TARAWERA.

Bay of Plenty Times, Volume II, Issue 134, 13 December 1873, Page 3

TARAWERA.

” A Touiiisx ” writes to us :— *' Upon leaving Ohinemut.u 11 le road skirted tho edge of the lake | until wo reached a river culled i’nareaga, which is | a most difficult ford to negotiate, it, being necessary i to head out to sea and indulge in an apparently | meaningless meandering in order to avoid deep ! boh>*4, with which the place abounds. Having readied the opposite shore, the truck led through ft dreary waste wish no object of interest, until on emerging from a piece of bush the proLtyJiiltlo blue Sake Tikdupu burst upon our view. This, I must confess, is one of the most exquisite little bits of i-ccmny 1 have met with, the indescribably bc-iuliiul lint of the water forming a most striking contrast to the bold and rugged bills which surround it. The road after following the edge of the lake about half a utile, suddenly amended, and upon reaching the summit wo had a full view of Kotu ii-idiahi, at the far extremity of which cun bo gem .Kit ilerin’a, formerly a post, ! occupied by Captain Mair. Then: is hero one of those rofii.-irkabic . freaks of nature in which (.bis district abounds ; the two lakes, although within 150 yards of each other, have a di.Tcrot.ee of level ■ f 100 feet. VVo now as usual skirted the take, and upon arriving fit the outlet entered a gorge, which brought us to tin: village ol Wairoa, or Tarawcra, as it is more commonly Called by Europeans. This lil tio ktiiuga is charmingly sitnai ed, being a basin surrounded by high lulls. We were much struck with the general neat cess oi the v. hares, and after refreshing the inr.fr man at tho necomodal ion house oi. I'ct.er, who ia really an artist mu thy of th« Ihihiis iioyalc, we visited tho parsonage foi aicrly occupied by the Rev. Mr Spencer. Tho state of poriection to which tins gentleman haa brought Ids place is ready wonder!ul—it being laid out w.th f in* nlmost taste ia orchards, flower gardens, and shady avenues of English and foreign trees. I was much struck during my sojourn at Wairoa wish the progress made by the children attending tho native school under the charge of Dr Cowan, some of whom, although only six months under the doctor’-* care, exhibit ready wonderful proficiency in reading, This gentleman informed roe that his salary is only ; JtiOO per annum, and, considering that ho lias to ! perform tho medical duties of a largo district in i addition to attending to the school, I cannot, but include him in the list, of hard worked and | underpaid otlida’s, more especially as tho prices 1 of p ovirions in such uu out dtsli ict are enormous