It presents the main erosion problems of the Kaweka, which are not only man-made but are complicated by extensive fault systems. In these erosion patterns there are particularly interesting features of regeneration and stabilization. The most baffling ecological problem is that of the relationships of this area with the Ruahine Range in the south and with the Ahimanawa and Kaimanawa ranges in the north and west, but the first step towards solving this—viz., the reconstruction of the pre-European vegetation, cannot be taken with any confidence on account of the profound alterations that have taken place over the past 80 years. The “hills covered with black birch; principally dead” of the early map (the one here referred to as “Bousefield's map”) are written evidence of their pre-European state, and suggest a retreating mountain beech forest like that of the upper levels of the Ruahine Range, and, as has already been pointed out, unlike that of the Kaimanawa and the rest of the Kaweka. It may be significant that the boundary between this area and the Central Kaweka coincides approximately with the edge of the charred wood underlying ash showers—i.e., with the limit of complete destruction of pre-Taupo vegetation by hot ash. At any rate, except at one point at the head of the Tutaekuri, near the boundary of the area, there is no evidence of the high timber line (c. 4,800ft) characteristic of the Central Kaweka. Existing forest, and logs indicating former forest, do not generally occur above about 4,500ft, thus following the Ruahine pattern. Considerable areas of forest have been burnt and replaced by grassland, Celmisia meadow, or talus slopes within the last 80 years, but even so it seems doubtful that the forest was continuous before that. A further problem is the status of red beech in this area. At the present day its occurrence is sporadic and confined to favourable and sheltered situations. But logs of this species occur in areas where burning has been followed by the regeneration of pure mountain beech stands; and where the two species co-exist hybrids are numerous. These facts indicate that red beech was formerly more widespread. It is doubtful, however, that it was universally present in its appropriate zone. Red beech becomes sporadic towards the northern extremity of the Ruahine Range, and is absent from a large area of forest on the eastern side of the Kaimanawa Range. The distribution of red beech at the southern end of the Kaweka Range appears to have some affinity with this pattern. As a satisfactory description of the area as a whole is impossible, observations have been made on the following subdivisions: Kaweka Crest. Kaweka Trig (5,657ft) is the highest point on the broad undulating four-mile crest of the range. Most of the surface is exposed, a waste of rock fragments with a scattered open vegetation, but sheltered hollows carry a closed cover of Danthonia flavescens, and occasional hummocks of pumice carrying a closer vegetation point to a former more extensive covering of soil. An extensive fire was recorded on the range in the drought of 1879, and this appears to have run well down into the beech on the western spurs; the steep eastern scarp is largely bare of vegetation and traces of fire are frequent. Caps of pumice soil carrying a closed cover of snowgrass and with tongues extending down steep slopes and undercut by the action of frost, wind, and water are characteristic of this face. On the open tops wind terracing and frost striping, developed on a large scale, are reminiscent of the Kaimanawa Range. In an area with so large a proportion of open ground, such low-growing alpine plants as can maintain themselves and advance on to bare patches are of especial importance. At the highest altitude on lichened and comparatively stable rock fragments Phyllachne colensoi is abundant; various alpine species later secure a foothold on its peaty mounds. From the banks separating wind terraces and frost-heaved ground, the sprawling Dracophyllum recurvum, associated with Dacrydium laxifolium and celmisias