OFF THE BEATEN TRACK

Waikato Times, Volume 107, Issue 18026, 22 May 1930, Page 11

OFF THE BEATEN TRACK

TRIP TO EAST CAPE. MOST INTERESTING JOURNEY.

(By J.8.P.)

One of the most interesting journeys off the beaten track is one that can be undertaken from Te Araroa to the East Cape. It has to be done in the saddle, as there is no formed road for the whole of its length of sixteen miles. It was my pleasure to proceed on this journey. Starting off l'l-om Te Araroa, accompanied by Mr P. Mulligan, a well-known sheepfarmer on the Coast, we spent the night at his place, and went on in the morning to the cape, where we were the guests of the Rev. R. T. Kohere, who has his homestead just under the East Cape lighthouse. He has a very comfortable home, and they made our short stay with them very enjoyable.

Unique Reptiles.

The lighthouse, which is of the second order with a 30-mile radius, received a visit. It stands on an eminence of about 500 ft. altitude. It was shifted some six years ago from East Island, which is about two miles from the mainland. This was necessary owing to the subsidence of part of the island into the sea, which made it dangerous to live there. The dwellings which are still on it, have been sold to a local resident for removal. There is a formed track with a substantial railing to the present site of the lighthouse, also a tram line. Mr J. Cocker is the principal in charge, "with ‘Mr Hannah as assistant, and they have their families with them. They gave me some interesting particulars about the island and the tuataras which live there. The tuataras are also existent on Cuvier and St. Stephen’s Islands, those on Cuvier attaining a length of as much as 3ft. They are the sole survivors of a prehistoric Saurian family, and have existed on this earth for thousands of years, and these islands off New Zealand coast are the only place where they can be found. There is a Hawke’s Bay Education Board School nearby under the control of Mr Coyne, who has 16 pupils. Along the coast about eight miles distant at Horoera is another school, native, where Mr and Mrs George have charge with 32 pupils. Both schools received a visit. Opposite Horoera can be seen the remains of the Port Eliott, a large mutton boat that came ashore about eight years ago. Mr Mulligan and another man bought the wreck for £25, which was a good deal. They made good use of it, one house of 12 rooms being built, completely from the timber obtained from the wreck. The doors were used in the construction, and they at once show their origin, as they are all on an angle. There are .fine specimens of pohutukawas along the coast. .At East Cape they can be seen almost undermined by the shifting sand while others are still trumphant in spite of being half buried.-^ The,.wind, is veo’ violent at the lC extreme^end’ '• as ' : the trees show. They mostly resemble a trimmed hedge. The pohutukawas must have presented a brilliant spectacle at Christmas, as \that is the time they are in full bloom. They drop seeds on their trunks—the seeds taking root again and developing into a vine. The natives can predict the seasons by the blooms. If they are mostly on the western side of the trees, it indicates a favourable season, on the eastern side the opposite would be the effect.

An Historic Mound. Near Te Araroa, about a mile and a half from 1 the township, stands a famous mound on the beach, which has an extremely interesting history. It marks the stand \ that was made by a famous fighting chief in olden days. This chief’s name was Tuwhakairiora, a rangitira and the progenitor of the whole Ngatiporou tribe. He was proceeding along the coast in seach of two of his dogs, famous in Maori history. Calling his dogs, he was mocked by some members of a hostile tribe. . The dogs were killed by them, and they then attacked him. He was single-handed and unarmed, and to escape iristant death, he jumped on to the mound that still can be seen. Quite a number stormed' the mound, but they could not reach him. One of the attacking party, mimicking a thrust, threw 'him a spear and, spear in hand, he beat off all his opponents till his brother, who was fishing in the bay, saw his plight and came to his rescue. Tuwhakairiora jumped from the mound into the sea, reached the boat and escaped. The figure we. all see on the large native meeting houses at the present time is symbolic of this great chief in his defiant attitude on the rock.