AUCKLAND TO TAUPO.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 173, 5 June 1862, Page 5

AUCKLAND TO TAUPO.

The following letter from a gentleman residing in an official capacity amongst the Tuupo natives, has bean kindly placed at our disposal by our Auckland correspondß!ii : :—

Oruanui, Taupo, ; 29th April, 18G2. Dkak Srn,- —In accordance with my promise, I send you tha following particulars of my journey from. Auckland to Taupo, which may interest you, and give your friends at homo some idea of how "we get into Tanpo." ! I left Auckland on board a small schooner of 1G tons bound, for the Matata, a river running into the ISay of Plenty. We started with.a,fair wind and rounded Cape Oolville tl^aaie night, and everything seemed to promise a fine run.down the coast, but alas ! our troubles were only beginning. The wind heading us, we run into the Mercury Islands harbor, : and vegetated there for three days, at the end of which period we set sail aiain, and were within fifteen miles of our destination, when we were again headed; and ran b:=,c'.v to Tauran :a.. Hei-e I was kept a close prisoner for, two days, there being too much sea on to venture into our little boat, (or I should rather, say cullender, for some rascals in Auckland had cut her aclritt, ami she was found upon the rocks next day—a thing,. lam sorry to say, of frequent occurrence in Auckland ; I myself know of three instances in which valuable boats were completely destroyed by the:;e "larks" of "young Auckland/) the rain poured down in the most persevering manner, as if it was working by tho piece, and the Rebecca's decks nob being warranted to hold water, it of course worked through the seams, and as always happens, cams through in the, most awkward places. For instance,. whichever end I. turned niy head, I found a regular " drip" established. Tho water came drop, drop, down, and as I found it was of no use dodging it,.l gave myself u'o ti it at last in despair. But you may ask, why lie in bed, or rather m .your bunk? "Now the cuhin of this vo.-sel was formed in the most ingenious manner. Lot, me try and describe it,: there were, in the iirst place, two bunks so very large, that unless you took ths precaution of wedging yourself in, you would be so rolled and pitched about when at sea, that I cannot compare, it to anything else than a- pill in a jnll-box. When reclining in this'dim, your iU-je would be about 12 inches fro.n the deck, and -whenit rained the sensation was just the same a-s if every drop splashed right down upon yourfaoe. At each side of the bunk was a seat six inches iv width, enclosing a smnll square, within which four persons might have scjueezo'l themselves, by -judiciously- dovetailing their legs within each other. Thera was no means of ventilation excepting a sliding hatch, which when closed, as of course it was during these two memorable days, raised the temperature from 80 to 90 degrees. Add to this, an oil lamp with tivo burners (one of which was always going out)' fed with shark oil, and which was kept burning all night, and you will slightly conceive what a pestilent atmosphere I was in, and with what pleasure I. stepped on board Mr. Clarke's boat 'which came off for me.. After, a stay of three days we started again, and \vsra actually oli' tho mouth of the river and again driven back to Taui-;i.nga: Flesh and blood could not stand this, and go I determined to start overland, and leave the wretched. Rebecca to her fate, which was sad enough, for upon her next trial she we:it ashore at the mouth of the river Matata, and became a total wreck, although^ fortunately, my goods were all saved, with a few tn fling exceptions. After enjoying the hospitality of the Rev. E. 13. Clarke, I started overland, having hired a horse from a native chief—Wirentu Patere" (William Barton), and with a native as a guide, started along the sea baach for Makctu. There ia a wide river running into Maketu harbor, which is very shallow at low water; and, at the proper crossing, and trusting implicitly to_ my guide, I went in, never dreaming of such a thing as a ducking. The wretched boy, instead of taking me to the proper crossing, guided me to the only place where there was danger; and my horse (not a very strong one), got into a quicksand, ■ and plunging very furiously, burst the. girth strap and horse, rider, and traps were floundering in the water, which was here breast-high. I unfortunately got underneath the horse, and was a few seconds under the water; at last I managed to scramble on my tegs, and turned the horse upon his,, for'he* was float- ' ing on his side;-and," fortunately for me, lie seemed to take it very easily. But, where was my boy 1 my precious boy ! Ho was actually so much engaged: fishing for the bits of old blanket that formed the: saddlecloths that lie had no time to think of a man —and that man a magistrate too. 1 was so tickle.l with tho idea that, wet and cold as I was, I could not help laughing at him. We got to the other side without much difficulty, and Mrs. Smith's kindness soon made me forget my ducking, the only evil consequence of which was that I spoiled my watch. Went on next day to Matata, and found the Kebecca a wreck ; got away up the river as quickly as possible, in case the native owners should seize the cargo as payment for the loss of the vessel by a Pakelia (native law, that). After two days' travelling, arrived at Ahimanga, and there I left my goods in charge of a native, and went on with two natives, three horses, my. clerk, and self, all loaded, intending to.return with about 40 natives for the remainder. Passed hot springs and la.rgß beds of sulphur upon our first day's, march! This sulphur lies: upon the bank of the river, which is navigable for canoes, and I should think there would be no difficulty in transporting it to Matata. It crops up in a, pure.state, over "a, large surface. Camped- by the side of the river. In the morning my thermometer rated 33 ° ; in. the middle of the day, 85°. Reached f.ake Tarawera. I should think it. is about'ls miles long by about 8 broad. It has an extraordinary mountain at the east end, shaped liked an immense bastion, and has a most striking effect; a few miles from Tarawera is Port Wahara, which' is, celebrated for its geysers ; but, as I have already spun' out this letter to a; most, inordinate length, I mustleavqmy future adventuresl to another letter- (if this has not already proved too tedious). However that may bs, believe me, my dear Sir, yours obediently, - .