AN OVERLAND JOURNEY FROM AUCKLAND TO TARANAKI.

Waikato Times, Volume VIII, Issue 432, 23 February 1875, Page 2

AN OVERLAND JOURNEY FROM AUCKLAND TO TARANAKI.

A rumour was current about town on Wednesday last that threa men had come overland from Auckland, walking the whole' distance. On making inquiries we found t^at the, statement was correct, and from Edward Charles Patrick Stanlon, a disc!i<irged sjldier o? t'l3 57fcW t\-»gi n mi% ail for so.ijb years a member of the Armed Constabulary, we gather the followi \g p irfcicnlars :—lt: — It appears that the men wero looking for work in Aidkian I, and it having neen intimated that at New Plymouth any amount could be obtained at good wages,- the three men agreed to tramp it, carrying their swags on their shoulders. The party started from Auckland at about 4 a.m., on the 2nd instant, and Stantou made Harris's Hotel at Ngaruawihia (Newc istle), a distance of seventy-eight miles, by nine o'clock that night. His companions, however, camped out, and did not reach Newctstle till the following morning. On the next day the p.trty made Whatawhata, and slept on the ranges be^wean that place and Raglan. On the third diy the>, ua%n reached Kawhia. The fourth day's jourueyNwal^he worst, and they did not make much head wny^tße country being very broken and the ground S)ftan(rnlippo»ry. However, they made the north bank of the Mokau. As they came near the native Pah's the M.ioris met them with the usual cries of welcome. In one place the natives, finding the men were without food, went into the bush and brought two live turkeys, which they cooked, and together with potatoes, made the men parfeake of. They also supplied them with native urowu tjbacco. At the Mokau, Stanton says they came across Te Kooti, whom he recognised. He says he w.is certain it was him from the tatoo marks on his forehead, and also from the loss of two lingers on the left hand. Te Kooti speaks very fair English, and was very chatty. He appeared pletsed to see them. They had food given them here also, and on their departure Te Kooti sent a maori part of the wav to show them the road. This guide, before leaving, was very particular in telling them the tracks^they were to follow. Altogether, the treatment the*', received from the natives was of a most frieudl^. character, even to the passing 'hem over the Aotea harbour free of charge. Fiom the Mokau the y pushed on for the Waitara, but only reached (htedro, -where they camped out for the night, thus d we may say, the journey in live days. On Wednesday Sfcanton made for town, reaching hers about noon. Although to novices the journey may se m one of some danger and hardship, the men seemed not to think it anything out of the way. St-uiton had a swag with him of betw en forty and fifty pounds weight having bUnk^ts, a p vir of tro .vsars, furf >ur shirts, and a quantity of shoemaker's tools, as he was coming here to work at his trade^ The fret of these m^n coming through from Auckland, and their rec-iv ing such a friendly reception from the natives/shows that the native difficulty is at an end, and that fortha future little or no troubles need be apprehende 1. We believe that Mokau could be visited without danger, and that the tapu said to exist again the white man penetrating the .Maori territory is now a thing of the past. — Taranaki Hernia.