INTO THE UREWERA

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 580, 5 February 1929, Page 13

INTO THE UREWERA

AN INTERESTING TRIP

FOUR MEN IN A CAR

| ~l r,to the beautiful, half-explored Urewera country went four men in a car—-four enthusiastic Auckland explorers determined to spend their summer holidays in the virgin i realm of Mount Edgecombe: eager to do a climb few have attempted since the first surveyors blazed lean I , tracks ' j They succeeded, and now they have returned, filled with admiration for the lovely busliland they traversed. The adventurers were Dr. li. Chatfield, of Auckland, and Messrs. V. de Guerrier, chief engineer of the Auckland City Tramways, K. Howard and Heald. This morning Mr. de Guerrier gavo the sum of their experiences when he said: "That and the National | Park are the best bits of country in the i North Island. Always i have been eni thusiustie about the National Park, but ! we found its equal.” INTO THE WILD ! With camp equipment piled about j them in Dr. Chatfield’s sturdy cur the j four men left Auckland on Boxintr Dav and journeyed via Wailii to Taurans t There the weather caused a deta-v lot I|VII days, but Saturday sunshim cheered them on their wav to Whakatane, thence right up to the end of the W aimana Valley. They were now purring their wav into the heart of Urewera, the road going within 1(J miles of Maunsapuhatu, the stronghold of Rua. 1 hough the road was narrow and hilly, the surface was good and \ve carried on comfortably and without mishap,”• said Mr. de Guerrier. While passing through hills covered wtli tall bush and crossing little crystal springs, they paused occasionalv tor minor excursions. Darkness found them at Matalii, where they camped 1 01* the night. The small Maori settlement is blessed by the services of a woman medical missionary who was doing wonderful work, and had been there fox* ‘seven years.

EXPLORERS INDEED This adventure ended, they returned to Taneatua, afterwards finding their W'ay up the valley to Kuatoki. Extensive inquiries were made as to the best method of taking the climb that lavahead, but noboay seemed to know or —o. So they carried on. At the loot ui Mount Edgecombe, whose lonely bulk towers above the undulating country, a camp was pitched among tea-tree. An evening battle with mosquitoes ended successfully, and the climb was begun in the morning. It was estimated that the climb would take three hours, but this time was almost trebled, as the tracks were overgrown with fern and scrub. ITodigious scrambling brought the adventurers to the top and they were rewarded by a glorious view from an altitude of 3,000 feet.

A GLORIOUS VIEW “Miles of hummocky, bush-cov-ered country lay before us, said Mr. de Guerrier. “Here and there were little lakes and signs of thermal activity. At last we were right out of the beaten track, at a spot very few have cared to reach.” When the party returned to the camp a swim in the river was followed by the sort of meal men eat after climbing for eight hours on it couple of oranges apiece, and battling with fern anu sandflies, not to mention mosquitoes.

Tlio sun reflected from the pumice was almost unbearable and, during the previous night, the heat of the day had radiated lrom the rock, so no time was lost in setting out for civilisation. On tho return journey a camp was pitched at Lake Rotoma and the following day tho indefatigable car purred to Okataina and Roto Kawau, two lakes made accessible for travellers quite recently. Thence to Rotorua where supplies were taken, and off once more past W aiatapu to Te Wliaiti; through thick bush country to Matatua, at the end of the road. “In that area is some of tho most magnificent bush country I have ever seen,” was Mr. de Guerriei-’s comment. A NEW ROAD A number of men were working on tho road connecting Lake WaikareI moan a w-itli Ruatahuna, and when this is completed ft will open up a magnifir*t drive. ! Thus after a trip of nine days the four men in the car returned to Rotorua, having entered the impassive Urewera country from two directions. The paths they followed had tempted few, but untouched beauty and rugged magnificence lie at the goal.