at Matatawa (? Matarawa) and he was desirous I should see them. In the evening we got back to Mr Chapman's. Novr. 25. Wet heavy morning, went into the natives school at Mr Chapman's which is very well conducted under the superintendence of a Miss Corney, the progress the children are making is highly satisfactory there are sometimes about 30 scholars girls and boys from 4 to 8 years of age. After dinner we walked out to the hot springs and picked up several specimens of wood that had become petrified, it was so heavy and rainy that we could not see any distance, the plains of Rotorua that I discerned were barren and valueless. Mr Chapman told me the subsoil was very rich but too deep to be available in ploughing. From this gentleman I had some interesting accounts of Hikairo the native chief, also a short history of the Ngatipikiao who about 300 in number still continued heathens. 26th. This morning visited all the Pahs in the neighbourhood of Mr Chapman's and had long conversations with the natives who were anxiously enquiring if the new Governor would be inclined for war or peace that they were afraid he would be desirous of the former if so it would be a serious thing and would arouse the jealousy of all the tribes in the Island who were only looking on to see what the result of Heke's war would be. I was sorry to find among them some men who had returned from assisting Heke and were giving very untrue versions of the different engagements and I saw they were striving to excite the better disposed against us. On my return from those Pahs I was delighted to meet the old chief of Maketu Pukuatua with whom I had a long conversation and found him a sensible well inclined chief. He told me he was the principal instrument in making peace with Tauranga respecting Motu Iti a place that had for years been in contention. That he wished to see the people of Taupo and the West coast conclude a peace and for all the natives to be of one mind and peace to reign throughout the whole length and breadth of the land - That about next harvest a large body would march to Ihupuku from Taupo for that purpose when they would go as far as Kapiti. With the assistance of a friendly disposition on his part and the same on my own we were about to part when he thought of writing a friendly letter through me to the natives of the West Coast, asking me what chiefs lived there as he would only write to a Chief, which having done, we parted and I returned to Mr Chapman's where dinner awaited us; after which Mr Chapman took us in his boat a few miles on our journey with a plentiful supply of provisions and after landing we walked about 5 Miles to Ohinemutu Pah where we remained the night. This Pah is very thickly populated and there are many very interesting children most of whom know their English alphabet and count from one to 100 with ease. They also know a few words of English. They reflect great credit on their resident missionary Mr Chapman who seems to be doing a great deal for the rising generation. After a long interview with the chief Horokai respecting his intentions I was glad to find he evinced a most friendly disposition, and willing to act in accordance with the peaceable intentions of the Pukuatua. I gave him a little present of tobacco telling him I hoped he would live in peace and quietness until I could again see him. I then visited Ngapapa a young chief next him in importance - who I found a sensible quiet man and who told me of the intentions of all the Rotorua chiefs visiting Ihupuku in harvest for the purpose of making peace. Having removed their fears as to the intentions of Government I left him and got a Ngatipaoa boy to guide me to a hot spring where I had the pleasure of bathing, a great luxury after the fatiguing journeys I had undergone. The most remarkable features in this place are the immense number of Hot Springs in the very centre of the Pah rendering it dangerous to walk about after dark. It appears to be a complete subterraneous boiler of volcanic steam. These springs are not unattended by danger to the inhabitants, sometimes breaking out in fresh places and scalding those who are near to death. They are of different temperatures, some sufficiently hot for cooking food whilst others make agreeable baths. 27th. It rained very hard until about 1/2 past 10 A. M. when we struck our tents and left passing by some hot springs and better soil than we had yet seen in any part of Rotorua - rich and alluvial of a dark reddish colour. About 1/2 past 1 we got to Arakari a small Pah on the top of a very pretty hill commanding an extensive view of Rotorua lake, and giving a more favorable view of the whole country. At this settlement there are a few natives of the Ngatituara tribe. At the settlements generally there was a feeling of patrictism getting up in favour of Hone Heke, and a belief that he would be joined by all the Ngapuhis in his next engagement with the English - that he had recommended all the tribes on the sea coast to prevent any landing of Europeans - that Rauparaha was again to commence his wars particularly against the Pakehas. In our journey this day the only object we met with worthy of notice was a large range of hills called Horohoro they had a grand and romantic appearance - we ascended to near the summit of the mountain but it did not repay us for the trouble - the sun being about to set and the view not so extensive as we anticipated. We sowed a few seeds of Russian cranberry and Bilberry and then encamped on