Correspondence. NOTES ON A JOUR BY FROM WHAKATANE, BAY OF PLENTY TO CAMBRIDGE.

Waikato Times, Volume XIV, Issue 1177, 13 January 1880, Page 2

Correspondence. NOTES ON A JOUR BY FROM WHAKATANE, BAY OF PLENTY TO CAMBRIDGE.

TO THE EDITOR. Sir,— Having just reached Cambridge overland from V\ hakatane, Bay of Plenty, I- have thought it would interest your reader s to have the benefit of my observations on the road. We were three of a party, and the object of our journey was to drive a herd of hordes over to i ambridge for sale. We took five days on the road, travelling easily of course. The first day we cached W aihi, near Maketu, where, finding good feed and free quarters we camped sub Java Next day we stopped at Te Ngae where, although my friend Captain Way was absent we made ourselves at home in his hospitable quarters. Te Ngae is «n the banks of "otorua , ako, and tbe historical island of Mo 1 oia loomed through the slight fog, awakenintr any sparks of poetry that remained within us old stagers It struck me very forcibly that the numerous and powerful waterfalls in thief part of the t ake district point it out as a future field ofmanufacturing industry, if only the wool and other grist were provided. The third day we joined the aupo oo eh road about two miles south of Ohinemutu township, and after travelling along it for about eight miles struck off to the right, rounding the base of Horahora Mountain, one of the most remarkable features on our whole route. Its sides are perpendicular in many places. The tower parts are beautifully olothed in fo est, and above the upright columnar rocks give the whole the appearance of being a structure formed by gunts as a pa or citadel. Had I been a Macpherson, I should immediately have taken inspiration from tbe spirit of the mountain, whether called "Ossian' 1 or any other name. On the south, the mountain loses iv pictmesqne gTandeur. We passed along its fern-clad base, and just about dusk came upon a delightful camping place for both man and beast, on the banks of a mountain stream. We had been troubled by tain in the night, and were up betimes. f ter an hour spent in collecting our soatte-ed drove, a few of whom had strayed hoa.ewards, we packed up our damp swags, and resumed our roite towards the " setting sun," or more correctly towards the "setting moon,'* which was four days past the full. On the fourth day we began our ascent of the central land of the island. A siding traok of some four miles leads by a gentle ascent to the summit level, along which we travel for about ten miles before we pet to the fir*t streams of the Waikato watersheds. On this hill we overtook a herd of cactle, and the people in charge were looking for a stray beast, whiqh had knoc ed up the day previous. We, however, paaeed on and camped for breakfast iv a good feeding place far the horses, by the side of a bush, whire we took noto of an old whare, not to be despised as a sleeping place in future, journeys. The cattle drovers told us that they had heard that the next bridge on the regular road was washed away, and that we had better go with them, by a longer route more to the south, where bridges were not a sine qua nan. vv c , however, determined to •' change it," and on we went. One of us galloped forward in advance to " interview " the obstruction. Ibe other two followed gently, as we did not know whether we should have to retrace our steps. Howeve , after an hour'a doubt, we saw our mate coming: back on foot, i c said some good soul, to whom be our cordial thanks ascribed, had repaired the bridge by putting two of the heavy slabs lengthwise over the stream, ana that h* had tethered his horse at the place. We therefore proceeded on j«yfully, going dowa a very steep track, the only place on the whole journey we had to dismount and lead our horhes. rrived ?t the broken bridge, we camped for dinner, and spread out our blankets to dry. The stream here is certainly unfordable, having muddy upright banks, so that but for the bridge having been made passable we should have had to po back and accompany our cattle friends. The scenery here is treeless, but the outlines are grand and fantastic. One group of hills seemed a collection of mathematical diagrams I could not abstain from sketching it, and have sent the sketch for eproduction to an artist friend. We crossed the broken bridge in t-afety, one at a time, and soon after by a roc y gorge entered the Upper Wnikato plains, or " prairies " I suppose they migrht be called. We soon made our acquaintance with the wild horses. he*e animals have escaped from some herd and have hred in this desert. Some of them are splendid animals. They of cour.-e roam at their own sweet will over the unfenced deserts, and form a source of apprehension to the traveller. If he have any untethered horses th&y are apt to be decoyed by the blandishments of these rovers. bout 5 o'clock we saw so many of them that although vre were a dozen miles from fences and had travelled quite emmph already for one day, we determined to rush ou horses on out of the wild horse district. Therefore one of us taking the lead and going on at a oanter, the other two drove the herd on. Thi*, bv the way, was after wo had passed the old settlement of Te Whetu and regaled ourselves on hnglish gooaberries and cherres, reminding us of the old missionary days, before Waikato was flooded by red coats aud now with industrious settlers. Up to this part of our route the line of r- ad is with one or two steep places— which difficulties could of course bo overcome — level enough for a railway. The fifth day we passed through a fertile fern-clad district, seeing the green hills en the farm of Mr Buokland a few miles to the north or right of our route. We halted for breakf<oat at a Maori settlement, wher* the self-governing natives are forming 1 a dray road. We here were retailed with fresh provisions, pork potatoes, onions, &c, and were feelingly re* minded of ancient unoorrupted times of hospitality by the ohief to whom wo tendered payment, refusing to take any. We reached « ambridge by a good road, through a sett'ed fertile country, by noon on the fifth day, and put our horses into Mr J. S. Buckland'n paddoc a preparatory to the sale day on the I Oth in*t. I wi«h to make a few general remarks. If we had not had a companion who knew the road well, we should have frequently had to "try back," greatly owing to the multiplicity of tracks on the plains. The general direction can be by steeling for Mangatautari Mountain. County Councils, either of Waikato, Tauranga, or elsewhere, ought to have conspicnous finger posts erected and maintained either by a permanent contract or otherwise, and a money provision ought to be made for the immediate repairs of any bridge or other requsito part of the track that may fall into disrepair. It is no joke for a traveller with a spare commissariat and only a jaded beast to ride, to find, after along journey, that he " cannot go that way," and to be obliged to exercise bis wits aa to what way he can go, I hope Mr Editor that you will not let these wants and demands for travellers by this interesting route between Waikato and the anato ium remain unsatisfied for want of your powerful advocacy. You may print hid letter of mine, but my hints will soon be forgotten, so that you must keep reminding local authorities until I or some other traveller shall report to you that these " well-meaning *» peopje have fulfilled their duty in this respect. I—.1 —. I am, &c, R. 0. S, Cambridge, January 5, 1380,