account of a tree which had fallen across the road. This remarkable effect of the storm was only noticeable in the bottom of the valley through which the road ran, as on either side on the hills the trees seemed to have been blown irregularly, and in different directions.

To account for the regular disposition of the trees is not difficult, when we remember that the evidence of the survivors at the Wairoa shows that during the precipitation of the mud a terrible storm was blowing in their direction, from the direction of the valleys which lead down to the village from S.E. of W. This wind would find its easiest passage through the bush up the road which ran in the same direction in which it was travelling, until the pressure became so great that the tall trees abutting on the road, being unable to bear it, were precipitated in the same plane. Further evidence as to this as a cause is the precipitation of the mud on the trunks of the trees still left standing, but only on the S.E. side; while what few leaves of creepers are still left clinging to the trees are only noticeable on the N.W.

Advancing towards the Rotokakahi Lake, the mud deposits on the hill sides appear to be more liquid, and have run together, giving the hills a striped appearance. The steeper angle, and rocky nature of the ground admitting less absorption of the watery matter, is no doubt the cause of this, and will have a serious effect in regard to the future stability of the deposit. In the valley of the Wairoa the deposit is much deeper, and where it has drifted up against fences or trees must be from 5 to 7 feet in depth. At the time of our visit, however, Mr. Macrae's waggon was being dug out from where it had been buried while standing on the road, and there the depth from the surface of the deposit to the top of the old road was 2ft. 8in. Through this deposit were mixed fragments and masses of rock, much of it being scoria; while in some of the roofs of the houses were clearly discernible the holes which had been caused by the force with which these stones had descended. In one instance, we removed a stone which was still imbedded in the hole it had produced. Here, again, the deposit piled on the sides of houses, fences, and trees showed that the material must have been carried with great force in a northerly direction. (On the edge of the deposit in the direction of Ohinemutu it was interesting to note the effect of the mud and stones which had been precipitated on the vegetation, notably on the strong leaves of the tupaki, growing abundantly on the sides of the road. At first the leaves were only bespattered with mud, further on they were perforated by the small stones, still further on the fleshy portion had been beaten out, leaving only the midrib, while beyond this not a vestige of a leaf had been left on any of the bushes.) The bed of the Wairoa Stream was filled with mud,