MR. SUTTON’S JOURNAL.

New Zealand Colonist and Port Nicholson Advertiser, Volume I, Issue 7, 23 August 1842, Page 3

MR. SUTTON’S JOURNAL.

(Continued from our last.) The road now led through high and abrupt ranges of hills, the footpath being sometimes at the summit of the ridges, and at others passing through deep gorges; from the top of one of the highest elevations, I obtained a view of the country to the southward, which presented the appearance of a vast amphitheatre, or I might almost say, crater, the elevations at my feet looking almost like mole-hills. I here met with the first grass I had encountered in any large quantity, resembling what in New South Wales is designated “ Kangaroo grass.” We stopped to dine at a most picturesque spot. A tributary stream to the Waikato rushed with great impetuosity through a narrow pass of the mountains, confined in a rocky channel, and forming a splendid fall of about thirty feet in depth. Over the fall, the natives had constructed a bridge, which, though apparently fragile, was of sufficient strength to bear our party across. About dark, we arrived at Te Whenua, where I found a small deserted settlement. It being Saturday night, I was aware there was no chance of my getting onwards the next day, and the natives set off to obtain a pig. The path from Otawao to Te Whenua (about twenty miles) passes through an exceedingly strongly formed countiy, swarming with wild pigs. The hills are barren, but the valleys present every feature available for cultivation. Having caught a pig of about two hundred weight, the natives had a regular blow out; and, although I allowed them to rest on the Sunday, they were very unwilling to start on the following morning. I persuaded them, however, to get off, and we entered a forest of magnificent Kai-lte-tea and Totara trees. This forest presented one singular feature, there being no underwood, and I saw but very few of the Kallawa vine, the Kaurie seemed to have totally disappeared. Several deserted settlements occurred, at each of which, my Maories instituted a strict seach for potatoes, in which they were generally successful. On leaving the forest the country assumes a very hilly character, with swampy valleys intervening, in which the flax plant was flourishing with great luxuriance. It did jnot, however, reach the size of that I had seen on the banks of the Waikato, and the leaves were of a more yellow tinge. Our path was very fatiguing, from the hilly nature of the ground, hardly a level spot occurring for a distance of several miles. Occasionally I obtained a view of the surrounding country, which appeared to consist of lofty and barren mountains, separated by deep gorges; a large extent of high flat land was visible to the eastward, at the foot of which, the natives informed me, ran the Waikato river. After a long day’s journey of about twenty-five miles, we descended into a small valley, where we found some old native huts, erected last year for Captain Symonds and Dr. Dieffenbach, and made preparations for encamping. It was a most picturesque spot. Enormous masses Of stone were scattered in every direction, and from the elevation of the surrounding hills, it seemed to us as if we were at the bottom of some huge crater. I felt rather lonely, having in the morning- had a difference with one of the principal men of a party who joined us at Tewhenua, and I found myself obliged to keep my friends at a respectful distance. The rich grass of the valley afforded me an excellent bed, and I was enjoying a sound sleep when they roused me up to say that a white man had overtaken us. I turned out, and found it to be a Mr. Shepherd, who was also proceeding to Taupo, for trading purposes. As Mr. Shepherd understood and spoke the language perfectly, I need hardly say that I was most pleased at meeting with him—and, indeed, it turned out fortunate for me. On rising in the morning, he told me that he had been informed by one of his natives that my trustworthy friend Robert had formed a scheme for taking me a different route to that I wished to pursue—leading far to the westward, over a mountainous and woody country, and avoiding Lake Taupo, the hot springs, and other places, I was desirous of visiting.

- J They also let out, that on reaching a settlement called Wa-nald-naki, to which Robert belonged, it was tlieir intention to demand more wages than I had agreed to give them, and by , degrees' obtain from me the greater part of the contents of my knapsack. I therefore determined on joining Mr. Shepherd’s party. I did not, however, intimate my intention tc#my guides, as our track was the same for some dis-' tance; Passing through a gorge of the mountains, we entered a level grassy country extending for some distance in a northerly direction/ After travelling about eight miles, we came to another path leading to the westward. Robert and his party turned off, and on my telling them of my intention of dispensing with their services' were inclined to be saucy, but a few words from Mr. Shepherd’s chief brought them to reason. He blew them up in grand style, and reproached them for endeavouring to deceive an European stranger. They departed crest-fallen and bitterly disappointed, in having been deprived of their anticipated plunder. The country through which we were now travelling, was composed of large plains covered with grass in thick tufts, and presenting every appearance of good grazing land for cattle. It is plentifully watered, and we crossed two rivers of from thirty to fifty yards broad. On one was a splendid waterfall about thirty feet perpendicular descent, the whole body of the river rushing between two enormous rocks j Having breakfasted on the banks of the river, we recommenced our journey, the country presenting a level character. The fern had totally disappeared, its place being supplied by long and thick grass. About noon we arrived at the west bank of the Waikato. A plain of vast extent runs for many miles on this side of the river, admirably adapted for grazing, but apparently unavailable for agricultural purposes. We met with pig tracks in every direction. Crossing the plain, our path led for some distance along the river’s margin, until we arrived at two lofty hills' of very singular appearance, which from their steepness down to the waters edge, appeared to offer a bar to our further progress. We however had to mount one —and the descent on the other side was not unattended with peril. One unfortunate pig was unhappy enough to lose his footing and tumbled into the river, a fall about thirty feet. He however recovered himself, and swam for the shore like a duck, a lot of whom he disturbed ; and we recovered him uninjured; but apparently rather frightened.