A HOLIDAY ITINERARY.

Waikato Times, Volume XVII, Issue 1481, 31 December 1881, Page 2

A HOLIDAY ITINERARY.

A round trip by Raglan and the coast line to Waikato Heads ; thence by steamer to Mercer, and by rail back again to the Waikato.

Christmas holidays this year have been inaugurated under exceptionally favorable circumstances. Trade has been upon the whole good, and, as a corresponding result, monetary affairs are easy. Then again the forward view is equally satisfac- | tory. Everything goes to indicate a plentiful harvest, and, with the numerous public projects on hand, there should be no lack of work. Added to these, we have to congratulate our readers on the adoption of a liberal holiday scale of railway fares, so that the claims for enjoying the relaxations of the season become exceptionally strong. In the case of not a few a further difficulty interposes. With but a. few days snatched from recurring toil, they are at a loss to dispose of the leisure to the best ad van tage. In that dilemma the city and its questionable surroundings are not uncommonly the resort. To lovers of picturesque and well diversified natural scenery, and others in search of healthy recreation and healthful surroundings, the round trip indicated above can be strongly recommended. Its advantages are manifold. If properly sought after,its novelties are boundless, including all that is grand and variegated in mountain, wood and flood, and lastly it has this further recommendation; it enables the tourist to cover a large extent of country, without the irksomeness of having to retrace his steps when homeward bound. It is a tour invested with fresh fields and pastures nsw, from beginning to end. It covers a tract of country rich in Maori legend, in undeveloped resource and finely diversified landscape scenery, so that its claims are well-balanced as against the cravings of the antiquarian, the speculator, and the rusticator. We shall now, without further remark, proceed to indicate a sort of i itinerary or guide, together with a few comments on the various objects of interest en passant. We will make Hamilton West the starting point, and the new swamp road the exit from that pretentious urban centre. With the ex. ception of one well-graded hill of no great height, the swamp road runs in a dead level to the banks of the Waipa. The I road itself has a history which may be I studied to good advantage. Only a limited sum of money was in the first instance appropriated for its formation. The engineer said "let's make one-half of [ the road, and trust to the liberality of Government for further supplies to make the remainder." Wiser counsels, however, prevailed, and after a good deal of banter, the member for the district induced! Government to tmdert&ke the entire length with such funds as they had at their disposal. The result is a good through line has been made at an unpi-ecedentedly low rate per mile. By that means we reach, without much expenditure of either time or energy, the fertile plains of the Waipa. The Waipa is well-known as being a much more sluggish stream than the Waikato. Indeed, their names are characteristic of this very distinction— Waikato signifying "streaming water," while Waipa on the other hand signifies something quiet and placid. The following analysis of the water of these two rivers, made by Professor J. Smith, of the Sydney University, will be read with interest :— The Waikato sample taken from a point of the river, 40 miles above its junction with the Waipa, showed a temperature of 63° F. ; and had a pleasant taste, and was quite clear. The Waipa sample was got at Whatawhata, and had a temperature of 64° F. At first it had neither smell nor taste, but after being corked up for a couple of months, and on being re-exposed to the atmosphere, it omitted a decided smell and taste of sulphuretted hydrogen. The analysis of both samples yielded the following results :— Waikalo : Fixed ingredients, 4*B; volatile, principally organic substances, 3*20 grains per gallon. The fixed ingredients were — carbonate and sulphate of lime, chloride of sodium, and traces of alumina, magnesia, and iron. The Waioa water contained more than the Waikato water. The hardness of the water, according to Clarks scale, was as follows :—Waikato, I°s; Waipa, 1° 3. Crossing the Waipa by the neworidge, the constructing and opening of which are events of recent date, which must of necessity exercise marked influence on the future of the district, a few miles drive over rolling country brings the traveller into the alpine scenery of the Hakaramata or dividing range between Waitetuna and the Waipa. In Dr. F. Yon Hochstetter's " Physical Geography of New Zealand," he says : — " Ine passage across this mountain lay for tWmost part through bush, which was ,-pregnant with the balmy fragrance of an orchidee growing in forest trees, and which was in full bloom. The highest point of the pass is, according to my measurement, 853 feet above the sea. On the opposite declivity a beautiful prospect is obtained over the' environs of Whaingaroa harbor." Great changes have been wrought in the aspect of affairs since the doctor visited this spot, i still it&> sylvan beauty and,magnificent prospects remain ' unchanged. 9 A good serviceable* road line for wheeled traffic iiasb&en cut, and although we have the best engineering authority for

