ROTORUA.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 29, 12 August 1871, Page 8

ROTORUA.

The Tauranga correspondent of the “ N. Z. Herald” thus writes :—A gentleman from the interior informs me that the road from Maketu to Rotorua is now an excellent one. When first made for the convenience of the Prince, it was scarcely more than a bridle track, but now a buggy might be drawn with ease as far as Te Taheki, where there is a deep stream, at present crossed by a canoe, but shortly to he substantially bridged over, the contract for the erection having been let to Messrs Lundon and Conway, of Tauranga, who have just completed a school-house at the same place. Access to this part of the country being now so easy, it is remarkable that the singular beauty of the neighborhood is not more generally known. Rotoiti (a small lake) contains some most enchanting bits of scenery. It winds about in a capricious manner, between undulating country, covered with foliage and verdure to the water’s edge. Every here and there are little bays, shut in with shrubbery, like bowers, and the landscape varies at almost every step. Hundreds of wild ducks are to be seen on the lake, so tame as to allow themselves to be approached within half-a-dozen yards. These are sacred ftapu), and to shoot one would be to incur the severest displeasure of the natives, who never kill any ef them. At Te Taheki there is now an inn, kept by Mr Bennet, of Maketu, superseding the old “tiki,” or Maori house of accommodation. Not very far from this is Te Ngae, or Rotorua lake, near the stream which connects the two lakes of Rotorua and Rotoiti. Here there is an old mission station, lately the residence of Captain Moore, and now occupied by Mr M‘Rao as a very comfortable hotel. The scenery here has beauties of its own, though [different in character to those of Rotoiti. ■A larger expanse of water is in view, and washes the bank of Mr IVPRae’s orchard, which, by the way, is full of old fruit trees that bear prodigious quantities of peaches, cherries, apples, pears, plums, &c., which visitors in the fruit season will not find a despicable attraction. In front is the picturesque island of Mokoia, memorable as the last refuge of the Ngatiwhakawe when invaded by the Ngapulii more than forty years ago. Mr M‘Rae is building a yacht twenty-seven feet long in which to make pleasure excursions. At [present the only craft on the lake are uncomfortable canoes, which the natives have the conscience to charge ten shillings a day for the use of. Oliinemutu is about six miles from Te Ngae ; Rotomahana about twenty five miles, and horseback excursion to both places are practicable. At Oliinemutu there is a tolerable house of accommodation kept by natives, hut none at Rotomohana. Te Ngae is one of the stations of the Ngatipikiao, who have now got not less than one hundred acres in wheat. Te Hira, the chief, has fifteen acres under this crop on his own account.