THE WAIKAREMOANA COUNTRY.

Hot Lakes Chronicle, Volume 4, Issue 188, 8 July 1896, Page 2

THE WAIKAREMOANA COUNTRY.

Mr C. B. Turner, who hasbefell engaged for some' time past in tlic survOy work in connection with the Rotorua, Galatea and WaikareiViOafia road, arrived in town on Moiiday and proceeded to Auckland yesterday. tlittorly, Mr Turner, has Wen camped at fhe head of the Wliakatane Valley, and from that base lias done considerable work of an exploratory nature, between there and La. c Waikarcnioana. Plenty of nice-looking, light grazing country was fact with, save on tho lake side of the water-slied where it. is not fit for inu<ih. Tho sfcenery, however is magnificent, and when the road is completed it is bound to become u favorite tourist route.' From To Whaifi the road is made to a mile beyond the summit of the Tarapounamu saddle and here a few men arc still employed in surface work. From this point tho survey line extends to the head of the Wha atane Valley, then across the Huiarau Range down to Waikai omoann, round the northern edge of the lake to Onepoto, thence to Frasertown, a. small European settlement, and on to Wairoa. The distance from Galat6ii to Lake Waikaremoana is about "jo miles, and it is about 30 miles further to Wairoa. Around tho lake native tracks only esist at present, and those have been utilised by the surveyors in packing supplies. From the heights here a well-defined valley is decerniblii from the lake' down to "Wairoa, and it is stated that Te Kooti at one time considered the possibility of opening up a passage for the pent-up waters of the lake with the idea of inundating the settlement mentioned.- Lticily, however, for the people of Waireoa, thisengineeringfeat was abandoned.

No serious' opposition lias been met with from the natives in the survey work though, naturally, - their ideas in regard to tlib course the road should take and those of the surveyors arc at variance. The natives place very high value 011 the miro trees, (podocaiu'US ijskiujoixea) on which the pigeons feed, and resent their being interfered with in any way. These trees are distinguished by n-anies, and are individualised in other ways. I'he native wet-hod of snaring the pigeons is ingenious and worth describing, When the miro is in full fruit it becomes the favorite food of the pigeons. l It, is very fattening, but at the same time, induces great thirst. ISefore the ripening of the fruit the natives construct walias (small troughs, canoeshaped) and either suspend them froia the brajiches of the miro or raise them on forked poles. Tliese are filled with water and the pigeons soon become used to them and drink from the/'n. As soon as this happens, snares, made of running nooses,overlapping each other, are placed all round the wnkas so that, the birds cannot drink without placing their heads in the, noose. In withdrawing they are caught by the neck feathers aid, struggling, are strangled. Food of this kind is in abundance now, and in addition the natives make bread from hijiau berries CAItITS dextatus) by macerating and potlii'diiig. them into a mass which is baked. The cakes so produced arc very black and do not- have a nice appearance. Tlicy are wholesome, however, and of gboil flavor. The natives arc fond of European food of every kind, and hover round the' camjVs begging the pakelia's stores. The chiefs, however, are above this, bst a'ecept any, delicacy offered. They know enough, however to place a high price on their own produce. Potatoes arc charged 30s per bag and lus is demanded for paddocking a horse, Verily, the Maori of the Waikaremoana country is as astute as the rest of the children of men !

Mr Eoaney returned from this locality Inst evening. He had several toreros with the natives and was hospitably received everywhere. The most friendly feeling was evinced and it was evident that the Maoris are under an impression that promises were made by Government regarding lino of road, miro trees &e. The matter will bo referred to the proper quarter.