THE INTERIOR OP THE NORTH ISLAND.

Patea Mail, Volume VIII, Issue 1038, 23 May 1883, Page 3

THE INTERIOR OP THE NORTH ISLAND.

Mr J. H. K. Nicholls, geologist and gold prospector, the special correspondent of the New Zealand Herald, publishes report of his recent tonrs from Tauranga through the Taupo country, and other territory of the 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 in our best maps,, and thence to Alexandra. Ho was accompanied by John Turner, a native interpreter. Mr Nicholls is an experienced traveller, and

possesses the knowledge requisite to enable him to describe the geological features of the country, and to give an opinion on its agricultural and pastoral capabilities. He is also an experien.ed gold prospector, and in his journey he was possessed of instruments for determining altitudes. The ascent of Tongariro was made-unknown; to the natives. On the summit of Tongarirp the thermometer was I2deg. below zero, while on Ruapehu it marked 60deg. below 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 t lie peaks and glaciers of the Alps. The following are the most important portions of Mr Nicholas report: —I 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 in Kaimanawa Ranges. I passed westerly again across the extensive scoria to examine the sources of the Waikato anti Wangaehu rivers. Both flow from the eastern side of Ruapehu, near the same point. I found the latter rising in extensive ice caves at an altitude of 7100 ft. There is a great flow of water of the colour of milk, strongly impregnated with alum and iron. I discovered five waterfalls up this river, and enormous ravines, with beds of solid lava 2Qoft thick. I thence passed through fine open country to Kario, near the southern end of the Kaimanawa Range, and started westerly with our two horses across the Mmimotn Plains to the valley of the Wanganui. I entered a dense forest, and found two lakes near the head waters of the Mangawhero River, flowing southerly from the’western side of. Ruapehu, I continued through the forest for thirty miles to the River Wanganui. The Ateao country is very mountainous and broken with innumerable boggy 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 were received with suspicion by the Hauhaus; blit afterwards were well treated. I next took a south-east course through Tnhua Bush, and had to cross the Manganui Ateao ten times at different points, besides other streams, which were mostly flooded. We gained open country at the Waimliriao Plains, south-west of Ruapehu, after travelling through fifty miles of forest on foot. Since leaving Murimotu the horses suffered greatly through the scarcity of food and 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 Ngatiokorua Pa, and we were hospitably entertained, by the Wanganui chief Pehi Turoa, and remained with him two days, and then crossed to the Okarakura Plains, north of Tongariro, and traced the source of the Wanganui River, and found it rising on the north-west side of Tongariro at an elevation of 3700 feet. I ascended the north side of Tongariro to 500 feet, and found a small active crater and extensive boiling springs throwing up brown mud and black and blue streams of water possessing great medicinal properties, I left this place on the 9tli May, Tongariro and Ruapehu were deeply covered with show, and floods were settiiig in. I took a northerly course to the head waters of the Kurata River, flowing out of Tnhua into Lake Taupo, thence to the open country to the west shore of Lake Taupo, near Kerangahape. The scenery of this part of the lake is very grand bays and perpendicular cliffs rising hundreds of feet from the water, then north-westerly to the head waters of the Waihaha, Camped at Ponotepika Pa,, and met Te Heubeu with a large number of natives holding a tangi; We were; entertained by the natives, ami left the following day for Kahakahora and a small settlement near the Hurakea Range, southeast of Titiranpenga, a large mountain about 6000 ft high, east of Rangitofo Ranges ; , thence across Tetihio Plains to the head waters of the” Mangakino River, and . followed:, the course of the Manga te River through the Kaingaroa Plains, and found a fine stream, the Mangapapa, flowing northerly from Titiranpenga, In two days we had crossed sixty miles over open, undulating plains, ■ extending far north to the Waipapa Mountains, and marked on the map as. covered by dense bush. Throughout the journey through the King Country we found the maps very much out. Crossed the Rangitofo Ranges to the head water of thePunui River, and then took a southerly course to Mangarongo, near Mount Rangitoto, to attend a large meeting of tribes. We met Te Kooti there with a number of followers, and remained there two days, and followed up the Waipa Valley to Whatiwhalihoo, reaching Alexandra on Friday. The following are the general features of the region passed through :■ —Forty miles north of Lake Taupo are the pumice plains; easterly of the Lake, pumice plains; south of Lake, on the Rangipo Valley, pumice land also, but there is sheep country south of the. Ruapehu Desert. The soil is light alluvial, and well grassed, westerly . from s Ruapehu through the J valley of the Wanganui. As far as Taranaki the--country is mountainous and broken,and covered with dense forests extending north through Tnhua to Titirapenga and Rangitoto Rauges Open pumice plains extend north of Ruapehu and Tongariro ; also along the western side of Lake Taupo ; likewise north-westerly of the lake and north of Tilirnupepga there are open pumice plains of great extent. North-westerly of the Rangitoto Range there are open undulating plains of good alluvial soil extending to the Waipu Valley and ranges bounding the West Coast. The country south of the Titiranpenga and Rangiolo ranges is mostly broken and densely timbered. The best route for a railway is northward from the (own of Wanganui by the western base of Ruapehu across the Waimarino Plains through the open portion of Taaha, round the

south end of the Rangitofo Ranges and up the valley of the Waipa. An alternative route to this is from the Waimarino Plains by the 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 ef the Mokau. I found the natives during the journey friendly, but adverse to Europeans travelling through the country, especially surveyors and prospectors. There is a strong feeling in favor Tawhiao among all the tribes. We experienced much bad weather during the journey, and great variations of temperature. The distance travelled since leaving Tauranga is over four hundred miles.