Waikana. From Waikana, the coast trends S.S.W. It is four miles to Te Kaha Point, and midway there is a reef just awash, half a mile from the shore, to keep clear of which steer outside the line of points.

Te Kaha Point has off-laying rocks for half a mile, from thence to Opokohino it is five miles; between is the small peninsula of Motunui, where coasters haul into five fathoms, and ride out N.E. winds. From Motunui to Opokohino is a shingle beach of two miles, where the Aparapara and Omaio rivers disembogue. At the latter there is a large native village. The peak of Opokohino Point is 596 feet high.

Three miles westward is Koronohino Point (240 ft.), and round it is the large village of Tokata, being less than a mile north of the Maraenui river. The Maraenui is a small, bar river, expanding during freshets to half a mile in breadth, but it is in dry weather fordable half a mile from the mouth. The Bar is about thirty feet broad, and is close to the Shore. It is a tolerable boat harbour, having eight feet water within.

Six miles and a half from Maraenui is Pehetaire Point (800 feet high), and east it one mile is the large double fenced Pa of Tunapahoa. The ground here shelves very gradually, having eighteen fathoms (mud) five miles from the beach.

The coast now takes a more westerly direction, the course from Pehetaire Point to Opotiki being S.W. half W. ten and a half miles, and Opotiki is in the bight of the Bay of Plenty.

The hills here are considerably lower, and fall back. The Porere and Waihoware inconsiderable streams, running through swampy land, parallel to the coast, which is now faced with sand hills.

Opape Point, three miles from Pehetaire, has rocks extending one third of a mile off and around it.

The Opotiki river divides into two branches about half a mile within the points. The east branch is the Opotiki proper; the west the Wai-o-eka. Both run nearly parallel to the south, about two miles apart, towards a wooded range of hills five miles from the coast. Their course is through a fine plain partially cultivated. The principal Pa (on the Opotiki branch) is named the Kowai; it is a mile from the mouth, and small vessels lie here at low water. Above this it is, probably, only navigable for boats.

The Wai-o-eka, from its junction with the branch, is full of snags up to the Church Mission Station of Te-huki-taia (three miles from the mouth), above which are rapids.

The entrance to the Opotiki is not more than a cable across. Both heads are sand, with no natural mark to lead in. The bar changes with the freshes, and N.E. gales affect it. The depth therefore is also affected, but the river is navigable for the ordinary coasters.

Ohiwa river is six miles to the westward of Opotiki; before reaching it the Wai-otahi has to be crossed. This small river has a light yellow cliff on its eastern entrance.

The Ohiwa river is much broader and more extensive than the Opotiki, being half a mile across at the mouth at high water. It appears however surrounded by shoal water, and the bar is a mile seaward within. It branches off into three arms, extending through extensive mudflats.

Half a mile east of Ohiwa is a wooded cliff about 500 feet high, which, as it stands alone on the coast, would be a guide to this river.

A sandy beach of seven miles extends from Ohiwa to Kohi point, which forms the eastern head of the Whakatane river. The channel into this river is between large boulders, just covered at high water. These rocks are on either side of the bar, which at low water has only two feet on it, and nine or ten at high water springs. The Whakatane is a favourite port for the coasting trade. Schooners reach as far as Pupuarue, the Mission Station, from which the river heads to the S.E., and flowing through the ranges at the back, takes the name of Orewera.

Kohi point rises to 637 feet, and has been covered by several Pas; the ridges and ditches having a curious appearance. Between it and Motu Hora there is fourteen fathoms fine sand.

From Whakatane to Matata is thirteen miles: having an extensive swamp at the back of the sandhills, and a plain of fern and flax extends to the foot of Mount Edgecumbe, which noble mountain rises abruptly from the flat to the height of 2575 feet. The native name is Putauaki. On the summit is said to be a lake of green water, probably occupying an old crater.

The river Orini connects the Whakatane and Matata, the stream always running to the former; it flows parallel to the beach about one and a half miles distant, and is navigable for boats the whole length.

The Awa-o-te-atua rises near the west foot of Mount Edgecumbe, and passing through the plain, becomes the Matata at its junction with the Orini, two and a half miles west of which is the village of Otamarora, a mile from the entrance.

From the Whakatane entrance (Kohi Point) the island of Motu Hora bears N.W. by N. 5 miles, west of which about four miles are the Ru Rima rocks, having from ten to fifteen fathoms between them and the coast. (Motu Hora and the Ru Rima rocks will be treated of hereafter.)

At Matata, coasting vessels are built. From it a range of hills runs south (forming