the landing there is generally difficult; in the middle of the bay, a quarter of a mile from the beach, is a reef immediately north of the Pah. Off the north point (Matahau) there is a reef extending parallel to the beach a quarter of a mile, within which boats can effect a landing, and from whence produce is shipped. There is nine fathoms in the middle of the bay in a line with the heads, and a rocky patch having two fathoms is said to exist on the N.W. corner of it; but this we did not find; another rock is said to exist one mile N.E. of Matahau, called Tokamonga.

The next danger is off Kaimouhu, a round head 670 feet high; these sunken rocks extend eastward for a mile, and about the same distance north and south; we found four fathoms close to, and seventeen fathoms, two cables east of them. Again three miles north of this, and one mile S.S.E. of Reporua village, are detached sunken rocks a good mile from the beach, and foul ground half a mile outside, with four fathoms; between those rocks and the shore there is eight fathoms, and only ten fathoms two miles from the beach.

Point Wharariki (the south point of the Awani) is three and a half miles north of the Reporua village; rocks extend half a mile all round it. The coast (from three cables off) appears now to be clear of dangers to the East Cape Islet.

From Open Bay to the East Cape the coast is varied by white streaked cliffs, with sandy beaches intervening; the country is more or less cultivated.

Six miles south of the East Cape is the Waiapu stream, which is considerable at high water, the freshes come down with great violence, so as to render it unsafe as an anchorage even for the smallest vessels. It takes its rise under Ikaurangi, traversing through the various ranges and draining a considerable extent of country.

The land about the East Cape presents the most mountainous feature of the northern island; the summits of five distinct ranges may be seen, backed by the snow-capped Ikaurangi, a most conspicuous mountain, rising to the height of 5,535 feet, 28 miles south-east by south of the Cape.

The East Cape is remarkably white (clayish sand), and this barren feature reaches to Hick’s Bay in steep cliffs to the westward, and in broken cliffs with valleys intervening to the southward.

The East Cape Islet (half a mile in circuit) is a type of the Cape, having but a small proportion of stunted verdure; it is steep and almost inaccessible, and bounded by rocks, having a ledge extending from its northern extreme N.N.E. half a mile.

When the western points trending to Hick’s Bay are well open the Islet, anchorage will be found in sixteen fathoms within two miles of it, and when the weather admits a vessel might ride out the tide to great advantage.

The water deepens again to the southward until within a mile of the Islet, when it will be found to shoal suddenly to twelve and nine fathoms, which latter depth will be carried to a cable from the Islet.

There is a channel nearly a mile wide between the East Cape and the Islet, but as the winds here are liable to die away suddenly, leaving the vessel at the mercy of the tides and swell, it cannot be recommended. Flood tide sets to the northward and from East Cape to the westward.

From the preceding remarks it will be seen that the East Coast from Young Nick’s Head (in Poverty Bay) to the East Cape,—about seventy miles,—has only two roadsteads for ships of burden, viz:—

Turanga and Tolaga—that the coast has many dangers within a league of it, that in fine weather and westerly winds, there are a few places where cargo can be shipped by vessels anchoring cautiously off the coast.

There are few places (if any) where even coasting schooners would be safe in a gale, for the rivers are only accessible in fine weather, at the proper time of tide.

Besides avoiding the Ariel Reef, a stranger should not approach the coast nearer than a league, and I know no coast where the position of a vessel may be better determined by night as well as by day. The soundings will be found to decrease from about forty fathoms two leagues off, to twenty-four one league off, green mud over twenty-four, and fine sand within twenty-four fathoms; great advantage can be taken by standing off or in according to tide.

BAY OF PLENTY, (HICK’S BAY.)

Is nearly two miles deep by one and a half broad, the bottom is greenish mud, good holding ground, shoaling very suddenly towards the sandy beach at the head. The north and south shores are very steep generally faced by perpendicular cliffs and off lying rocks (the latter are within half a cable of the high water.)

The north point (Maata Kawa) is a long low rocky tongue of indurated sandstone with a crust of scoria, the rocks off it are all visible having twenty-five fathoms within a cable of the extreme.

The south point (Kohau) is almost inaccessible; it forms the division between the long bay of Panaruku and Hick’s bay.

From all westerly winds, north to south, Hick’s Bay affords secure anchorage. In north winds—which are not uncommon—it is sheltered, but vessels must get well within Matakawa point.

N.E. gales which generally spring from the eastward and gradually freshen, give