saying the road has 1 been badly made, and in many instances the .route badly selected, still it i*"-» tri^topli in it^ w*y, and a most decided improvement to inn traffic" of the locality. \ ' 1% has been carried over a saddle between the water weds of the Waitetuna, on~ the ~ one aide, and Waipa tributaries on the other. ( lW extreme elevation does not exceed 610 feet,, above the level" of th^W^aipa'bridgef so that, - after ' making ' reasonable allowance for the lower level Upon' which ! Dr. Hochstetter's computation is -baaed, the present line of road has a, decidedly lower - altitude than that of the old track. . The view towards WhaingSrb'a , by the new road is 'completely 'ah^t inby'a succession of overlapping spars r forming the steep . sides- of a deep gully, down which the | road winds towards Waitetun»~flat. On 5 the Waikato side the v,iew remaina unimpaired; and in point of extent and grandeur it would o_e difficult to conceive of anything more magnificent. It brings into a bird's-eye view the extensive domains of Waikato and Waipa, dotted over with patches of bush, cultured ip. all manner of iantastic, shapes— from heaths relieved by the green verdures of agricultural industry, while here and there the waters .of a lake or, river burst out into sight, the lofty Aroh* on the one' side, and the Maungatautari on the other, being the only limits tp view, bursting out upon the opening dawn, or, basking in the mid-day sun, »nd no sight could be grander, than that* afforded by the topmost,rid,ge of the road passing over Hakaratnata Range." Being essentially* limestone country, it has a commercial value that bids fair to be of importance to the future of the place. Between the western base of the range and, Raglan the roaa is intersected by a succession of deep gullies, which, for ,wheeled traffic, are not by any means convenient. Still it is not a really bad road ; and if one is careful to bait at Suttons Waitetuna Hotel, the obstacles are not at all likely to prove insurmountable. Although not by any means a large place,, Raglan will be found sufficiently, well provided with hotels and boarding establishments, In and about Raglan a few days can be spent very pleasantly. , Bathing, boating, fishing, and shooting are all to be had in the immediate neighbourhood. There are also hot springs at the head^ of the harbor. These are reached by boat, and a few miles excursion through the bush, which is understood to be , rather tangled about this place. A visit to these sprihgs necessitates at least one night's camping out. To those who are not afraid of a night or two's roughing it in the bush the excursion is a most inviting one. The harbor likewise abounds in bays and sheltered coves, with fine sandy beaches, so that for boating and bathing purposes no place could be better. The stone quarries at the head of the harbor would also repay a visit. Branching off and interesecting the country in various directions and for great distances a full explanation of the harbor would occupy a considerable time. Landward if one be so minded he can climb Karioi mountain set down on the chart as 2,380 feet high. The view from the top seaward is magnificient, raging from Manukau Heads on the one side to New Plymouth on the other. Kawhia and Aotea harbors can also to be reached within moderate distance by land. A highly picturesque waterfall of great height and only recently discovered is also mentioned aa one of the curiosities of this locality open for inspection. Between Raglan find the Manukau there is communication periodically by steamer. Crossing the harbor we get on to the lands of the Te Akau station, which extends through to the Waikato. The distance along the coast line is 20 miles. It is all beach and at low water can be travelled with' perfect comfort. Starting with the turn of the tide Waikato Heads can be reached easily in a 4-hours ride with a fine, smooth, firm sandy beach all the way. The fall of the tide must be studied, otherwise some rather awkward headlands will have to be surmounted, and the footing along the beach will be found loose and insecure. The coast line between Whaingaroa and Waikato is moderately high and undulating, from 300 to 600 abovd sea level. Waikato Heads is even a smaller place than Raglan, stiil it possesses good passable accomodation for Btraugers. A range of cattages have been erected by one of the residents for the express purpose of bringing the place into notice for sea bathing quarters. Once a week on Monday mornings one of the Waikato Steam Navigation Compauy's steamers leaves the Heads for the upper Waikato, reaching Mercer it is understood, in time for the mid-day train. The real beauty of the Waikato river is situated at that portion of it extending from the Heads to Mercer. Indeed it partakes more of the characteristics of a lake studded over with well wooded islands, and otherwise the natural features of the stream are greatly enhanced compared with anything to be found in the upper reaches. Altogether, the trip is one which is very well worthy of the attention of the tourist.

Mr J. S. Buckland will hold his next horse sale at Cambridge, on Saturday. January i jth, when he will offer a. lot of first-class horses from Wanganui. Licenses to slaughter cattle in Waikato County expires to-day, and fresh applications must be made to the inspector, Captain McPherson. Notice is given to owners of dogs in the Waipa County, that registration must be effected trom the ist January. A list of registrars is published. Special attention is directed to Mr K. Hill s advertisement of the sale of Capt. Beerc's furniture and effects at Beeresfort, this day at noon. Among the effects is a very superior col« lection of carpenters' tools in good order. Messrs H. E, Cotton & Co. will sell by auction at their stores, Cambridge, on Wednesday next at noon, the assigned freehold property of Mr H. M. D, Pearson, in Victoria-street comprising shop and dwelling house, and allotments.