TO MOUNT EGMONT AND BACK.

Feilding Star, Volume III, Issue 51, 13 December 1882, Page 2

TO MOUNT EGMONT AND BACK.

(SPIXIAL CORKKSPO>"DEJfT.) [Concluded.] Our travelling correspondent, in i!escr : b ; ng Mount. Egmont, says :— ■ :!•'-; ever changing cloud-dress is an at tractive circumstance. Very seldom :ind for short time does he entirely unveil hini<elf to the vulgar gaze. Now with, a tiara of bright vapour circling his head, in half an hour it has descended to Ins noble shoulders ; a little later his loins are compassed with his favorite girdle; later still he seems to be wrapping his feet in the fleecy robe wafted to him by the blue Pacific. Just now, Egmont looks his best, with the fringe of his snowy robe falling gracefully over his shoulders. Doubtless, the near future i will sec the many beautiful streams of which he is the unfailing source, utilised by the miller and manufacturer. Finally I pity the man who can pass his days and nights within sight of this master-*^— piece of Nature's Gpd, and think of nothing higher than the price of fat sheep and bullocks. I much regretted it was the wrong time of the year to attempt the ascent of the mountain, there being, I should think, about half a mile of snow, from the summit down, at present. March, I aui informed is the most favorable time for "doing" the top. "While staying with some friends on the plains, we went on a picnic excursion 3 or 4 miles into the bush under the mount. We saw the land sold at the last Government land sale, and were shown sections with some Maori clearings, which brought as high a price as £16 per acre — too high a price. The only inducement to pay this amount could have been those said clearings, covered with cocksfoot three feet high, and surrounded by some beautiful new forest growth. The clearings vary from two to fifteen acres in extent. They are more than usually valuable to the settler on account of the great difficulty of getting a good bush fire here — there being hardly a week's unbroken weather at a time, under the mountain. The most remote of these clearings, and the most beautiful was the scene of the lamentable defeat and death of that rash, but brave hero, Von Temps ky. A fern-stem cross and railings mark the spot where he and his gallant comrades fell beueabh the balls of hundreds of Maories hidden amongst the branches of some large rata trees scattered over the clearing. One after another, three of his men rushed to the rescue of their beloved leader, only to be compelled to retire, disabled by the shower of bullets raining on the fatal spot. The whole force were compelled to retreat, heart broken at having to leave the wounded hero to the tender mercies of the infuriated savages. The Government have reserved fifty acres of this battle-field as a park or recreation ground. The open land of the plains are just now covered with splendid clover pastorage, a foot high — in which feed thousands of cattle and horses, hardly any sheep, as cattle are more suitable to keep the fern down for two or three years . The greatest drawback to the prosperity of the plains is the want of a convenient market for cattle and horses. Auckland seems to be the only one at present, and very awkward and expensive it is to deal with. Hawera, to all appearance, is destined to be the great commercial centre of this large and prosperous district. Already, it seems a lively, thriving, go-ahead place. Manaia, also, nine miles distant, on the plains proper, appears to be well situated to command considerable trade. The only serious climatic objection to the coast is the strong prevailing wind from the sea, which seriously interferes with the growth of fruit and other trees. On the whole, I was much pleased with my trip, and would strongly recommend it to any one having time to take it. The country between Waverley and Hawera is more like an " Old Country" district than any that I have seen in the colonies.