JOURNAL OF A TRIP TO THE WAIKATO.

Anglo-Maori Warder, Volume 1, Issue 20, 7 September 1848, Page 4

JOURNAL OF A TRIP TO THE WAIKATO.

(Continued.) sth. Heavy rain with thunder, so remained in our quarters—having opportunity only between showers of looking over the cultivation. There were fine crops of corn, kumeras, and pumpkins, the potatos being previously taken up—and it appealed by the straw lying about that they had grow n some wheat. The soil was of a light fcandj character, composed mostly of i iver sand and decomposed pumice, and apparently well adapted lur barle> and turnips, which indeed seemed the chaiact-?r of most of the low lands near the river—the higher fern land being of a light kind, and of a red sandy nature. There was very little wood to be seen in the neighbourhood, one small group of Kaikatea only near. At the back of the cultivation appeared a swampy piece of ground runniug across to the lake of Wnngapae, and behind that rising fern hills ; and on the opposite side of the river land of the same character. There were multitudes of ducks in the river. It clearing up about noon we started off ourselves, walking about a mile across, while the canoe went round to another part of tile seltjtment; there finding dinner just ] eady, w#ista_> ed and partook of potatoes, kumeras, corn, and small iisb, and then having obtained two additional paddles, id order to our assisting to pull, put off, passing Waikaria, and then landed for a few minutes at IVlotetarata. Heie again we were invited to eat, but declined and went on. Whenever we had to cross to the opposite side to avoid the shoals, we found the land almost entirely uncultivated, and in crossing the reaches found it blowing stiffly, and a heavy surf on the water, which much retarded our progress. Opposite the place was a ware belonging to a Kuropean, whose principal avocation is rearing pigs. Pursuing our course we passed several line islands, one of which, named Tahipori, is nearly five miles in length, and of considerable I'.eadlh, situate in a very wide reach of the river, just beyond which risesa range of lofty and broken wooded mountains. On one end of the island is an old fort or pa, and a few miles further up we reached Terapa, where we were veiy kindly received by the people oi the place, and their Chief, Huieuma, was particularly hospitable and civil. As it was getting dark, we hauled up for the night. Our host had supper prepared for us, and dui iug the lime it was being cooked, the tinkling of a hoe announced evening prayers, which we joined. The service was read by a fine intelligent jonng man named William, Te Iwi, in a most orderly and devout manner, and he read exceedingly well. After prayers, our hangi, oi native oven, was opened, and we were served with three sorls of small, river lish, namelv —pukalae, a small fish resembliiigwhilebitlt, and vei) delirious, asalsulwuolliei kinds, toiti i, and niobl, i.illii-r luger than the first, but ve i guod, and some line eels, potatoes, kumeras, and coin, all in one couise and ill ui.ekute. Alter tea.amlspending a ple.isantevei.Mii;, we went tu lest in a ne.it vtaie, with wheats-raw fot beds. The waie is used at ptesentfur a Church, until anew o.ie shall have been elected. (ith.—Hose cull aud took a walk up an adj.i-

cent hill, to look at some coal which the Natives told us thev had found there. On ascending to near the summit, we found a small piece of ground dug away by (he Natives, and coal at a distance of about eighteen inches from the surface. As the ground had not been opened deeper we had no opportunity of getting at any but (he surface coal, which, in appearance, was very like anthracite or stone coal, and on testing, subsequantlu, in.the fire, found it quite agree in the characteiisticsof that mineral. The place where the vein has been opened is on a slightly elevated hill, of a reddish sandy nature, and ahout a quarter of a mile on the west side of the river. The Natives, however* pointed out a place on the opposite side of the river, at about the same elevation, and upon the same range, where they had also dug up some. As this range extends a considerable distance on each side the river, it is probable the seam continues throughout the range. From tbe summit of the hill we were afforded a fine view of the Waikato, running up in a narrowed channel between Maungataupiri, and the cultivated kaingaof Kaitotohe, behind which last it disappeared until it opened out again some miles further up across a vast plain. Tbe settlement of Kaitotohe has a very picturesque appearance from this hill. It consists of a narrowgflat stretching along the river for a mile or two, and bounded at the back by finely wooded mountains, and has been at one time the bed of the river, orothetwise the river has often overflowed it; The whole of the flat »as covered with cultivation, with maize, kumeras, potatoes, &c, glowing in rich luxuriance, and dotted over with native huts, in the midst of which rose a pretty cottage, the residence of Mr. Ashwell, the Church Missionary. Oa returning to our quartets we were quite prepared to do justice to the ample breakfast they had provided for us, which consisted of much the same fare as our supper the previous night. Our breakfast being over, and having made the customary present of a few figs sf tobacco to our host, we departed in the canoe for Kaetotohe, intending to'call on Mr. Ashwell to obtain some medicine fur our invalid Mepa, whose illness now became very serious, and it was evident that unless the disorder was at once checked that be must bink under it. Having landed, we proceeded to Mr. Ash well's house, and certainly were much struck with tbe neat and pietty appearance both of the dwelling and the garden, paddocks, &c , surrounding it, which are such as to reflect great credit upon the proprietor. We were received with great affability and kindness by Mr. Ashwell, who not only readily granted out it-quest of medicine, but most hospitably enteitained ourselves. To be continued.