38

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
n the centre, is S.E. half S. three and a half miles trom
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 twenty to thirty
fathoms.

Ru Rima Rocks are (at the eastern extreme)
four miles west of Motu Hora, and like that island, re-
tain 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 three hundred yards
in circumference.

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

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

Motu Hora, or Whale Island, is 1167 feet 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 N.E. wind, and not able to hold her
position.

There are no dangers around this island, the depth
between it and the shore is twenty fathoms, at the
anchorage is six 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, dor-
mant; 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 agi-
tation exteuding from Mount Egmont, through Tonga-
riro, 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. Lalf 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 S.E.
extreme is another rugged islet, about thirty feet, half
a mile from the high water. There is not the slightest
appearance of any off laying danger.

TIDES, BAY OF PLENTY AND EAST COAST.

The average rise and fall in the Bay of Plenty
is seven feet. The flood runs to the westward
taking the direction of the Coast.

Within four miles of the Coast spring tides run two
knots, neap one knot; but off the points of Hick's Bay,
Cape Runaway, &c., 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.

South of the East Cape the flood sets to the north-
ward, ebb to the southward, within the Bays of Tura-
nga and Tolago the tide is not felt. The influence of
the tides extend fifteen miles off this Coast, the
water being so much shoaler than in the Bay of
Plenty.

WINDS AND WEATHER.

The winds on either side of the East Cape are fre-
quently very different although it may be blowing very
fresh. The strong westerly sea breezes, which blow
through the Bay of Plenty are suddenly lost when pas-
sing south of the East Cape Islet, the distinct line of
breeze is curiously depicted on the water. A vessel
may be becalmed here for hours in sight of very strong
breezes.

Proceeding south it will be found that the ordinary
sea breeze is N.E, while the N.E. gales are far less
common than in the Hauraki Gulf, whereas the S.E.
gales so uncommon at Auckland, are frequent, and blow
very hard, on both sides of the East Cape, lasting several
days.

The south winds come on very suddenly on both sides
of the East Cape, frequently accompanied by rain.

The north winds with gloomy weather and rain, fre-
quently precede the south winds, and the changes from
north to south is very sudden.

These remarks although generally applicable, are
from our own observations between October and Feb-
ruary.

The N.E. gales are most frequent in March and
April, the S.E. during the winter, accompanied by
showers and lightning to the S.E.

In the Bay of Plenty the barometer rises to the
W.S. W. winds, and the same effect is produced by the
N.E. sea breezes south of the East Cape, it falls to
northerly winds, and rises when about to shift to the
southward.

Before N.E. gales the barometer is generally very
high, they come on very gradually, with a leaden sky,
rain follows, and they invariably shift to the N. and
N.W., veering to W.S.W. it frequently remains at that
quarter for some days, they seldom last more than
forty-eight hours. It will be found that three o'clock
in the afternoon is not an uncommon time for change
during any gale in these seas.

The following are the Latitudes and Longitudes of
some of tde principal points and islands with the time
of high water at full and change:-

Kate Kate River, (North Head) lat.
37° 27', S. long. 176° 2 East
H.W.
7 44
h. m.

Mayor Island, (Highest Peak) lat.
37° 16', S. long. 176° 18', E.. H.W.
" 44

Motu Hora, (Highest Peak) lat. 37°
50. S., long. 177° 10°, E.
. H.W.
" "

Opotiki River, (Mission House) lat.
37° 58 S., long. 177° 20, E.
. H.W.
" 00

Tekaha Point, (out extreme) lat. 37°
42 S., long. 177° 43. E.
H.W. 6 30

Hick's Bay, (Matakawa Point) lat.
37° 32. S., long. 178° 224 E.
. H.W. 9 00

East Cape Islet, (summit of) lat. 37°
39. S., long. 178° 37 E.
H.W. 8 55

Tolaga Bay, (Motu Heka) lat. 38°224
S., long. 178° 281 E.
. H.W.
" "

Poverty Bay, (Halbert's House, Wero
Wero) lat. 38° 42 S., long. 177°
584 Ε.
. H.W. 6 06

N.B.-All bearings in this are by compass.

BYRON DRURY,
Commander and Surveyor.