A TRIP FROM HAMILTON THROUGH PIAKO TO THE THAMES VALLEY AND BACK AGAIN.

Waikato Times, Volume X, Issue 734, 1 March 1877, Page 2

A TRIP FROM HAMILTON THROUGH PIAKO TO THE THAMES VALLEY AND BACK AGAIN.

WETTTBN EXPRESPIiIf EOB THE 'WAIKATO TIMES/ fir: — — ■ : (Continued from our last,) THE GREAT OMAHTJ PAHWe moved as fast as the state of the road would allow, reaching Mr Walters camp at 12 o'clock. Here began the road across the big swamp. As the work is not yet completed and passed, no one is allowed to traverse it, so we had to push through a mile or two of swamp flax ground, until we reached Mr Moon'B section, where, by jumping the ditch, we were enabled to travel along it. ~- present, the ground is very rough. A portion will require to be fascined. This portipn of the road runs, through .the bed of the swamp. Very little, or no solid earth or clay by which to form a road, mostly rich vegetable peat, from eighteen inches to two feet deep, and, unlike the swamp 3 upon the delta, it contains little or no timber. Both contractors appear to be doing their work well. We reached the end of the road about 3 p.m. Here, another difficulty faced us. The road fiuishes ia a swamp, forming a new trap for some unwary traveller, judging from appearances— the rushes, ' &0., being beaten down — you would think it had a firm bottom, and was another Hit of road, with a little' drop of water upon it, but, woebetide the unfortunate traveller who should run his horise half a chain into it. I fear lie would haye to leave jt there. Of course, the road is not yet complete. When it is, I have no doubt strong post and rails will be erected across this place, and a junction formed with the road leading to Omahu, which, at present, does not vet exist. The cause of the terminus of this road finishing m a very wet rush swamp is a change of mind of the powers

that be. At first, it was resolved to go m a straight line to the river. JW it is thought to be cheaper to turn to the left, and run it to Omaha. Hearing of hotartrings m this neighborhood, wereaoLved to explore them, aad obtain refresbment at the native store there. Our road now lay to the right, where, m the distance, we saw Mr Moon's camp, but, how to reach there was the difficulty. A large swamp-drain, at lea*tsix feet across our rlT rO w eßt Pa , r > la 7 immediately m 1 ro ™' We oonld not venture to cross around the end of this ditch, for fear of being bogged, and our horses were not up to jumping. We wero m a sore dilemma. Our guide made his horso jump it, tbea followed himself. We could not do .likewise .At last, the quick eye of ?ff f . r " nd v beheld some rails a little «ILr!J C ?» in a ver y ßhort time » we erected an extempore bridge, our hones following us over like a couple of cats. Agaiu mounted, wo soon reached the camp where we found Mr Stubbing who kind Jy re f r e ßh e d us with such as he had. ihis over, we hurried on to the river, t tl 6 We met wifch the nafcive ii charge of the store and hotel (!) who ferried us across, leaving our horses on this side, iied toabush, lo refresh themselves as jest they could. Our next business was ?„ tr \ f he ta P.'i which I cannot apeak favorably. After trying several kinds of oW D i 7 gll i was . th '' only ODe tha t co «ld be ?X£ ? ™ th '*"? B * fet y- After-a ,!»« t?" S P rin S 8 received a visit from us, but we did not bathe, as several of our colored brothers and sisters were trying their hands at that sort of thing. We explored the locality until cur colored relatives took their leave. Then , we descended, end let off the wate^in. the bathroom (!) so that we mighb-havoa clean start m the morning. On retiming to tne store, we enquired for kai, bob cculd get none not even a biscut, all sold out. J.ne storekeeper stating they were nearly out of everything and could not get down to bnortland to purchase more, as the natives had blocked thej rivtr by falling trees aero.s -would we like to see the pah they we building ai Omahu— if so he would take us down and provide us with something to eat &o. We said we should like to ccc it-so we started, and after wayelhng about two milts through some really very fine land we came upon the village of Omahu, and sure enough here was a very formidable pah m construction under the immediate direction of chief Jimnue Carrie.- 'The Grown,' another, and. I believe a bigger chief was helping m the work— but Jimmie Currie appeared to be a presiding genius and chief military engineer.. The pah is being built upon an irregular piece of ground running into the swamp near the river, but separated from it by a sm ill arm of the swamp (a roadway connecting river bank with pah) The natives appear to be divided into three sets or gangs usually— but a fourth had to be formed to come to Hamilton for provisions— of the other three, one set was at Mr Moons place catching and preserving eels, the second set was m the .bush felling timber, and transporting it to the pah, whilst the other set were busy at the fortifications". The fortifixations are this wise : Logs of trees from oae foot six inches to two feet through and of nob less than twelve feet m length wera reared up wifch their ends stuck Eome three feet m the ground. These were twenty feet apart the whole way around the pah, between these again at equal distances wera two other pieces of timber about twelve inches throngh, then again mid- way between each of these already erected was another one of some eight or nine inches through— the remaining small spaces were filled with strong Btmt fencing ti-tree, the whole being lashed to saplings placed longitudinally upon the outside ; the lashings appeared to me to be Rata vine. We were informed there was to be another and smaller barricade outside this one also a mud embankment. The natives informed us they had four small cannon which they intended to mount so as to command the river and entrance to pah— we did not see this heavy artillery, neither did we see any other instrument of war save one rusty double-barelledfowling Piece at the v per store near the springs. When completed, this pah will, no doubt, be a formidable defence, and not easy to capture. The chief, « the Crown' was very anxious we should let it be known that the pah was not being built as a menace to the Europeans, but against the natives lower down the river, with whom they have a quarrel. When they have completed the pah their intention is to endeavour to reach Shortland m their boats (they.have five splendid large whaleboats tied up at the pah), if they succeed quietly and unmolested well and good we shall hear no more of it— but if op« posed they will endeavour to fight their way through -as, go to Shortland, they are determined. The pah is to be a place q£ aafety for their sick, and their children, as well aa a city of refuge for themselves if necessary. They had no flag flying, bnt the party gone to Hamil- •« provisions was to bring baok either a flag or the material for making one. Our guide appeared to be well known and respected by these people.