so covered with blocks of obsidian as to give it a
remarkably dazzling appearance 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 provisions 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
the Mayor, and eleven and a half miles E.N.E.
from Tauranga Harbour, between which and
Motiti there is not more than twenty-two fathoms.
The holding ground off the island is very indif-
ferent, 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,
behind it. If you are inside the rock, Maunganui
will appear above the distant land, and if outside
it will appear 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. ¼ W. four miles from the north point.
This neighbourhood should be avoided at night, as
there 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.

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 in the centre, is S.E. half S. three and a
half miles from 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
covered, render it necessary to be cautious. The
best plan is to keep the coast on board, which
shelves gradually, the depth being eleven fathoms
in the deepest part of the channel.

The outer rocks of Ru 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.N.E. gale would be considera-
ble. 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 pres-
sure engines, and emitting steam with such velocity
that a stone thrown in the vortex would immediately be shot in the air.

Here and there are lakes of sulphureous water,
dormant; 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
agitation, extending from Mount Egmont, through
Tongariro, 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. half 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-lying 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.