Overview
Sun. June 30
Planted the wattles received from Mr Whitaker in bed in kitchen garden. Clif came over to breakfast. At 8.53 we set out in gig for Otaki to get altitude of inner margin of coastal plain at that point. Passed Ohau Rly [Railway] Station at 9.34, Manakau at 10.3 + reached Otaki Stn [Station] at 11.7am. Set aneroid at 45', 11.10am +droved back to + thenalongthe Waitohu Valley road, taking altitudes:- foot [of] gravel terrace 48', 11.15; top ditto 89', 11.16; corner Waitohu Val[ley] Road 103', 11.18; Waitohu Stream (water level) at road bridge 150', 11.25; foot [of] small terrace at bottom of conical hill 158', 11.28; top ditto 164', 11.28; summit conical hill of bedrock, 221', 11.32. After lunch Clif drove back in the gig to the high-level road crossing railway south of Manakau, + I set off for top of Pukehou Range via the high platform of Sandstone. Re-set at Waitohu Stream 150', 11.50; foot [of] terrace
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160', 11.51; top ditto 174', 11.53; Crossed a wide flat, first stony + then, beyond a small stream to foot to sandstone platform 184', 12.noon; top outer edge SE part of ditto 327', 12.3; knob on platform to N of last 342', 12.6; knob on ditto NW of last 344', 12.8. This outlying sandstone platform is connected with a part of same foarmation lying at the foot of the hill spurs by a low narrow saddle or connection. With the Abney's level, found the corresponding altitude on sandsone at foot of spurs, crossed gully + re-set aneroid: 344', 12.15; flat ledge o spur (near a gate) 379', 12.16. This appeared to be above any visible traces of sandstone on this, +, as far as I could see, the adjacent spurs, so I put the upper limit of the coastal plant at Otaki at 350' above sea-level. High flat-topped knob on spur (near a straining post) 426', 12.18 (after some search re-set at this point) 426', 12.26; crest of Pukehou Range at top of spur 622', 12.32. Followed crest of range round to Pukehou
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Trig. Rain had been threatening + now came on heavily, spoiling the splendid views obtainable of the lowlands. Low dip in crest of range due W of trig, 619', 12.40. A stream which flows down the east slope of the Pukehou Range to joi a tributary of the South Manakau Stream, rises on the north side of same + then turns east. Reached Pukehou trig 12.45, 758'. As I cannot ascertain the surveyed height of Pukehou the anderoid altitudes given above must stand for the present. The western face of the range (old sea-cliff) appear almost sheer when viewed from above. Splendid panoramas of the lowlands, visible in clear weather, were today spoiled by rain + mist. However I saw the lovely "Forest Lakes", Sinclair's Homestead, + situated at junction of coastal plain, beds + sand dunes, so are no doubt due to ponding of smaller streams - must certainly visit the spot later. Met Clif, who had come to meet me, on hilltop north of Pukehou trig, + we
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returned to gig + drove home in the pouring rain. On the way to Otaki I took the following 1/2 plate photos: (1) Western face (old sea-cliff) of Pukehou Range from near Manakau, flood, plain of South Manakau Stream in foreground, + coastal plain beds in distance on right; (2) near view of ditto from main road south of high-level road crossing over railway; (3) Pukehou Range + high level platform of sandstone with Waitohu Stream in foreground from summit of sand dunes that have crossed to east side of railway line. Very wet night. Drew plan + made a table of the results of todays' work.
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[High resolution image of whole page is available by scrolling through images attached to George Leslie Adkin personal diary, May 1917-February 1919