chor will not hold well, the ground being shingle and rock, this small patch is one-third across from the south towards the north head. It is better to anchor within this line.

On the approach of easterly winds vessels should leave in good time for the outer reef renders beating out somewhat tedious.

Within the south head is a cove where Cook watered, and beyond is to be seen the remarkable arch in the cliffs which he speaks of, the natives shewed us several initials cut out on the rock where the artificial well exists made by Cook’s crew, there is, however, some difficulty in getting water in Tolaga during the dry season. Here we obtained provisions, better and at a more reasonable rate from Europeans and natives than anywhere else on the coast.

At the head of the Bay is the River Uawa, with a bar of five feet which is said to be constantly shifting, coasters have occasionally entered it, the principal branch has its rise to the northward.

TOLAGA BAY TO OPEN BAY.

Between Tolaga and the East Cape there is no good anchorage, although coasters do sometimes anchor in Tokomaru and Open Bays, yet they can only be approached in fine weather, and scarcely deserve the name of bays.

Four miles north of Tolaga is Marau Point, a bluff projection off which there is a reef awash, rather more than a mile east of the point, this extends N.N.W. and S.S.E. half a mile.

N.N.W. two miles from Marau Point is the island of Anaura, a quarter of a mile from the main, with a boat passage between. It is sterile and precipitous, three-quarters of a mile in length, and forms the southern point of a bight called Waipari Bay, which is about a mile and a half broad, with sandy shores, the north point, and indeed the whole of this Bay, is rocky.

From Anaura Island to Mawai is North four and a half miles, midway is a rocky islet (Motu Repa), which has a narrow channel of five fathoms within it. Before reaching Mawai Point is a small cove, called by the whalers St. Patrick’s Cove, which is well sheltered for boats, this Cove takes its name from a curious pinnacle, which seen from seaward appears like a gigantic figure of a man with his arms folded.

Mawai Point (forming the south head of Tokomaru) is a sharp and barren projection, surrounded by rocks. On the south side of Tokomaru Bay the rocks are visible; the Hikutu rocks in the middle of the Bay have fourteen fathoms all round them, and are visible only at low water. The heads are four miles apart N. by E. and S. by W. No vessels, but such coasters as know the channels among the rocks, should attempt this Bay, for it is a very open anchorage.

North of Tokomaru the coast is precipitous trending N. by W. for three and a half miles (to Waipiro or Open Bay), and backed by a hill—Tawhitim—which rises to the height of 1670 feet (the highest peak on the coast). East of this peak, and half mile from the shore, is the Island Mowhiauru about thirty feet high, encircled by rocks.

OPEN BAY (WAIIRO)

Will be known by its being the opening north of Tawhiti Hill, it is four miles from north to south, and is little more than one mile deep. There is a considerable stream in the south-western corner of the Bay, but the landing there is generally difficult; in the middle of the Bay, a quarter of a mile from the beach, is a reef immediately north of the Pah. Off the north point (Matahau) there is a reef extending (parallel to the beach) a quarter of a mile, within which boats can effect a landing, and from whence produce is shipped. There is nine fathoms in the middle of the Bay in a line with the heads, and a rocky patch having two fathoms is said to exist on the N.W. corner of it, but this we did not find; another rock is said to exist one mile N.E. of Matahau, called Tokamonga.

The next danger is off Kaimouhu, a round head 670 feet high, these sunken rocks extend eastward for a mile, and about the same distance north and south; we found four fathoms close to, and seventeen fathoms two cables east of them. Again, three miles north of this, and one mile S.S.E. of Reporua village, are detached sunken rocks a good mile from the beach, and foul ground half a mile outside, with four fathoms; between these rocks and the shore there is eight fathoms, and only ten fathoms two miles from the beach.

Point Wharariki (the South Point of the Awanui) is three and a half miles north of the Reporua village, rocks extend half a mile all round it.

The coast (from three cables off) appears now be clear of dangers to the East Cape Islet.

From Open Bay to the East Cape the coast is varied by white streaked cliffs, with sandy beaches intervening; the country is more or less cultivated.

Six miles south of the East Cape is the Waiapu stream, which is considerable at high water, the freshes come down with great violence, so as to render it unsafe as an anchorage even for the smallest vessels. It takes its rise under Ikaurangi, traversing through the various ranges, and draining a considerable extent of country.

The land about the East Cape presents the most mountainous feature of the Northern Island, the summits of five distinct ranges may be seen, backed by the snow-capped Ikourangi, a most conspicuous mountain rising to the height of 5535 feet, twenty-eight miles S.E. by S. of the Cape.

The East Cape is remarkably white (clayish sand), and this barren feature reaches to Hick’s Bay, in steep cliffs to the westward, and in broken cliffs with valleys intervening to the southward.

The East Cape Islet (half a mile in circuit) is a type of the Cape, having but a small proportion of stunted verdure, it is steep and almost inaccessible, and bounded by rocks, having a ledge extending from its northern extreme N.N.E. half a mile.

When the Western points trending to Hick’s Bay are well open the Islet, anchorage will be found in sixteen fathoms within two miles of it, and when the weather admits a vessel might ride out the tide to great advantage.

The water deepens again to the Southward until within a mile of the Islet, when it will be found to shoal suddenly to twelve and nine fathoms, which latter depth will be carried to a cable from the Islet.

There is a channel nearly a mile wide between the East Cape and the Islet, but as the winds here are liable to die away suddenly, leaving the vessel at the mercy of the tides and swell, it cannot be recommended. Flood tide sets to the Northward, and from East Cape to the Westward.

From the preceding remarks it will be seen that the East Coast from Young Nick’s Head (in Poverty Bay) to the East Cape, about seventy miles, has only two roadsteads for ships of burden, viz.:

Turanga and Tolaga—that the Coast has many dangers within a league of it, that in fine weather and Westerly winds, there are a few places where cargo can be shipped by vessels anchoring cautiously off the Coast.

There are few places (if any) where even coasting schooners would be safe in a gale, for the rivers are only accessible in fine weather, at the proper time of tide.

Besides avoiding the Ariel Reef, a stranger should not approach the Coast nearer than a league, and I know no coast where the position of a vessel may be better determined by night as