eastward 'of Hick's Bay, anchoring in nine to twelve
fathoms one and a half miles west of the Awatere River.
Fresh water can be obtained in Hick's Bay, from a
gully within half a mile of Mata Kawa point. There
is however some difficulty in landing if the wind blows
into the bay; there is also a considerable
stream, having fresh water, five to six feet deep in the
N.W. corner. Supplies may be obtained from a native
village (Wharekahika) in the S.W. nook of the
bay.
The natives catch Hapuku off Kohau Point, just
within which there is a very small and deep sound
where they retreat to, and which forms their best land-
ing place, excepting the present whaling station, one
mile within Matakawa Point, where the isolated rocks
form a boat harbour.

HICK'S BAY TO CAPE RUNAWAY.

From Hick's Bay to Cape Runaway is west eighteen
miles, a desolate country. There are three points,
including Cape Runaway, and of the same formation,
and therefore readily mistaken. In sloping from the
range facing seaward, they rise to a small peak before
they again taper in the same direction.
Point Midway and Point Lottin have this feature.
There is a small sandy bight east of the former and
west of the latter, but neither are anchorages.
The depth of the water is very considerable, and
should the wind fail there is no anchorage on this part
of the coast, and constant swell setting towards it.
Soundings in twenty fathoms two cables, and forty to
fifty fathoms within a mile.
The hills bordering the coast (rising to 800 feet) are
clothed with thick bush one third down from their
summits, and their steepness will render any cultivation
very difficult.
Point Lottin is eight miles west of Hick's Bay, and
from the northward, this point of the coast may be readily known by a peak to the south-
ward, seen much higher than the general range, and the
land being lower west of Lottin than towards Hick's
Bay.
From Cape Runaway (Tikirau) to the westward up
the Bay of Plenty, the coast is very different, inter-
sected by rivers, and having large blocks of land under
cultivation.
The Cape has some detached rocks a quarter of a mile
north of it, but with twenty fathoms close to and an
passage with six fathoms between them and it.
It is well however to avoid it, as the tides are strong.
E.S.E. half a mile from these rocks is another, awash
at low water.

WANGAPARAWA BAY.

Having Cape Runaway for its north point, has an
anchorage in S.E. winds off the present whaling sta-
tion, two miles S.S.E. of the Cape. Vessels of any
burden should not approach the shore nearer than
twelve fathoms anchoring, about a mile west of the
station; south of which, a quarter
of a mile, is a fordable river, Wangaparawa, wind-
ing through a vast plain towards Hick's Bay. Up to this
stream the coast is rocky and difficult to effect a land-
ing. Beyond the river is a shingle beach, one and a
half miles long, and then about the same extent of
white cliffs, eighty feet high, having terraces of table
land on the summit.
There is a ledge of rocks extending nearly half a mile
off the south end of these cliffs, and then a sandy bay,
extending to the long low part of Orete, which is five
and a half miles S.W. half S. of Cape Runaway.
Upon the slightest appearance of a westerly wind, a
vessel should not remain at anchor off the whaling
station, and although well sheltered from a N.E. wind,
it would be dangerous to ride it out, for these winds
always shift to the northward and westward, and would
bring in such a sea as to render it very difficult to get
out.
The anchorage under Orete Point, about a half a
mile within it, affords excellent shelter in S.W. and
westerly winds. Bringing the outer extreme of the
rocks off it to bear W. and N. and anchoring in from
ten to seven fathoms fine sand.

The anchorage in Wangaparawa is open to another
objection: between the changes from S.E. to westerly
winds, there is frequently a calm, the westerly wind
being preceded by a swell, and coming in flaws. The
"Pandora" was thus placed in a critical position on
two occasions.

FROM ORETE, WESTWARD. ROUND THE
BAY OF PLENTY.

Orete to Waikana is S.W. nine and a half miles, for
the most part a rocky coast and shingle beach, imme-
diately west of Orete there are sunken rocks, three
quarters of a mile from the shore, and the ground is
everywhere foul within half a mile of the beach.
Within the first five miles are the villages of Orete,
Otawhao, Rau ko kore, and its river of the same name.

From Kotiki Point to Waikana the coast is steep and
rugged, with thirty five fathoms five miles off; but
there is not above half that depth at the same distance
after passing Waikana. From Waikana, the coast
trends S.S.W. It is four miles to Te Kaha Point, and
middway 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 Koronobino 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 of 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 Pehetuire 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 Waibow are 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 culti-
vated. 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,
probable, 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-o-tahi 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