An Interesting Naira-TIVE.

Manawatu Standard, Volume 4, Issue 141, 22 May 1883, Page 2

An Interesting NairaTIVE.

TRAVELS AND ADVENTURES. VALUABLE INFORMATION. THE INTERIOR OF TH^ NORTH SLAND. (.UNITED PRESS ASSOCIATION; ) Auckland, May 20. Mr J. H. K. NichollsJ geologist and gold prospector, the special correspondent of the New Zealand Hera A, publishes report of Ins recent tours from Tauranga throut?li the Taupo country, and other territory oft he interior of the North Island. He also ascended Tongariro and Ruapehu. His route covers an immense amount of ground, extending from the Wangaehu River and its tributaries to Wanganui, the country about which is almost a blank m onr best maps, and thence to Alexandria. He was accompanied by JohD Tamer, a native interpreter. Mr NichoUs io an experienced- traveller, and possesses the knowledge requisite to enable him to describe the geological features of thd country, and to give an opinion on its agricultural and pastoral capabilities. He is also an eXperienced gold prospector, and m his journey he was possessed of instruments-tor deter" mining, altitudes. The ascent of Tongairiro was made unknowa to the natives. On the summit of Tongariro the thermoneter was 12 dew below zero, while on Raapohu it marked 60 deg beiow zero. The summit of Ruapehu was covered, with a crown of ice, and the members of the expedition cut footsteps as if they were traversing the peaks and glaciers of the Alps. The following are the most important portions of Mr Nicholl's report:— l crossed the Rangipo Plains to examine the geological features of the Kaimanawa Ranges, and found rocks of primary .' formation with quartz similar to!, those found at. the Thames, indicative of auriferous deposits. I believe that an extensive goldfield exists m Kaimat.awa Ranges. I passed westerly again across the extensive scoria desert to examine the sources of the V? aikato and Wangaehu JRivers. Both flow from the eastern side of. viuapehu, near the sa-ne point. I found the latter rising m extensive ice j caves at an altitude of 7100 ft. There is a great of water of the color of milk, strongly impregnated with alum and iron. I discovered five waterfalls up this river, and enormous ravines, with beds of solid lava 200 ft thick. I theoce passed through fine open«country to Kario, near the southern end of the Kaimanawa Range, and started westerly with our two horses across the Murimotu Plaits to the valley of the Wanganui. I entered a dense forest, and found two lakes near che head waters of the Manga whero River, flowing southerly from the western side oh Ruapehu. I continued through the forent for thirty miles to the river Wanganui. The Ateao country is very mountainous and broken with innumer* able bogzry creeks, and travelling is very difficult. I was five days on the journey. I found a fine valley at Manganui Ateao, with an extensive settlement.. We v /.were,; received with bus picion by the Hauhaus ; but afterwards w«re well treated. Inex*; took a southeast Curse through Tuhua Bush, and had to cross the Manganui Ateao ten times at different points, besides other streams, which were mostly flooied. We gained open country at the Wai* marino Plains, south-west of Ruapehu, after travelling fifty miles ot forest on foot. Since .leaving Murimotu the horses suffered greatly through the scarcity of food .aid the difficulty of travelling. I passed over nothing but high mountains, swamps, boggy creeks, and rivers strewn with enormous boulders. I passed through the Waimarino Plains — a splendid tract of country— to N^atiokorua Pa, aud wa were hospitably entertained by the Wanganui chief Pehi Turoa, and remained with him two days, and then crossed to the Qkarakura Plains, north of Tbhgarirb, and traced the source of the Wanganui River, aod found it rising on the northwest sido of Tongariro at an elevation of 3700 feet. I ascended the north side of Tongariro to "500 fret, and found a small active crater and extensive boiling springs throwing up brown mul and black streams of water possessing great medicinal properties. I lett this place on the 9th May. Toneariro and Ruapohu were deeply covered with snow, and floods were setting m. I took a northerly course to the head watTs of the Kurata River, flawing out of Tuhua into. Lake .Taupo, thenco to. the open country to west shore of Lake Taupo, near Karangahape. he scenery of this part of this part of the lake is very grand, bays &nd perpendicular cliffs rising hundreds of feet, from the water, then north-westerly ito the head waters of the Waihaha. Catnped at Ponotepika Pa, and met Te Heuheu 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 settlement near the Hurakea rtange, southseast of Titiraupenga, a largo mountain about 6000 ft high, east of Rangitoto Ranges ; thence across Tetihio Plains to the waters- of the Mangakino River, and followed the course of the Mangate River through the Kaingaroa Plains|and found a fine stream, the Mangapa pa, flowing northerly from 1 Titir.au pehga. In two day.s we bad crossed sixty miles over open, undeleting plains, extending far north to the Waipapa Mountains, and marked on the map as covered by dense ibusb.' Throughout the journey through the King Country we found the maps very much out. Crossed the Rangitoto \ Ranges to the bead water of the Puoui River, and then took a southerly conrse to Mangarongo, near Monut Rangitoto, to attend a large meeting of tribes. We met Te Kooti the e with * number of followers, and remained there two days, and followed up the Waipa Valley to Whatiwnatihoe, reaching Alexandra on Friday. The following are the general , features of the country m and around region passed throHgh : — Forty miles north of Lake Taupo, are the primioa

plains, easterly of the lake, pumice plains; south of lake, on the Rangipo Valley, pumice land also, but there is good sheep country south of the Ruapehu Desei't. The soil is light alluvial, an! well grassed westerly from Ruapehu through the valjeynf the Wanganui. As far as Taranaki the country is \ mountainous and broken, and covered with dense Forests extending north through Tuhua to .Titiraupenga and Rangitoto Rang s. Open pumice plains extend north of Ruapehn and Tongariro ; also along the western si le of lake Taupo ; likewise north-westerly of the lake and north of Titiraupenga there are open pumice plains ot* great extent. Northwesterly of the Rangitoto Range there are open undulating plains of good alluvial soil extending to the Waipu Valley and the Ranges bounding the West Coast. The country south of the Titiraupenga and Rangitoto ranges is 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 the open portion of Tuaha, round the south end of the Rangitoto Ranges, and up the valley of Waipa. An alternative route to this is from the Waimauno Plains of the western shore of Taupo and northward through the open country to Cambridge. There are no engineering difficulties of any importance. I believe the Taranaki route -is more difficult, by reason of the broken and densely^ wooded country south of the Mokau. I found the natives during the journey friendly, but adverse to Europeans travelling tbrougfi the country, especially surveyors and prospectors. Tbere is a strong feeling m favor of Tavrhiao among all the tribes. We experienced much bad weather during the journey, and great variation of temperature.- The distance travelled since leaving Tauranga is over, four hundred mi'e3.