A Holiday Resort.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XXX, Issue XVII, 25 April 1903, Page 1125

A Holiday Resort.

(Continued.) The first port of call is Waitangi, near the mouth of the Maungatukarewa River, and from there the boat generally visits the larger sheep runs round the north of the island, and finally returns to Waitangi before returning to New Zealand, for her mail and passengers. The first thing that strikes a visitor on nearing the islands is how very low-lying they are, the larger island especially ; in fact, the highest elevation hardly exceeds 900 feet. As you steam up the harbour, hugging the shore called Te Ngaio, you are delighted with the picturesque scenery, for widely scattered homesteads are dotted amongst the bush along the coast, and as we get still nearer our destination the scene changes to precipitous red cliff's, sur-

mounted with a crown of vivid green grass, and clumps of the native ake-ake, so called from its durability.

On going inland we pass through dense bush, not .'■itch bush as one sees in the North Island, as the trees here never attain a very great height, but still it is beautiful of its kind. Here are noble karaka, or kopi. trees, with their shiny leaves and luscious-looking yellow berries, and matipos with lovely purple berries, and overhead graceful festoons of karewas (supple-jacks). Ever and anon one hears the twitterings of jolly little fantails and the mellow note of the tui. Our old friend the blackbird calls us "pretty dears" in a most persistent manner, and then flies off to attack some poor victim’s strawberries. If we proceed and leave the bush, we gain what the shepherds call a “clear." You must keep to the track, for roads there are none, and the bogs (which even excel those of Ireland in their bogginess 1 are very dangerous. What a land of lakes ’ \\ ater, water everywhere, but. contrary to the poet, there is plenty to drink. However, one large expanse of water, comprising more than a third of Chatham Island, or about 40.000 acres of brackish lagoon, which has an outlet into the ocean at the Awapatiki ( from awa. a river, and patiki. flounder).

To reach some parts of the island (for instance, Kaingaroa, the far-off settlement) this lake has to be forded, and in winter weather it is no small undertaking to ride with your poor hoiho breast high through four and a-halt miles of bitterly cold water ; but it is thought nothing of by some of the hardy natives.

These islands are an ideal holiday resort to my way of thinking, a perfect Paradise for conchologists, anil those who wish to get far from the madding crowd. And then sportsmen would be in their glory here, what with cattle-stalking, pig-hunting, fishing, and shooting. The waters around the islands simply teem with fish of all kinds, the most sought for being hapotika, cod. terakihi, and crawfish, and as for game, the lakes abound with duck, geese, and swan. The plaintive cry of the seagull is always in one’s ears, and saucy little Jackies, with their brilliant red legs and pretty black and white plumage, are very much in evidence.

A remarkable sight is to be seen off the south coast. Basaltic columns from five to seven hundred feet high go sheer down into the sea. and again at ()uiera. near Whangaroa. there is a miniature Giant's Causeway ; the only difference in the construction of the columns is that those in Ireland are hexagons, while those in question are five-sided. Another place of interest is north of W hangaroa, where, since before the memory of any living person, peat has been, and is still, burning. I think I have told you enough, dear reader, to give you an idea of those very interesting islands, and I have written this in hopes that some who may chance to see it will take advantage of the summer weather and holiday time to pay a visit to that quiet retreat, the Chatham Islands.

Ethel J. Florance.