(J.-16

4

main bush on both sides commences again, and continues upward with mixture of shrubs and fern-trees, and on the river an alternation of rapids and fine reaches. 74 Miles: Mangapurua Stream, left bank.—Fine bush continues on both banks and goes on above this, with occasional groves of fern-trees, and rapids and quiet reaches alternating in the river. 82 Miles.-- Whaiigamomona River joins on right bank. Bush continues both sides of river with same character of rapids and reaches between. 85 Miles.—The Tangarakau River joins on the right bank. Good bush continues both sides. There is a fine grove of fern-trees on right bank a little below the Tangarakau junction. A short way above this is Puketapu, an old kainga of some importance, with clearing on right bank, with a good deal of light bush and fern-trees near river. Good bush continues on both banks above this, and there comes the long nearly straight part of the river called " Otaihanga," a narrow water-way, canal-like, confined between papa faces on both sides, with fine bush on the hill-slopes above, a strikingly picturesque piece of the river, with very fine nearly still-water reaches between the rapids. 93 Miles: Ohauora Rapid, No. 139.—Here an old clearing on left bank, and going on above this good bush continues on both sides of the river. In a reach between rapids Nos. 136 and 135 there is a fine grove of fern-trees on lower slopes on the right bank. It may be added that there are here and there large fern-tree gloves of great beauty on the wooded hill-slopes, although not specially noted. 98 Miles: Tarepokiore Rapid, No. 128.—Going on upwards there are between rapids Nos. 124 and 122 old clearings on both banks, the bush continuing generally on both sides of the river. 100 Miles: Kirikiriroa. Kainga and old clearing left bank, with along the river-margin light bush and fern-trees which add much to the scenery. Above this, good bush continues on both banks, and above Mangapapapa Rapid, No. 117, there is a long reach with very fine bush scenery on both sides all the way. This is called Tokakura Reach, and is particularly worthy of conservation. Owairua Rapid, No. ll(i: There is a kainga and old clearing on left bank, with light bush at river; above this the bush continues on both sides. At Ngararanui Rapid, No. 114, old clearing on right bank with light bush and fern-trees at river. Up to Te Haukopai Rapid, No. 113, and Otawa Rapid, No. 112, ami in the reach between them there is fine bush on both sides of river. There is a fern-tree grove just above W 7 aikoriri Rapid, No. 110, on left bank. The general character as above described continues upwards. LOS Miles.—Retaruke River joins on left bank. A road-line comes in here on left bank. This is the Retaruke Valley Road, and the Rata Road on left bank comes in to river a short way above the Retaruke junction. There are old clearings here on both sides, and then good bush extends upwards on both banks. Near Otahapa Rapid, No. 101, there is a large fern-tree grove on right bank. At No. 99, I'apanui Rapid, good bush continues both sides. Near Mangaohutu Rapid, No. 97. a road-line oomes in on left bank. This is the Mangaohutu Road. In the reach above good bush continues both sides. In the reach above Te Hue Rapid, No. 96, there is an old olearing on left bank. 11l Miles: Tawhata.—Kainga and old clearing on left bank. At Ohuraite Rapid, No. 93, an old olearing on left bank and good bush on right bank, and this .continues on right bank in the reach above, with another old clearing on left bank. The name of this very tine reach is Ngatukuwaru, and it is one of the longest reaches in the upper river, and the good bush begins on left bank in upper part of reach and goes on upward. At Kahuitara Rapid, No. 91, good bush continues both sides. 11l Milis. Tin- Ohura River joins on right bank. At ( >hi nemaiiuhiri Rapid. No. 90, old clearings both sides of river, with light bush and fern-trees at the river-iuargins. At Te Kapara Rapid, N0..89, old clearing on left bank with good light bush at river, and at Tutaeahiia Rapid, No. 88, old clearing left bank and good bush on right bank. There are old clearings in reach above on both river-banks. Kakahi, an old clearing, is on the right bank. At Kakahi Rapid, No. 87; good bush both banks, and this continues upwards in the reach above. In the reach between Ruangarahu Rapid, No. 84, and Te Puha Rapid, No. 83, an old clearing, Pehimaki, on left bank, and at No. 83 an old clearing, Te I'uha. on right bank, with good bush on left bank : and in reach above old clearings both sides with fine light bush and fern-trees near the river-sides, and good bush in parts on left bank. At Wliakapiri Rapid, No. 82, old olearing on right bank. In the reach adjoining Kokakariki Rapid. No. SI, a waterfall on left bank over two papa ledges. A road-line joins river near this on left bank coming from Waimarino, and probably crossing river. This is the Kokakoriki Road. At Kirikau Rapid, No. 80, the old clearing on right bank continues, and there is good bush on the face on left bank. At Kairakau Rapid, No. 79, the old clearing on right bank ends in a prominent bluff. At rapid No. 78 old clearing on left bank, and at Owhawhe Rapid, No. 77, old clearing and open fern land on left bank, and this continues in the reach above. At (It nit i Rapid, No. 76, the Otuiti Stream on right bank flows into river over papa ledges. Here old clearing on right bank. In reach above He Repu Rapid, No. 75, the open fern land extends inland on right bank with good light bush near river, and in the upper pari of reach old clearing left bank with good bush on right bank. Wliakapaenoa Rapid, No. 74, in reach above this old clearing on left bank, ami good light bush and fern-trees near river on right bank. At Te Auroa Rapid, No. 7-'!. good bush both sides of river. At T,- Ruawhakainga Rapid, No. 72, old clearings both banks: a load-line comes in here on left bank. This is the Kokakonui Road. In the reach above Te Ohu Rapid, No. 71, an old clearing and fern land on left bank. 121 Miles. -In this fine reach there is a large rock called Tokapihepihe, and further up in teach g. 1 hush both banks with kowhai-trees on right bank. At top of Otutekawa Rapid, No. 69, old clearing on left bank, and good bush right bank. There seem to have been numerous old