ganui is exactly on a level with the ridge of
the table land, behind it. If you are inside
the rock, Maunganui will appear above the
distant land, and if outside it will appear
below. The compass bearing of Maunganui
from the rock, is S. 51 deg. W. the centre of
Mayor Island, N. 45 deg. W. and the right
of Motiti S. half W. four miles from the
north point. This neighbourhood should be
avoided at night, as there is no land near
enough to guide, Motiti being too low.

This rock is in such a very different position from that assigned to the Astrolabe
Reef, that were we not convinced that no
rocks exist in the old position of the Astrolabe, I should have hesitated to give it this
name.

I may here repeat that there is no such
island as that represented in the old charts
and maps as High Island. It evidently has
crept in since Cook’s time, by some navigators taking Maunganui Bluff for an island.
At a distance it certainly appears so, as it
rises to 860 feet from a sandy level.

Motu Nau (or Plate Island), so called
from its hollow in the centre, is S.E. half S.
three and a-half miles from the Schooner
rock, and seven and a half miles E. by N.
from the south extremity of Motiti. It is
less than half a mile in extent (the highest
part is 166 feet), and has deep water all
round it, except off the south end, where
there is a ledge just above water. Between
this and Schooner Rocks there is 20 to 30
fathoms.

Ru Rima Rocks are (at the eastern extreme) four miles west of Motu Hora, and,
like that island, retain volcanic heat. They
are one mile east and west, and half a mile
north and south. The highest rock above
water is 120 feet, and about 300 yards in
circumference.

The detached portions of these rocks extend to within three miles of the beach, and
as they are covered, render it necessary to
be cautious. The best plan is to keep the
coast on board, which shelves gradually, the
depth being eleven fathoms in the deepest
part of the channel.

The outer rocks of Rua Rima are also
awash. They are 6 miles from the shore,
and have 18 fathoms half a mile to the
northward.

Motu Hora, or Whale Island, is 1167 ft.
high, one and a half miles east and west,
and half a mile in length. It appears bell
shaped from seaward, but on approaching
there is a second peak on the west end.

The "Pandora" anchored under a shingle
spit off the S.W. end of the island. I have
no reason to doubt that with good ground
tackle a vessel might ride out any gale here.
But the island being small, the back swell
in a N. E. gale would be considerable. At
all events, it is the only spot affording any
shelter on this portion of the bay in case a
vessel should be caught in a north-east wind,
and not able to hold her position.

There are no dangers around this island,
the depth between it and the shore is 20
fathoms, at the anchorage is 6 fathoms, but
small vessels may get close in, under the
shingle beach.

Abreast of the anchorage is a boiling
spring. Goats are numerous, and there is
some cultivated ground, but no one residing.
Fresh water is scarce.

White Island, or Whakari, is about three
miles in circumference, and 860 feet high.
The base of the crater is one and a half
miles in circuit, and level with the sea. In
the centre is a boiling spring about 100 yards
in circumference, sending volumes of steam
full 2000 feet high in calm weather. Around
the edges of the crater are numberless smaller
geysers, sounding like so many high pressure
engines, and emitting steam with such
velocity, that a stone thrown into the vortex
would immediately be shot in the air.

Here and there are lakes of sulphureous
water, dormant; but the whole island is so
heated as to make it difficult to walk. From
the edges of the crater the scene below is
only to be compared to a well dressed
meadow of gorgeous green, with meandering
streams feeding the boiling cauldron; but
on approaching, we find this green to be the
purest crystallized sulphur. No animal or
insect breathes on this island, scarcely a
limpet on the stones, and 200 fathoms will
hardly reach the bottom within half a mile
of its shores.

This is the eastern limit of that extensive
belt of agitation extending from Mount
Egmont, through Tongariro, the Taupo and
Roto Mahana lakes, to the island of Motu
Hora and the adjacent rocks (Ru Rima)
north of which earthquakes are rarely felt.

N.W. half W. three miles from White
Island are three rocky islets, 60 to 100 feet
above water, the "Pandora" passed between
them and the island, without striking bottom
with 60 fathoms. Off the south-east extreme is another rugged islet, about 30 feet,
half a mile from the high water. There is
not the slightest appearance of any off-lying
danger.

TIDES, BAY OF PLENTY AND EAST COAST.

The average rise and fall in the Bay of
Plenty is 7 feet. The flood runs to the
westward, taking the direction of the coast.

Within 4 miles of the coast spring tides
run two knots, neap one knot; but off the
points of Hick’s Bay, Cape Runaway, etc.,
they will be found to be more rapid, but
either tide striking against the point has a
tendency to set off the rocks.

Off White Island there is scarce any
tide.