Taranaki.

We may now proceed overland to Palmerston North, a rising township around which is a fine farming country, and thence through the Rangitikei to Wanganui and on to Taranaki, where we may enjoy another of New Zealand's gardens. We may also have a trip up the grand old Mount Egmont, 8,270 feet high, from whose rugged sides the most perfect views of land and sea may be obtained. Many days could be profitably employed in visiting the charming districts of this fertile portion of New Zealand, and in observing the Maori at home at such places as Opunake and Parihaka, the latter being the seat of Te Whiti, the Maori prophet, who was the last to give the Government trouble by his fanaticism, and the influence he exerted on those who used to Flock to his periodical meetings. But we must hurry back to Palmerston North, and proceed through the celebrated Manawatu Gorge. The journey is now made by the newly-finished con-connecting line of railway between the Hawkes Bay and the Wanganni Sections. The gorge is full of beautiful scenery of wooded hill, narrow defile and river view, but much of its beauty has been destroyed by the construction of the iron road, along which we are now travelling. One of the steep wooded banks of this grand river has had its wealth of dark green ruthlessly broken up by the cuttings, embankments, and tunnels made for the free action of the iron horse. We have now arrived at Woodville, the old termini of the Napier-Woodville section, situate in the Forty Mile Bush, which contains a vast quantity of splendid timber country, which, when page 55 cleared, becomes grand pastoral land. We have now a run of 94 miles by rail through the settlements of Danevirke, Kaikora, Waipawa, and others, till we come into the charmingly rich country of Hawkes Bay Provincial District. The capital city is