The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1878-07-03

derstand what kinds suit the soil best. There's
q 6ue tree. Look ct this years sprouis-qnite
four feet long. That's the Northern Spy-a
splendid apple, which does here better than any
other So the genial old gentleman was rafting
on when the time arrived for the steamer to
leave. and was compelled TO go on board with
ont having witnessed all the treasures Of the
place, but quite enough to impress me very for
cioly.
Sitting with Mr.. Wilson's eldest sou, on q
bench by the river is an old Maori well clad in
European style, except that be has huge green
stone ornaments IN his ears. He is introduced
10 me as Tirarau Kukupu, the great chief of the
ueighborhood. He is maenlhcenIly taloOed, and
looks a great raEoa.ird, which indeed be is. His
hand lies between raosihua range and the river,
and be has cultivsted good deal OF IL IN Euro
pean style. besides erecting several houses. one
Of which-the largest and most pleasantly stu
ated- is tdpw aod deserted, child having died
in 1t. aud farm buildings which csn b. seen
plainly from The river as We pass. We bio good
bye to Mr. Wilson, and resume our voyage down
the stream. Just below Wilson's We descry on
the opposite side comfortable cottage aHd good
sized clearing. which am told, belongs TO IN ed"
Ruff. the oldest settler on the river. The greatest
proof that be is 50 lies 10 the fact that no ooe
seems to know how old be is, or how long be has
so TO loo. BE is assisted in his declining years
By his wife. For the next few miles the reachss
are short, and the scenery is really magnificent
The numerous sndiugs OF the river have rather
puEtiug effect on The spectator on the steamer
A high range which has, perhaps. attracted his
/ slt-ulion right 10 fronL q few minutes later is
seen on the left, and if be is not very careful be
! will fnd himself asking the name Of the same
emluence two or three times over. Ducks teal.
aud other wild fowl are very plentiful. and keep
/ rising right under our bows. The stream itself
/ is not unlike the upper parts of the English
| Thames after heavy raius-a feature that speci-
ally contributes 10 the resemblance being the
weeping-willows which fringe the left bank. their
/ loog iealhery branches trailing in the water In
some Of the reaches these trees are so numerous
that The bank cannot be seen for several hundred
yards together. Sull descending. aud after pass.
ing TTaraus place on the left, our attention is
next directed to Mr.. PsIton's house. on the right
bank. Here again there are signs of more than
mere bush comfort, and the cultivated soil looks
kind and rich. Mr.. Patton is the champion
puller OF the Walora, and though no longer in
the hrsi iosh OF youIh-he must be nearly If not
quite 40-be looks stalwart enough TO maiutaln
me title sgsIost all corners. A foe straight reach
now heads straight for The splendid range OF
Maungzru one of the most uoteworthy OF the
district. Twenty minutes later we are running a
course parallel 10. and close under these hills
Over 200 feet high, ard green With forest trees
10 fhe lofty ridge which runs eTenly. or with only
gentle Expressions and elevations, for couple OF
miles or they remind the traveller of the famous
heights Of Cleefden above Maideuhead, the lordly
seat Of the present Marquis Of Westminster.
Their slopes. in place of the oak, ash. and elm,
are thickly clad with ksuri, taraire cedar, rimu,
aud lotsra and every open glade is graced 10y
beautiful tree ferns and bright leaved karskas
which abound here in rich prufuson, The air is
delicioasly mild aud captivating. Too late in the
season for The heat to De oppressive. it is still as
! warm as the italian autumn. Our blood dances
with the delightful sensations We drink 10 at
every torn. The Sun Is bos and again partly
Obsegred by clouds. and the shadows chasing one
smother over the many-hued landscape. and leap.
ing from hilltop TO hilltop. lend an additional
aud strange charm TO the view. There are plenty
Of slightly raised fats close 10 the river bank
which would do ismously for sites for townships
snd with nature so propitious ii cannot fail 10
strike one as very extraordinary that settlement
| Is 20 sparse. By succession Of short reaches
aod sharp cures, marked by s thick willow
fringe, which here graces the right bank. We
come to Visions. The house is pretuly sltua-
ted on so ACTIVITY about 200 yards from The
bank. snd bali hidden by the trees which en-
| bower It. This once q busy store, bot its
business is Of the past The river now wends
away from The ranges and widens out, with low
kshikstea sSsmps and low kauri tracts on each
side. Passing clearing, the sme OF which has
escaped me, We enter perfectly straight reach
l'sboal two miles long. which would make mag
ni6cent course for regatts. Mr.. McGregor. so
sncieut Highlander, occupies s respectable hold
ing on the left bank. and one Of his sons is seen
launching boat 10 Meet Gs We arrive. We
are nov approaching the present working grounds
OF tue great Msiors timber trade. Were We not
told of the fac: should scarcely realise 1t. as
/ except few logs here aud there on the bank
and perhaps 3 floating rsft Of logs seen in the
tide. We can discern no indications of Industry Of
any kind. A stream running into the river a
few yards below Mr.. McGregOr's is pointed out
10 Us ss the Mougonui creeko Ii is quiet little
tribQtsry. with flock of ducks Swimming fifty
yards % and the foliage of the trees on the bank.
almo-t meeting above the water /; but my iLfOrm.
ant tells NE. that down this stream. iron The
bush Of Which It is the outlet. has been aOsied
IN little over four years about twenty milinn
ieet OF kscri timber. for quality and SIZE not Ia
be surpassed 10 New ZezIani and he adds las
the bush is exhausted" | will assist my readers
presently 10 resize what 81 smouut of business
snd SealIh this implies. bat must now conclude
this imperfect sketch. hoping that | have sue
cee3ed 10 conveying some little idea OF he
scenery of the IiFe.-Nelr ZsaL1Hd Herald