THE WAIKATO COUNTRY.

Wellington Independent, Volume XVIII, Issue 1902, 1 August 1863, Page 3

THE WAIKATO COUNTRY.

A correspondent of the Tamnaki Herald, \ gives the lollowing description ot the country which has been the scene of recent operatious. He writes : — As our troop«, under General Cameron, are said to have made an inroad into Waikato, some descriptien of the probable scene of their operations may not be uninteresting to your readers at the present time. Last summer, being employed on a government mission, I travelled through the upper and lower Waikato ; from the gulf of Hauuiki on the east to Otawhao on the west; aud thence down the Waipa and Wailuto rivers to Mangatawbiri, the nearest landing place to Auckland. At this point the rirer bends almost at right angles in ils westward course to the sea; and from a considerable elevation on the Auckland side the Pokeno fort commands the reaches of the river. From Auckland to Maiigatawhiri, the landing place (a distance of 40 miles), there is now a well-metalled road, and communication by the telegraphic wire. To accommodate the description to the piobable advance of our troops, I will reverse the order of my route. The Waikato river at Mangatawhiri, where its direction westwards forms a rather abrupt angle with its southern course, js about as broad as the Thames at Chelsea ; near this point, we are told, arrangements had been raaJe for throwing over a pontoon bridge. On the Auckland side parallel with the river, a high range of wooded bills extends east and west. On crossing over the summit of these hills the noble Waikato could he seen for many miles up its course, " In all her length far winding lay, With promontory, creek, and bay, And islands that empurpled bright, Floated amid the lovelier light, And mountains that, like giant's stand, To sentinel enchanted land." As we ascend the river, in the salient angle on the right, formed by the bending of the Waikato nearly due south, are several hills covered with forest : and a short distance above the turn of the river is a large long island (dividing it into two brond streams) thickly covered with timber. A few native whares may also be seen amongst the trees. 'lhe banks of the Waikato, from Mangatawbiri to its junction with the Waipa river, a distance of about 40 miles, are generally low, and the country is flat for some miles from the | river on either side — open and backed by high ranges of hills some distance inland. The pas in both banks are mostly small but numerous, situated on almost every creek or large tributary stream, in which are moored numerous native canoes. Tbese of course, could be easily carried, some distance inland and secreted.