over 20,000 acres were added, to give a total area of 127,000 acres of State Forest at the present day. Introduced Animals The first certain evidence of stocking is the record of the mustering of the main range and Blowhard in September, 1873, from Waiwhare, but stock may have been put on the northern part of the range a year or two earlier. The stock comprised merino wethers. Pig were already established on the Blowhard when stocking began, and were hunted regularly from 1875 onwards, so were wild dog. Rabbits first appeared a little after 1890 and reached their peak numbers about 1905, the densest infestation occurring in the southern part of the range, particularly