To Taupo By Waggonette

Te Ao Hou, March 1965, Page 11

To Taupo By Waggonette by Bill Hammond Mr Bill Hammond, who lives at Thornton's Bay, Thames, tells here the vividly-recollected story of a holiday spent 67 years ago in the Rotorua-Taupo district. Mr Hammond is aged 95. it was in January 1898 that I first met Hone Ratema of Wai-iti, Rotoiti. I was on holiday in Rotorua, staying at ‘Lake View’, the proprietor of which was Mr William Seddon. ‘Lake View’ was below Pukeroa Hill and overlooked Ohinemutu Pa on the shores of the lake. Three of my fellow boarders, Ernest Walters, headmaster of the Hikutaia School, James Crombie, saddler of Wisemans, Auckland, and Ed Drinkwater, french polisher of Tonson Garlicks, Auckland, went off one day to Rotoiti on a pig hunting expedition. They returned full of gusto with pigs' tails decorating their hats and accompanied by the two Maori friends who had provided the good hunting. These were Hone Ratema and Takuira. the party had decided to make a trip to Taupo and I was delighted to accept an invitation to join them. I borrowed a rug from Mr Seddon, bought myself a khaki suit and an enamelled mug and plate from the store and set gaily off with the others in Hone's waggonette.