TOLOGA BAY.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume X, Issue 1068, 2 May 1882, Page 2

TOLOGA BAY.

[from our own correspondent]. On Wednesday morning a small party, at the invitation of host Allanach of the i Tologa Bay Hotel (who by the way has 1 All-x-nack of making people comfortable) visited the renowned Cook's ' Cove, a spot some four or five miles I from the village of Tologa. A fine day i and calm sea made the trip a most enjoyable one. Starting in a whale-boat about half-past ten, and crossing the , bar without any mishap or wetting, . the noted Cove was reached, and all at i once landed on terraJirma. The scenery is most beautiful; hills and vales ' abound, and views of the sea are obtained from almost every eminence, , the grand waves dashing themselves i against the rocky coast, sending show- ! ers of spray far up, and rolling back in a seething mass of glistening foam form 'a sight of wondrous grandeur. The first spot visited on landing was the noted Cook’s well, supposed to be the identical spot that Captain Cook obtained water on his landing. The well is no larger than a small plate, and is cut out of hardish stone to a depth of some 13 inches, water at one i time flowed in a goodly stream from the spot, but it now barely trickles. The name of Cook is plainly seen carved in letters close by, and the rock below and surrounding the spot, are literally crowded with names and ' initials. Passing from this spot of interest we next came upon a Maori plantation, where we made the acquaintance of the most miserable, bony, wretched specimen of the Maori race it has ever been my lot to witness. ’ She is reported to be mad, but on this occasion spoke to us intelligibly in Maori, and insisted on shaking hands, which operation having been completed, she next requested a piece of tobacco, which was immediately given her. In return we repaired to the upper portion of the plantation and regaled our thirsty natures with abundance of watermelons. Carrying with us a pumpkin or two we started for the next spot called “ Hannah's Hole,” a cavity some forty feet high and thirty feet long, through which in wet weather the water running from the hills finds its outlet to the sea, and in spring tides through which the briny ocean dashes itself in foaming fury. There is a very curious freak of nature observable in this hole, namely the washing or crumbling away of the rock (which is of a sandstone nature) leaving an almost perfect representation of the fossil head and shoulders of a huge lizard, its mouth being about 1| inches. A little dog accompanying us entered into a cave close by, in which some penguins had secreted themselves, and being unable to obtain them, owing to the inaccessibility of their hiding place, we helped him, and by the aid of a snare managed to capture two. Time was going on and we bethought ourselves of the boat, and returned quickly, fearing shemight be left high and dry by the receding tide. But not so; we embarked once more and rowed round to another island where a long and beautiful cave exists, but owing to the high state of the tide, much to our regret, we could not visit it. I hope, however, ere long, to see this cave, and give you a description of it. The rocks at the mouth or seaward entrance rise almost perpendicularly to a height of from 80 to 100 feet, and the sea dashes against them in releut-

less fury, lashing itself in a mass of foam, grand to behold. On this island a small piece of land is cultivated and the return it gives for labor is wonderful. Cabbages many weighing 151bs. apiece, rhubarb, onions, pumpkins, beetroot and strawberries, and was the inhabitant only to follow the example set by his ground, and work energetically and heartily, he might soon command a nice snug pile. I have seen ground before yield good returns, but nothing I ever saw can compare with this in its prolific productions. About three a start was made for home, which was reached about 4 o’clock (a huge wave carrying us across the bar at a very rapid pace), and thus ended a most enjoyable days outing. The spot is well worth a visit from all lovers of grand scenery, apart from the associations connected with the old discoverer, which exist there.