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Three miles westward is Koronohino Point (240 feet), 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 Pehetāire Point (300 feet high), and east of it one mile is the large double-fenced Pa of Tunapahaoha. 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 Pehetāire Point to Opotiki being S.W. by 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 Waihow are inconsiderable streams, running through swampy land, parallel to the coast, which is now faced with sand hills.

Opape Point, three miles from Pehetāire, 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 cultivated. 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 Hāki-tahuna (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 shoal water, and the bar is a mile seaward within. It branches off into three arms, extending through extensive 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 Kohi Point, which forms the eastern head of the Whakatane 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 Orewere.

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 the 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 10 to 15 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-ao-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 beautifully situated Pa of Otamaropa.

The Kaituna river, sixteen miles N.W. by W. half W. of Matata, forms the eastern head of the Whakatane river. The channel into this river is between large boulders just covered at high water. From this cliff point (100 feet high) towards Motiti, the ground is very foul, but I am not aware that there are any rocks further than a mile off—which would bring a ship up.

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 considerably, and is navigable for boats eight miles. It conveys the surplus water from Roto Rua 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 visitors 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 N.W. by W., thirteen miles from Maunganui, has a sandy beach the whole way. Two miles east of its north head (Te Hē), 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 connected with Tauranga, thus forming a long sandy island between Te Hō and Maungangui. 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 Tuhua, Karewha, Motiti, Motu Nan or Plate Island, Motu Hora or Whale Island, and Whakari or White Island.

The detached rocks are the Ru Rima near Motiti, the Astrolabe near Motiti, and the Schooner Rocks.

The Mayor or Tuhua 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...