wooded valley, interspersed with cultivations, and meadows of rich grass. The country continued of the same character till we came to a wooded range of hills, about 10 miles from the course, where the Turakina river takes a northerly direction. We camped here for the night; the natives objecting to proceed further in this direction, alleging the forest as impenetrable; and that it was claimed by the Whangawhero natives, a distinct branch of their tribe, residing at Wanganui. I soon discovered that the natives along with me were the actual claimants of the