A TRIP FROM TAURANGA TO WAIOTAPU.

Bay of Plenty Times, Volume XVI, Issue 2391, 18 February 1889, Page 4

A TRIP FROM TAURANGA TO WAIOTAPU.

BT "TOFBIST." '" '" On a suuny day not long ago I left by M* Crosby's Royal Mail drawn by good horses, and driven by a Tauranga boy who bandied the ribbons in first class style, and took us along as a courteous and obliging jebu should, ever ready to supply information -as to places of interest along the route. The wind blew as y - usual along the Cameron Road. We passed the memorable Gate Pah, where, erstwhile many a brave heart lay cold m death, after serving Queen and country, and buying with preciou%life the liberty which the place now enjo/s, the Maori having laid down tomahawk for ploughshare, and spear for fern hook. On we sped past the finger post, pleased to encape the cutting wind which had been blowing in our faces. Soon Cbadwick's cutting was far behind ; but dust by the million iaccdm- * panied us tbOropi. We entered ths* sublime and beautiful Oro-pi bush, # where the birds sing their sweetest from glowing morn till dewy ere, with notes that should take the cobwebs off any heart, with as an* accompaniment the ripple of the rivers along this serpentine avenue. The bush was clothed in all its verdant beauty, and many lovely plants and flowers peeped out as the horses pranced along, making one long to stop the coach and get out and walk, fain would you take them along with you. So beautiful the scenery and foliage, fend so balmy the air of this bush, that doubtless many wiff avail themselves of the * Eoyal Mail route, and enjoy the of this lovelyispot. After we had gone some distance past Tautau we met the down coach, and had * to bid adieu to our driver, as to whom I may say the timid fair sex need not fear to trust their safety to his hands. Our new whip ,£un another of Mr Croßby Void hands, Ttill of life and fun, whose storie* made the road seem shorter, and whose reminiscences went back to the Tauranga races of 13 years ago w^eri' Captain E. kept the Commercial, and champagne t sparkled on race night. iourist'does not find ihe journey long with such a droll and funny son of the Emerald Isle as a companion. Soon we reached the Half-Way House, where horses were changed, and plenty abounded for man and beast. ' Dinner is kept ready for arrivals, and the" civility and kindness of host Fielder cannot be surpassed. The tourist here gets a cup of really good tea and fresh eggs and milk, things ' not to be sneezed at jn the middle of the bush, especially on a hot summer day. Then^here>f is roast beef and murphies for the lords of creation, with a drop of mountain dew it they like. After a short and pleasant drive we entered the gorge known as Mangarewa, wheie -the Jtrout can be plainly seen disporting tfems}elves fearless of net or rod. Beforl*they -reach the Ohaupora is the best place to see them. This grand sceneryjis §? beyond the power of pen to describe, like the lost terraces it requires to be seen to be appreciated. The road was never better, so at a rattling pace we got into the clearing outside the bush, and sighted the lovely waters of Sotprua Lake a vista which well ropays the tourist for his journey. The remainder of the road is a pleasant drive into Rotorua. Here the artist can feast his eyes on scenes of beauty whose re* membrance will be joys for ever. As the Irishmau said at the crossroads of Kinane, v It's a quare country all round." Where can another spot like 1t be found, with such boiling water and inu4holes P. The Government indeed deserve great praise for *V reducing such a chaos to order and beauty. Splendid gardens, tennis lawns, and *#£her improvements now prevent the tourist complaining that there is nothing to induce him to prolong his stay there. The baths are a boon to many a sufferer, who will have Season to bless the day he visited the Lake country. Water has been laid ,- on in abundance, and it is pleasant to see it as you derive out between the hills on the road to Wai-oitapu, flowing along till it reaches its destination to quench the thirst of man and beast. This place recalled to me a touching incident of sometime ago. The late lamented Mr Ashman was engaged cutting the lines for the water-works, and, parting from a friend near where his tent was pitched, he said " Goodbye, Mcl- h, for a long, long time." Little did either of them suppose then that this farewell was till the resurrection morn. It was the painful duty of that friend, soon after, to pass the same spot late at night, en route for Taupo, to have its waters searched for the lifeless body of fris friend. A drive of twenty miles from Rotorua takes to Wai-o-tapu, along a good level road, ever winding in keeping with the little river which flows along at a civil distance, "while it sparkles on its way, o'er the yellow pebbles dancing, through the flowers and foliage glancing." The eruption has left its mark on Earthquake Flat. There are two large chasms, where the ground has sunk down. There is a branch road making at present put to fiotomahana almost completed. What a spectacle it will lead to ! There is no cultivation along Earthquake Flat, and^it was quite refreshing to see a native woman looking after her potato garden. There are no inhabitants in that wild region, barring yourself and horses. Not much past this point of interest we sighted the lovely hills in . and around Mr Scott's Bungalo^ where there is enough natural beauty to satisfy the most fastidious. A lovely

green lake nestles at the 'foot %i the opposite hill. The marquee and a miniature waterfall are close by ; so that, while the traveller partakes of the pup that cheers, he ca% feast his eyes on nature's charms. Mr Scott is a host in himself, as every "mine host" should be. I have no doubt that he will make this a very pleasant resting place for the tourist. I was glad to see there a harmonium, "far from the busy haunts of men." The table was excellent, especially some of Mrs Scott's home-made bread. The Englishman's indispensable sauces, roast beef, and, as auctioneers say, " things too numerous to mention," were in profusion. Those who would care to travel a little further from this camp require to stay all night. I wish the proprietor this new year all success in his undertaking. After a short stay at Wai-o-tapu we had a pleasant drive back to Eotorua. # IWbist.