A JOURNEY FROM NAPIER TO WAIROA AND TE REINGA.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 4243, 26 October 1874, Page 4

A JOURNEY FROM NAPIER TO WAIROA AND TE REINGA.

A correspondent of the Hawke's Bay Herald of tho 16th inst. says ;—Having hoax'd a great de-. about To Wairoa and the surrounding countxy, especially Te Eeinga, X lately took a txip to tlut “land of depax'ted spirits.” After leaving the Spit in the s.s. Eairy, we got clear of the Iron Pot at about eight o’clock one fine summei'’s morning, and steamed on towards the Wairoa ; arrived at the mouth of the river at 2.10 the same afternoon, and waited some considerable time for the tide before getting to the landing place. Having at length landed, I walked down to the Clyde Hotel, and was shown into a very nice little cottage, detached from the main building. I stayed there and was made very comfortable indeed. The next morning I got a horse and had a good day’s ride round about the country. During my journey I fell in with an old Maori, and being a bit of a Maori speakex-, I entex-ed into conversation with the old fellow, who told me that be had only ax-rived tho evening befoi'e from a place about twenty-five miles inland, ■ called Te Eeinga, which, translated, would be “the place of departed spu-its.” Well, as I had often heard people speaking about Te Eeinga and tho beautiful waterfall—one of the grandest, I believe, in New Zealand—l at once made up my mind to pay it a visit, and in company with my dusky friend, X crossed the Wairoa river on the ferry punt, which took us seventeen and a-half minutes ; however, we got over safe and proceeded on our way. We next came to a temporax-y halt at Te Kapu, six miles from Clyde, and then followed the Wairoa river for some distance, eventually arriving at the A.C. camp at Manx Maim. Here we halted, and it being dinner time, were invited to take a pannikin of tea and something to eat. My dusky friend hex-e told me that as we shoxxld come to a public-house in a few minutes, he thought as it was the last place of the kind on the road it would be advisable to get a paunama (a small bottle of grog). I complied. When we came to the Manx Manx Hotel I got the paunama, and we made another start. The next halt we had was at the Mangapoiki river, which we had to swim. The time was now getting on for two o’clock, and I here inquired from my friend how many miles further it was to the Eeinga, but he did not seem to understand anything about miles. “It was mea pitch," he said, and that was all I could get out of him, and by this time the rum was beginning to take some effect on him. However, wo jogged along for some time on a newly-made road or bridle track, up one bill and down another. The next hill we ascended, which was higher than any of the rest, and is called Fokirahoe, a fine sight met the eye down below. About half a mile ahead could be seen the falls of Te Eeinga, and no artist could ask for a mox'e beautiful view than that which was xxow before me; but we had very little time to stand and admire the sight, so we went on, and close to the falls, behind a small clump of manuka, we found a lot of Maori whares; the dogs began to bark, and then such a sight was before ns—• about twenty old Maoris came out from xxnder cover of the whares. I have been a long time in New Zealand, but I do not think I ever came across such a lot of poor, half-starved, unclothed natives. Some of them actually stooped to the ground ; however, they were very kind, and got a pot of potatoes and puha (Maori cabbage) cooked, and I can assure you I did it justice. I got a place to sleep in, and next morning I started to look at the' wonderful caves in the solid rock; but I could only get a look at one, owing to too much water being in the river. The one I did get a look at seems to be well worth inspection; I went inside it about 100 yards, and then could not see any signs of its ending. The natives tell me that it is the smallest one of the lot. I should much like to have another trip when the river gets a little lower, and make further researches in this wonderful and beautiful pax-t of the country. I would recommend all lovers of good scenery to go to Te Eeinga.