NORTH AUCKLAND.

Hokitika Guardian, 25 January 1917, Page 3

NORTH AUCKLAND.

The Parliamentary Tour. Mangonui Jan 20 Saturday was spent by the Parliamentary touring party in. the journey from Russell to Mangonui. It proved to be a long but a most enjoyable day. There was some delay in leaving Russell owing mainly to the state of the tide. The first part of the journey was made by boat across the Bay of Islands up one of its many arms and then by tidal river to Ker;keri, oue of tbe very earliest settlements. After lunch at. the homestead of Mr George Riddell, formerly of Taranaki, who here has nine thousand acres of cattle and sheep country, the j ;utney was continued through very patchy hill country over roads often of the circuit order and down the pleasant Kaeo Vnliey. Instead of journeying to Whangaroa the cars made Totnra North, on the opposite side of the hafbor. Here Messrs J. S. Lane and L M. Lane, former chairman of the Whangaroa C mnt-y, and later president of the Whangaroa Chamber of Commerce, had , provided for the entertainment of the touristsThe earlier delay compelled the curtailment of the programme, but even ao the afternoon was spent delightfully-

The whole party made a trip by fast launches to a little bay inside Whangarca Headr, passing over tbe spot where a century ago the British ship Boyd sack after being burned by the Maoris, At the bay the people of Whangaroa had assembled oni the Natives had prepared a char ct.r s ic welcome, including lunch cocked and served in Maori fashion. Tne old Ngapubi chief, Meta Haps, deiiveied a speech ®f welcome, to which Sir F, Lang replied. Another journey over the hills from Totara North took the cars to Mangonui, the final stage bring made after dark. More than thirty cars in close order, and with brilliant lights, entered Mangonui in procession and drew up on the water front.

At Russell the party suffered one or two difeotions, the Hon D. Buddo returning to Auckland, and Mr J. A. Fro3tick being called south on urgent business. Tbo Canterbury representation is thus reduced to Mr James Jamieson and two journalists. There have been one or two minor acc'degts on the hills, bat the cars are crcsnng the rough hill roads for the most part in excellent scy/e.