Woods of the Wharau.

On another bit of steep country in the Urewera district I particularly noted the uses of bush and undergrowth in literally holding the land together. This is the Wharau Range, over which the horse track goes from Ruatahuna to Ruatoki and the plains, following down the Whakatane Valley. It is almost precipitous for a thousand feet or so, but it is covered everywhere with dense and closely-matted bush. On the narrow summit there are huge tawa trees growing, usually an indication of good soil.

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But once let this bush be stripped from the hills and what would be the result? It would follow as the night the day, the soil would be swept away by the rains, the range side would be scarred with a thousand landslips, the quick run-off, unregulated by a protecting forest, would flood and silt up the Whakatane River, and the farming plains below the ranges would suffer. The bush must remain on such places; it is the saving of the country.