PIRONGIA.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XVI, Issue 5370, 1 February 1879, Page 6

PIRONGIA.

TO THB EDITOR. Sin,—The South Island poßßesaes Bcenery distinguished by its sublimity and grandeur. The lofty, t-ncw-capped Alpine range, with its numerous peaks clad in ice, with cascades ■nd waterfalls of stupendous height, form a combination which strike the beholder with at'.nisbmcnt, not unmingled with awe. are the scenes which may be viewed •'rom the bosom of Lakes Wanaka or Ohau, ■ind in traversing some of the Alpine passes, i.* Arthur's Pass. But while the scenery allu led to is scarcely to be surpassed for its rugged ami massive beauty, yet I think t ere is mountainous scenery in some parts •■f the North Island which excels any of tbat in tbe South Island, —possessing in g'rater abundance all tho element-! or ingredients which excite the emotions aud euraptura the soul. The source of b-auty is to ba sought for, not in a few qualities, but in a circle of effects. I'his is a rec gnised principle in the artistic world. It is difficult sometimes to analysthe complex effects produced by a varied landscape, by the contemplation of a good paii.ting or a statue, even in gazing on a living specimen of feminine or masculine beauty ; but the most difficult of all analyses is that of the apparently infinite variety of eff eta produced subjectively by the scenery which, on aa ordinary clear day, maybe viewed from the summit of some of our North I-land mountains. Such was the tl ought that arose in my mind while gazing arotiod from the summit of Mount Pirongia a few days ago. Mount Pirongia is a lofty t» achylic cone, containing a huge fUsure or dilapidated crater. The peak upon which my companions, of whom one was a lady, and myself stood is about 2700 feet in height, quite high enough to furnish the tlement of grandeur Pirongia ii situated on the left bank of the Waipa, and forms a part of the boundary of the broad, level plain usually called the Waikato district. It also stands like a acntiuel at the northern end of that range of elevated country which forms the central of the North Islau 1, aud on which aro situated Uaugitoto, Maungatautari, Tuhua, and, in tho far di»tauco, Tongariro and Unapehu. Iu tho immediate foreground, at our feet, towards the east, lies all the level plain, spread out like a map, looking as flat as a bowling-green, the VYaipa fringing it on the western ridge like a wavy, silvery ribbon. The villages (I beg pardon), the towns of Hamilton and Cambridge, from 20 to 30 miles distaut, arc quite perceptible. Te Aroha, SO miles away, aud the Coromandel range, bouud the view on that quarter. Here is the clement of distance or expansion sufficient for the highest effects in perspective, towards the north and north-west the hilly rang s behind Raglan limit the expanse, but here is an arm of the sea looking liko a mighty river, and iu the distance, hazy aud hiwt-hiddeu— giving an elemeut of the mysterious, —spreads the Pacific Ocean. While away to the touthwards, rise upon rise, in endJebs perspective, arc a series of elevated peaks,—Kakepuku, Uaugitoto, &c., terminating at a distance of 100 miles in the lofty, cioud-ciapped summits of Tougariro aud Ruaprhu,—a view which comprises all the elements of the sublime.

A nil yet that which to my mind enhaoces the beamy ot this scene remains to bo told. Puonyia is verdure-clad in New Zealand fashion—clothed in forest trees to its very summit. There, perched on a huge trachytic slab, I gaze on it scene which would drive an aitist m.id. Boyond, all around, beneath to a distance of ISOO feet, the sides of this huge lissure lay. It is crater-shaped, but ivith a deep depression on oue side, aud capacious enough to swallow up a dozen Mount lidens. In looking dowu this gulf the effect produced by the various-coloured tree tops is something marvellous. O'er he mass rich colours roll—red, and green, and blue,—waxing and waning in the motion of the trees,—the curve-line in all its varieties furmed by the ravines, the individual lights and hues, tliickeniug into deeper shades below, the cloudlets swimming in ihe hazy blue overhead ; the whole meanwhile pervaded by a solemn, weird-like stillness, swells the soul with an indescribable emotion, in which self-con-sciousness is absorbed and forgotten. It was beautiful as a dream, and it waits— surely not in vain—for the master in chiaroscuro to depict in some degree its beauties, uiie could hardly ever tire looking at it. All things are not lovely, however, at the top of Pironijia. The unlovely things there are the mosquitos. They are simply abominable. In deference to our fair friend— and, in truth, to our own cuticle sensations—we retreated reluctantly. FacilU dccensus averni; but the glamour of that scene baa not yet left us. The characteristic difference, then, which marks scenery on the mountain-tops in the .North Island iB the variegated colouring presented by a numerous variety of flowerbearmg and other trees. This is wholly absent in the highly and deservedlj vaunted Alpine scenery in the South Island, and will not be wanting in its influence on the coming race of New Zealand artists. The rare beauty of the sunsets, owing largely to the humidity of our atmosphere, must be reckoned, too, as another element. There ia no pleasure sweeter or truer than that derivable from a contemplation of the beauties of JS'atHre, and in these, our part cf the colony excels. We know what the influence of the scenery in Cumbrian Mountains, Mighty Helvellyn with its lakes and mountains, the Highlands of Scotland, the higher Alps, Sc., has had in breeding poets and painters' and we may fairly predict that in our New Zealand home, abounding in scenes far eclipsing any of these in natural beauty, Art will not want her votaries. To some persons the beauty of natural objects is quite hidden, to others it is quite apparent, and is productive of the highest pleasure. The difference may be caused by a want of endowment in that side of the mind which is called the aesthetic, a part partly intellectual and partly imaginative ; but it may be likewise, and is doubtless, largely owing to the abseuce of beautiful objects to contemplate. Of course, there are those who have never felt that want, to whom, as Emerson says, the heavens are as brass, and they shut down close upon the earth. But, nevertheless, the germ is there, and there is no class of natural objects so fitted to develop that germ as the frequent contemplation of a beautiful landscape. We have no want of these in our immediate neighbourhood, and visitors of intelligence invariably extol them, yet how comparatively few of our own citiz ns do we ever see on the mountain-tops —such as Mount Eden, &e. Now that communication is being rapidly opened up with inland districts, aud those grand scenes —one of which I have attempted to give a feeble impression of—are easily reached, it is to be hoped that they will be rescued from that comparative isolation in which for thousands of years they have been plunged. Pirougia abounds in attractions to the fern hunter, and to the botanist and geologist it will likewise rrpay attention. The ascent is easily made. Our party, in which there were two of the gentler sex, climbed to the summit in 3i hours from the spot where we left our horses. We suffered 110 interference by the Maoris. It is only to turveyors and trig-station fellows they object. The track to the top of the mountain is not always well marked, but there is more danger of losing it coming down than in going up. This we succecded in doing once or twice, but " all's well that ends well." We owe our best thanks to Mrs. Morgan for her kindness in sending her eons with us as guides, aud to Lady Burdett for the basket; of cherries, which were vastly refreshing. We had golden weather, and having cantered to Te Awamutu through the fleeey mists of gloaming, beneath the pale moon roaming, we found what we wanted awaiting us, and that was rest. —I am, &c , C. A. 11. January 24, 1879.