shoal water, and the bar is a mile seaward within. It
branches off into three arms, extending through exten-
sive mud flats.

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
  Kobi Point, which forms the eastern head of the Wha-
  katane 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 bends 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
with 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 sand hills, 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 tue 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. five 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 the western boundary
of the plain from Whakatane), and cut off from the
foot of Mount Edgecumbe by the valley through which
the Awa-o-te-atua runs. Coastwise the cliffs are white,
rising to 500 feet.

The Wai-teha-nui W.N.W., six miles distant from
Matata, is fordable at low water. On it is the beauti-
fully situated Pa of Otamaropa.

Before reaching Maketu, the Waihi river runs in
many branches through an extensive flat.

Town Point (Okure) forming the S.E. head of the
Kaituna river is sixteen miles N.W. by W. half W. of
Matata. From this cliff point (100 feet high) towards
the sea there are any rocks--further than a mile of
which would bring up a ship.

The large Pa of Maketu is on the S.E. side of the
Kaituna river, just within the bar, which at low water
has three feet on it. Within, the river expands consi-
derably, and is navigable for boats eight miles. It con-
veys the surplus water from Roto Roa lakes to the sea.
At Maketu resides the Rev. Mr. Chapman, a gentleman
whose name is so well known to travellers, from the
unbounded hospitality he has extended to those visiting
who pass his happily conducted mission station on their
road to the lakes.

The beach from Maketu to Maunganui has already
been described, as was also Tauranga Harbour.

The Katikati river is N.W. by W. thirteen miles
from Maunganui, a sandy beach the whole way. Two
miles east of its north head (Te Ho), the water shoals
suddenly from six to three and a half fathoms. Breakers
extend a mile from the entrance, which appears to be
choked up with banks, having scarcely at low water a
safe boat channel between them. The Katikati is con-
nected with Tauranga, thus forming a long sandy
island between Te Ho and Maunganui. At low water
the channel connecting Tauranga and Katikati is nearly
dry.

The passage between Karewha Island and the sandy
beach is three miles broad, having from ten to thirteen
fathoms sand and shells.

ISLANDS AND DETACHED ROCKS.

The Islands comprehended in this survey include the
Mayor or Tuhoa, Karewha, Motiti, Motu Nau or
Plate Island, Motu Hura or Whale Island, and Whakari
or White Island.

The detached rocks are the Ru Rima near Motu
Hora, the Astralohe near Motiti, and the Schooner
Rocks.

The Mayor or Tuboua is an island seven miles in
circumference, two and a quarter miles N.W. and S.E.
and one and a half miles in breadth, the northern peak
being 1100 feet high. The centre of the island is an
extinct crater open to the S.E., with stagnant water at
the bottom; the western face is so covered with blocks
of obsidian as to give it a remarkably dazzling appear-
ance when reflecting the sun's rays.

There is a Pa on the S.E. extreme, strongly de-
fended by a deep cut or pass, partially artificial, through
which the invaders must approach, for the other sides
have steep cliffs down to the water. There is a bay
immediately west of the Pa, where anchorage may be
had--sandy bottom: but as it is open to west and
S.W. winds, it would seldom be available beyond a few
hours, during which time a small quantity of provi-
sions and water might be obtained. On the east side of
the Pa is a small cove, where coasters ride in northerly
winds.

One mile east of the Pa Point is a rock under water,
which breaks in a moderate swell; it is half a mile
from the nearest or S.E. point of the island. Off the
North Point is a small sugar loaf islet. The rest of
the island appears perfectly clear of danger, with forty
fathoms one mile from its shores.

Karewha island has been treated of in the directions
for entering Tauranga Harbour.

Motiti or Flat Island is three and a quarter miles
from north to south and one and a half from west to
east. Its greatest elevation (190 feet) is at the north
end. The rest of the island is not more than 100 feet
above the level of the sea.

The north point is S.E. by S. nineteen miles from
Mayor, and eleven and a half miles E.N.E. from Tau-
ranga Harbour, between which and Motiti there is not
more than twenty-two fathoms.

The holding ground off the island is very indifferent,
and the east and S.E. sides should not be approached
within two miles. There are two rocks awash S.E. by
E. one and a half miles from the south point.
The "Pandora" anchored off the N.W. point of the
island, half a mile from the shore, in fourteen fathoms,
rocky ground.

Schooner Rocks (so called from their likeness to
such a vessel at a distance) are four and a half miles
E. by N. half N. of Motiti; they are not a cable in
circumference, and sixty-two feet high and bold. There
is forty fathoms between them and Motiti.

Astrolabe Rock is isolated, and uncovered at low
water springs. The whole extent of the danger is not
more than two cables, extending E.N.E. and W.S.W.
It would break almost always, but as it is covered at
high water, in very fine westerly weather it might not
show. Our boats approached it, and found twenty
fathoms all round it fifty yards distant. The ship
passed two cables from it, sounding in thirty to forty
fathoms, green mud and broken shells.

At the rock, the flat summit of Maunganui is
exactly on a level with the ridge of the table land, be-
hind it. If you are inside the rock, Maunganui will
appear above the distant land, and if outside it will ap-
pear 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. 1/2 W. four
miles from the north point. This neighbourhood
should be avoided at night, as these 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;