LONG CANOE JOURNEY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20821, 13 March 1931, Page 12

LONG CANOE JOURNEY.

NORTH ISLAND TOUR.

RIVER. LAKE AND LAND.

SIX MONTHS* WANDERING. After completing a six months' tour of the North Island, principally in a 12ft. Canadian canoe. Mr. Stanley Rose, a young Englishman, returned to Auckland yesterday. Sinco ho left Northcolo on September 13, ho has covered over 2000 miles, chiefly on the many inland lakes and rivers between Auckland and Wellington.

Mr. Rose, who had specially built for him a light trailer, on which ho could cariy the canoe overland, and which could itself bo taken down and packed in the canoe, set out down tho Waiterrfnia, and up tho Tamaki River, wheeling bis outfit across Portage Road and into the Manukau Harbour. lie paddled to Waiuku. and after a short portage, embarked on a tributary of the Waikato, which he followed as far as Cambridge.

Tho next step of tho journey, from Cambridge to Taupo, involved a march of 87 miles, but as time was no object Mr. Rose mado the journey in easy stages, pushing his canoe on tho trailer. He next wont to Taumarunui, and sot out down the Wanganui River, which ho followed to the sea. The next stage of the journey took him overland to Palmerston North, thence on tho Manawatu Rivor to Foxton, and finally to Wellington by road. Ho completed tho first half of tho journey lato in December, arriving at Wellington between Christmas and New Year. Crossing the Rimutakas. One of tho greatest difficulties encountered was tho crossing of the Rimutakas, which was accomplished in the early stages of the roturn trip. Mr. Rose found the steep grades particularly trying, but nevertheless covered 19 miles that day. He went as far as Waipukurau by road, and down the Ngaruroro River to Clive, final?} entering tho sea and travelling to Napier. Ho left Napier again by sea, and mado his way toward Gisborne, intending to mako tho whole journey in tho canoe if possible. Heavy seas, however, made it necessary for him to land on the coast 25 miles from Gisborne, and he finally entered the town by road. Ho was in Gisborno when tho disastrous earthquake occurred. Hospitality ol Maoris. From Gisborno Mr. Rose continued on to Opotiki, and then walked 21 miles to the Waimana River, which ho followed as far as Whakatano. 110 then travelled to Rotorua, visiting the lakes in the vicinity, and went on to Matamata by road, finally arriving by land and water at Thames. Yesterday ho camo to Nortlicote from Ilowick, having been away six months all but a day. Mr. Rose said yesterday that everywhere he had been vefy kindly treated, especially by tho Maoris, whom he encountered in various places. Tho weather on tho whole was good, although he was caught in several storms on tho west coast. In tho course of tho wholo trip ho spent only threo nights in a real bed, camping for tho most part either at the roadside or by the bank of the river or stream on which ho was travelling.