The Survey of the "King" Country.

Thames Star, Volume XV, Issue 4725, 28 February 1884, Page 2

The Survey of the "King" Country.

The following is an extract from a private letter from one of the members of Mr F. H. Edgecumbo's survey party. It is dated Pukehou, Upper Whanganui, February 2nd :— r V

We are sending a messenger with the monthly returns to meet the pack horses that are bringing us stores from Kihikihi, and we shall not have a chance of sending another letter for at least a month. The workns going on? without: the" least bother from the natives. We. were floodbound at Taumaruniu from the 19th to the 24th, when we left in canoes and got as far as Pariti, where the natives that were with us would stop and have a tan^i over the grave of a depart.d friend. We started again «arly next morning, and after being on the journey three weeks, we arrived at our destination, early in the forenoon of the 35th. The next morning we started work, and are now camped on the top of a high range. We have a large party—ten in all. Since leading Kihikihi we have had scarcely anything but pork and potatoes to eat; and don't expect any change for the next three months, except we get short of potatoes, then we'll have to eat flour. There is plenty of snow in the mountains. Coming down the Whan* ganul river in canons was vety nice, bat

at (he same time dangerous ; and although I enjoyed the trip, I was glad when it was over. Shootingdown the rapids at 20miles an hour, and just enough room for the canoe to pass between rocks, which, if it struck, those in it would heve hard work to get ashore. It is very pleasant to think about it, but when you come to the reality, it is not so "kapai."