A NORTH ISLAND TOUR.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume IV, Issue 948, 21 May 1883, Page 2

A NORTH ISLAND TOUR.

J. H. K. Nicholls, geologist and gold prospector, specbl correspondent to tjjje New Zealand Herald , has published a report of his recent tours from Tauranga through the Tutu Country and other territory of the ’interior of the North Island. He also ascended the Tongariro and Ruapehu. His route covers an immense extent of ground, extending from the Whangaehu , river and ‘its tributaries to the Manganui-a-te-Ao river, the country about which is almost a blank; in our best maps; and thence to Alexandra. He was 1 accompanied by J. Turner, native interpreter. Mr Nicholls is an experienced traveller, and possesses the knowledge requisite to enable him to describe the geolog'cal features of the country, and to give an opinion on its agricultural arid pastoral capabilities. He is also an experienced gold prospector. On. his journey he was posy sessed of'instruments'for determining the altitudes. The ascent o! Tongariro was made unknown.to. the natives. On the volcano of Tongariro the thermometer was izdeg below zero, while on the Ruapehu it marked, 6deg beldw zero. The summit of Ruapehu was covered with a crown of . ice, and the members of the expedition cut their footsteps as if they were traversing the peaks and glaciers of the Alps;' • ! ' The following are the most important portions of Mr Nicholls’s report: — Crossed the Rangipo Plains to examine the geological features of the Kairaanawa ranges, and found : the rocks to be of primary formation, with quartz similar to those found at the Thames, indicative of auriferous deposits. I believe that an extensive goldfield exists in the Kaimanawa range. Passed westerly again across an extensive scoria desert to examine; the sources, of the Waikato and Whangaehu rivers. Both . flow from the eastern side of the Ruapehu, near the same point, I found the latter rising in an extensive ice cave, at an altitude of 1,100 feet. There is a great flow of water of the color of milk, strongly impregnated with alum and iron. Discovered a fine waterfall up this river, and enormous ravines, with beds of solid lava 300 feet thick. Thence passed, through fine open country to Kariou, near the southern end ot Kaimanawa range. Started westerly, with two horses, across the Murimotu plains to the valley of the Wanganui. Entered a dense forest, and found two lakes near the head of the waters of the Mangawhero river, flowing southerly from the western side of Ruapehu. Continued through the forest for thirty miles to the River Manganui-a-te-Ao. The country is very mountainous and broken, with innumerable boggy creeks, and travelling was very difficult. I was days on the journey. I found a fine valley at the Manganui-a-te-Ao, with extensive settlements; We were received with suspicion by the Hauhaus, but afterwards were well treated. I next took a S.E. course through the Tuhua bush, and had to cross the Manganui-a-t-Ao ten times at different points, besides • other streams, which were mostly flooded. We gained the open country at Waimarino, S.W, of Ruapehu, after travelling fifty miles of forest on foot, as since leaving Murimotu the horses suffered greatly through the scarcity of food, and difficulty of travelling. Passed over high mountains, swamp, boggy creeks, and rivers strewn with enormous boulders. Passed through the Waimariro plains, a splendid tract of country, to Ngatiokoruapua, and were hospitably entertained by the Wanganui chief, Pehi Turoa. Remained with him two days, and crossed to the Okorakura plains, north of the Tongariro, and traced the source of the Wanganui river, and found it rising on north-west side of Tongariro, at an .elevation of 3,700 ft. Ascended the north side of Tongariro to 500 ft, and found a small active crater and extensive boiling springs, throwing up brown mud and black and blue streams of water, possessing great medicinal properties. Left this place on the 9th : May. Tongariro and Ruapehu were deeply covered with snow, and floods were setting in. Took a northerly 1

course to the head of the waters of the Kuiata river, flowing out of Ttihua into lake Taupo. Thence to open country to the shore of Lake Taupo, nearKarangahape. The scenery of this part of the Lake is very grand, bays and perpendicular cliffs rising hundreds of feet from the water. Then northwesterly to the head of Warhaha. Camped at Ponotepikapa and met Tehehu with a large number of natives holding a tangi. We were entertained by the natives, and left the following day for Kahakahora and -a small settle* ment near Nurakea range, south-east of Titraupenga, a large mountain about 6,000 ft high, east of Rangitotb ranges. Thence across Tetihio plains to the head waters of the Mangakawa river, and followed the course of the Mangate ' river through the Kahngnroa plains, and found a fine stream flowing northerly from Tetraupenga. In two days had crossed sixty miles over undulating plains, extending north to the Waipapa mountains, and marked on the map as covered by dense bush. Throughout the journey through the King Country found the maps very much out. Crossed thp Rangitoto Ranges, and then took a southerly course to Mangakango, near Mount Rangitoto, to attend a large meeting of tribes. Met Te Kooti there with a number of followers. Remained there two days, and followed up the Waipa Valley to Whatiwhatihoe, reaching Alexandra on Friday. The following are generally the features of the country passed through Forfy miles north of Lake Taupo, pumice plains; easterly of the lake, pumice plains; south;.of the lake, on the Rangipo Valley, pumice* but sheep country; south of Ruapehu desert, soil light, alluvial, and wellgrassed; westerly from Ruapehu through the Valley of the Wanganui as far as Taranaki, country mountainous arid broken, covered with dense forests ex* tending north through Tuhua. to Titiraupenga and Rangitoto ranges; open pumice plains north, of; Ruapehu, and Tongariro, also'along the western side of Lake Taupo, likewise, northwesterly and north of Titiraupenga, open pumice plains of great # extent * north-westerly of Rangitoto Range open undulating plains of good alluvial soil, extending to the Waipa Valley and ranges bounding the west coast country south of Titiraupenga and Rangitoto Range's are mostly broken and densely timbered. The best route for a railway is northward from the town of Wanganui by the western base of Ruapehu across the Waimarino Plains through an open portion, of Tuaha round the south end of the Rangitoto Ranges; and up the valley of the Waipa.' There is an alternative route .to, this ■ from the Waimarino Plains by the plains of the western shore of the | Taupo and northward through open country to Cambridge. There are no engineering difficulties of any impofance. I believe the Taranaki route is more difficult by reason of the broken and densely-wooded country south Of the Mokau. I found natives during the journey friendly but adverse to Europeans travelling through the epuri- ' try, especially surveyors arid prospectors. There is a strong feeling in favor of Tawhiao among all the tribes. I experienced much bad weather during the journey and great variations of temperature. The distance travelled since leaving Tauranga is over 400 miles. • . £