Notes.

Manawatu Herald, 4 December 1900, Page 3

Notes.

On a Tour of the North Island of N.Z., (October-November 1900) including the HOT LAKES DISTRICT. (The Wonderland of New Zealand.) By Chas. Austin. The most pleasant trip it has been my good fortune to experience was a tour of the North Island of New Zealand, during the latter part of October and part of November, 1900. Leaving Foxton by the mail coach (Messrs Walker & Nolan's) at 3.30 p.m. on 34th October, we arrived at Shannon railway station about five the same evening after a pleasant ride of 13 miles behind a good team of four-in-hand, with no less than 15 passengers — most of whom were Maoris en route to visit the celebrated Maori King, "Mahuta," at Otaki. After having dined at the Club Hotel at Shannon, there was just sufficient time to step on the Manawatu-Wellington train, for Wellington, at which town (the capital ot New Zealand and seat of Parliament) we arrived at 9.45 p.m., after a comfortable train-ride in a well-ap-pointed carriage. WELLINGTON TO NAPIER AND GISBORNE. Spending one day in Wellington we left m Messrs Huddart- Parker's steamer 11 Elingamite," for Auckland via Napier and Gisborne. There are two lines of steamers— Messrs Huddart- Parker & Cos., and the Union Cos—t rading between the principal ports, besides a large number of the " small fry," such as coastal steamers and tramps. The vessels of the above mentioned companies are of the latest passenger- type of high-class vessels, being installed through-out with electric light and luxuriously furnished for the comfort of passengers, and with a splendid table. These lines of steamers also work together in friendly competition, which enables passengers to break the journey at any port ot call and travel by either line of steamers with the same ticket, which is found to be a great convenience to the tourist or holiday-seeker. After a smart run of about 14 hours we arrived at Napier ; having passed the coast-line of a large tract of some of the most fertile agricultural and pastoral land in the Colony. We spent a most enjoyable day in and around Napier, where are to be seen some very pretty and interesting spots. The local authorities are to be congratulated on the general appearance of the town — the roads being the cleanest and best -maintained of any town I have visited in New Zealand. A magnificent stone monument has just recently been erected, at great expense, near the esplanade in Napier, to perpetuate the memories of ten brave men who lost their lives in attempting to rescue others during the great flood at Clive in 1896, when terrible disaster befel human life and property. The breakwater at Napier is a massive and costly structure, which has cost many thousands oi pounds to construct, in order to enable shipping to be carried on with greater facilities, as there is only an open roadstead — there being no harbour. We left Napier at 8 p.m., with all its pretty surroundings, and after another nan of 8 or 9 hours, arrived off Gisborne (Poverty Bay). Here there is no wharf accommodation for large inter-colonial steamers such as the Elingamite, and passengers and cargo have to be landed by tender — the Waihi, steamer, and the auxiliary schooner, Termac, being regularly employed for this purpose. Here the visitor may go ashore in one of the tenders and spend several hours in and around Gisborne. After discharging a quantity of cargo and taking aboard a number of passengers we left Poverty Bay at 11 a.m. the same day, and, owing to a strong head wind, did not arrive at Auckland until 1.30 p.m. the next day, instead of about noon had the weather been favourable throughout the trip. However, the sea was not rough, and the consequence was a good muster of passengers in the dining saloon, who did ample justice to the splendid repasts provided. AUCKLAND. Auckland possesses one of the most magnificent harbours in the world, and the panoramic views and delightfully pretty spots we were enabled to witness on a beautiful October day, as our favourite steamer glided gracefully up the harbour, will long be remembered by the visitor who is fortunate enough to arrive in Auckland by steamer under such favourable circumstances. In the Auckland Museum may be seen a huge Maori war canoe 82ft long, with a beam of jtt, built in, or about the year 1835. This canoe has a beautifully carved figurehead, the sides and ends are also covered with artistic Maori carving, such as are seldom to be seen nowa-days; and is capable of accommodating no less than 100 paddlers, besides others. The Auckland fine art gallery is well worth visiting while in Auckland, there being some splendid specimens of art from the brushes of distinguished j painters. There are two Parks in Auckland — the Albert and Western — which are prettily laid out. The domain is situated between the city j and the suburbs of Parnell and Newmarket. Here is to be seen some , pretty bush, intersected by winding j drives and paths. A few hours may ; be pleasantly spent by taking a ferry steamer to the North shore, ascending Flagstaff hill, which commands an ex- j cellent view of portions of the harbour ; j from thence you may proceed to Lake | Takapuna, 3^ miles by coach, which is a pleasant drive, and after having regaled o^lself at the Lake Hotel, if necessary, return to Auckland within the half-day well pleased with the out- j injf.

MOUNT EDEN. The visitor can scarcely say that h( has seen Auckland unless having as cended the summit of this famous extinct volcanoe. The distance is about 3 miles from the city, and there is a splendid drive to the summit, the height of which is about 640 ft. The craters of extinct volcanoes may be counted — within a radius of five miles — totalling something over 60 in number 111 The formation of the cratei on the summit is perfect, and resembles a vast amphitheatre. This gives one a little idea of what a warm, or rather a hot part of the world this has been in former years, when in activity. A magnificent view of the harbour and the ocean on either side of the North Island may here be seen, and on a clear day the outlines of the Great Barrier island (60 miles away) is traceable. The remains of old fortifications are still to be observed on the slopes of Mount Eden. (To be Continued.)