RANGITOTO AND GREAT BARRIER ISLANDS

Press, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22371, 7 April 1938, Page 5 (Supplement)

RANGITOTO AND GREAT BARRIER ISLANDS

(By B. L. Maclean, Wanganui; I aged 12 years)

In the Hauraki Gulf there are small islands here and there; they begin at Great Barrier Island, and are between there and the mainland. These islands vary in size and appearance, and there are boat excursions out to nearly all of them. One of these islands is known as Rangitoto. This island has three peaks, one big one and a small one on either side of it. The island makes the harbour calm for smaE boats.

Rahgitoto is an extinct volcano, and a® long time ago, when it errupted, lava poured down either side of it; on top of the lava cinders were thrown, and later it threw more cinders, nearly covering the first except for the peaks on either side.

Rangitoto is a Maori name, and in English it means “the sky of blood.” It was called Rangitoto because the Maoris saw it errupt and throw red cinders into the sky. It is the most recent volcano to errupt near Auckland. The Maoris have a legend which says that Rangitoto was thrown out of Laka Takapuna on the mainland. The island is about three and half miles in length and three miles wide, and points from east to west, and has a high peak in the centra which makes it look the same from all sides.

Running from the north of tha island is a reef called Rangitoto Reef, and between this and tha mainland is Rangitoto Channel, being a favourite fishing ground. A person stepping ashore on Rangitoto, at once sees huge lava rocks of all shapes and sizes. Pohutukawas and other shrubs grow here and give it a very fertile appearance from a distance. The summit of Rangitoto is 908 feet above sea level, and there is a oath going up to it. The crater is about 150 feet deep and 200 feet in diameter.

In 1841 Lady Franklin climbed to the summit of the island, and was probably the first woman to do it. At the base of the island there is a concrete water tank where fresh water is kept. • The climb to the summit of the island is well worth making for the reward of the harbour view. Great Barrier Island

The Great carrier Island guards the Hauraki Gulf from all the big waves in the Pacific. The Maori name is Aotea. This island is about 25 miles long and 80 miles in cir« cumference. A steamer leaving Auckland first stops at Blind Bay. but it is best to go on to Port Fitzroy, which is a very pretty harbour. When a boat enters Port Fitzroy it passes among many small islands. Port Fitzroy was named after Governor Fitzroy, the second Governor of New Zealand. This harbour is very large, and could hold a great number of shins; it is also broken un into many bays. Mount Hobson is the highest peak and is covered in native bush and kauri pine trees. The island has some hot springs, but these are not- as good as the ones at Rotorua. On the island fruit is grown and gum digging, is carried on. In the harbour there are fish, and there are Special places to fish fos the best catches. • ■■ '