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well as by day. The soundings will be found to
decrease from about forty fathoms two leagues off
to twenty-four one league off, green mud over
twenty-four, and fine sand within twenty-four fathoms; great advantage can be taken by standing
off or in according to tide.

BAY OF PLENTY.

HICK’S BAY,

Is nearly two miles deep by one and a half broad,
the bottom is greenish mud, good holding ground,
shoaling very suddenly towards the sandy beach
at the head. The north and south shores are very
steep generally, faced by perpendicular cliffs and
offlying rocks (the latter are within half a cable
of the high water).

The North point (Mata Kawa) is a long low
rocky tongue of indurated sand-stone with a crust
of scoria, the rocks off it are all visible, having
twenty five fathoms within a cable of the extreme.
The South point (Kohau) is almost inaccessible;
it forms the division between the long bay of Panaruku and Hick’s Bay.

From all westerly winds, north to south, Hick’s
Bay affords secure anchorage. In north winds—which are not uncommon—it is sheltered, but vessels
must get well within Mata Kawa point.

N.E. gales which generally spring from the eastward and gradually freshen, give sufficient warning to weigh, no vessel should lie here during N.E.
or S.E. winds.

From the S.E. wind, which is much more constant here than in the Hauraki Gulf, vessels may
be sheltered by standing down to the white cliffs
five miles to the eastward of Hick’s Bay, anchoring
in twelve to twenty fathoms one and a half miles
west of the Awatere River, and within a mile of
the beach.

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 fresh outside, for then there is a swell
rolling 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
landing place, excepting the present whaling station, one mile within Mata Kawa 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 anchorges.

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 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 making the land from the northward, this point
of the Coast may be readily known by a peak to
the southward, 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,
intersected 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 a 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
station; 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
conical hill over the station; south of which a quarter of a mile is a fordable river, Wangaparawa,
winding through a vast plain towards Hick’s Bay.
Up to this stream the Coast is rocky and difficult to
effect a landing. 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 fine 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. and 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
the 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 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,
immediately 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, Rua 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 midway 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-lying rocks for half a
mile, thence to Opokohino it is five miles;
between is the small peninsula of Motunui, where
ecoasters 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.