Where New Zealand Ends.

Northland Age, Volume 28, Issue 11, 25 January 1928, Page 2

Where New Zealand Ends.

A Visitor’s Impressions. The Northland’s Possibilities Having completed a three weeks tour of t|ir region extending from Kaitija to the North. Cape, Mr R D McCully returned to Auckland last week. To the other members of the party the trip was an entirely new and novel experience, but Mr McCully was re-visiting familiar territory, as for three and a half yeats he was a teacher at .he native school at Rangiawhia. All the party were charmed with the holiday, where upon ascending a sandhill it is possible to view on one hand the tumultous rollers of the Tasman Sea, breaking on the beautiful Ninety-Mile Beach, and on the other the much quieter seascape of the east coast. Mr McCully said that the land lying to the north of Waipapakauri was in a very parched state,’ and that many natives who embarked on dairying with the advent of the present season, were in a critical position. Unless appreciable rain falls snortly it is evident that the native farmers will have temporarily to abandon their efforts. This would be a decided set-back to the district, which contains much arable land; Extensive heavy ploughing has been done on hillsides and on the fiats, from which the gum was won in years past, by the natives of Te Kao, who were supplied by the Land Board with a motor tractor.

It is possible now to motor from Kaitaia to Te Kao, and when the remaining gap of six mile* is completed during the forthcoming winter, motorists wilTbe enabled to go right to picturesque Spirits Bay. The water of the Far North are teeming with fish, and during the stay of the party some deeps?a sport was indulged in. Jtfeluded in the catch were tbe following :—Mako shark (41 libs), thresher shark (32/lbs), hammerhead (3611b5) and kingfcih 8510$. Several of lesser weight were also caught. Mr McCully is of the opinion that were the potentialities of the area better known, it would rival the Bay of Islands as a deep-sea fishing ground. At Parenga Harbour there are permanent feeding grounds for smaller fish, and these naturally attract the larger game fish. At present the only launches to be had are privately owned, and there are but few facilities for campers, except at Pandora. The latter place was well patroni ed during the holiday season, but unfortunately there is no reasonable anchorage for launches in the vicinity. Parenga is the only harbour, and the entrance is extremely treacherous in heavy weather.

For the curio hunter the Far North presents a fertile and excellent field. During his stay Mr McCully secured a fine specimen ot Tangiwai greenstone, several fern root beaters and a large sandstone block, used for sharpening Maori adzes. Other members of the party obtained several stone adzes and remains of native fishing hooks.

Speaking from experience, Mr McCully says that the Maoris of tie Far North are fine specimens of the race, ever ready to welcome the visitor and give him every assistance.