A Holiday Tour in Hokianga District

Franklin Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 22, 26 February 1940, Page 4

A Holiday Tour in Hokianga District

MANY ATTRACTIONS EXTENSIVE KAURI FOREST BLOCK OF 15,000 ACRES (By E. T. Frost). The following article, by an old Tuakau resident, first published in the Northern Advocate a few weeks ago, will no doubt be read with interest by all lovers of New Zealand native bush. Mr Frost is one of the Dominion’s most capable field naturalists, and has a wide knowledge not merely of its flora but fauna as well.

A lour of file Hokianga County offers many a 1.1 rac I ions to (lie lover of Nature. The remnanls of the once dense forest that covered the land convey some idea of what it must have appeared like in its pristine beauty, when I lie forest trees grew down to the water’s edge. The largest area of forest in the Northern Hokianga is the Warawara Stale Forest, stretching from the Buna Buna Road to the west coast at Mitimiti. Extensive Kauri Forest The block consists of about 15,000 acres, and contains numerous kauri trees, estimated to contain up to ('5,000,000 feet of timber. The road lo the West Coast skirts tin's mountainous forest distinct, and splendid views .are obtained as one proceeds. Here arc to be seen many of our smaller forest trees and shrubs that have disappeared in other parts before the axe and fire.

One of I lie most conspicuous about Christmas lime was the curious, ilaltnppod tree known io flic Maoris as the "putapulawela.” owing lo the fact of its being a special favourite tree of the wood-boring “wela.” Seldom was a tree to be found Iliat was not perforated by these insects.

These trees were in full bloom, and llio fragrance permeated Hie summer air. This is n free which seems lo stand isolation, and some splendid specimens are to be seen along Ihe Rum* Buna Road. Trees:—Rare and Beautiful

Contiguous to Ihese were many beautiful hoheria, or ribbonwood Irees, their beautiful leaves showing The varied purple colourings as they waved in Hie summer breeze. One of the most beautiful trees in Hie hush is also to be seen on the Runa Runa Road. It is the tarata (piltosporum Eugenoides), sometimes called lemonwood by the Europeans, owing to the colour of its leaves. This is a tree that should be cultivated for ornament in parks and beauty spots. High up in the ranges could be seen the last of the flowers of the senecios, a large tree daisy which flowered profusely during November and early December.

A few specimens of a curious free which is only found in Northland, were seen in some small patches of hush on the roadside. . It is known bolanically as “Coprosma Spathulata,” owing to ifs curious, spoon-shaped leaves.

Far North Its Home Another tree whose boundaries are probably very little south of the Ilokianga County, was seen in the same locality. It is the “Coprosma Arborea,” known fo the Maoris as the “Karamu.” Its near species, the “Coprosma Lueida,” the common karamu, is very noticeable, and it is a, feature of many parts of the trip. One cannot mention our shrubs without referring to II le beautiful “whau,” or cork tree, many beautiful specimens of which are to be seen on the roadside. Some splendid specimens are lo be seen in (lie Herekino Gorge, and it is lo he hoped that no vandal will destroy them. High up in the ranges is to be found the broad-leaved grass tree, “Dracolatifolium,” named by the Maoris “nemei,” and spiderwood by Europeans, owing to Ihe resemblance to a spider of a cross-section when cut. This is nearly always on associate of the kauri on dry ranges. Debouching from the valley road from the Whakarapa and Panguru district, one is entranced by the beautiful panorama of sea, mountain and sky. Far away to the south, the hold peak of the Maunganui bluff can be seen and to the North the precipitous Southern Head of the Whangape Harbour is easily discernible. The l-lokianga bar discloses itself by the white horses extending out to sea.

Wrecked Sailors Just about 100 years ago some 50 or 60 men and officers marched along these sands on their way from Herekino Heads to Kororareka. They were the crew of H.M.S. Osprey, a new brig on its way from Kororarelca to Ilokianga. Mistaking the ITerekino Heads for that of Ilokianga, the captain got into difficulties and ran ashore, and the vessel became a total wreck. After salvaging some gear and food, the crew set off to march to Ilokianga Heads and from there to Paihia, via river and track, which they reached after a strenuous journey. Along this same sandy beach today motor cars speed and children play in the warm waters.

Telephones and wireless and all the amenities of modern life are to be bad right on the spot where these hardy sailors, who were making history, trudged along with their heavy loads and short rations. Previous to the advent of the white man, a large population of Maoris resided on this coastline, as evidenced by remains of old villages, pas, and workshops, where the hxe and greenstone implements .were patiently fashioned.

Today the hum of the cream separator is heard instead of the napping hammer, and a dusky youth or maiden may he seen canttring along on the hard sand with the can of golden cream to meet the collector’s l Ci ry.