Whangarei and its Surroundings.

The last two days of the nine days’ tour were devoted to Whangarei, the largest town of North Auckland, and the country inland, a region where the practical usefulness and great wealth productivity blended with some unusual landscapes. Some of the places visited on this section of the round were the Puwera State Farm, the Portland Cement Works (on Limestone Island, in Whangarei Harbour), the Kamo mineral springs, the Kamo potteries, the very curious and beautiful limestone rock outcrops at Waro, Hikurangi; Mair's Park at Whangarei (a pretty spot presented by the late Mr. Robert Mair), and finest of all, the miniature Niagara of the Omiru Fall, on the Wairoa River, near the watermeet where the junction of that stream and the Mangakahia River form the Northern Wairoa.

The Puwera Experimental Farm, greatly interested the city men. It was amazing to contrast the luxuriance of the pasture as compared with adjacent waste land, a vivid illustration of the latent capacity of the northern clay lands.

Mr. C. J. Hamblyn, of the Department of Agriculture, supplied the visitors with a fund of information about the land and the methods necessary in its treatment.

At Limestone Island, down the harbour, the party were welcomed by Mr. T. H. Wilson, works manager for the Wilson's (N.Z.) Portland Cement Company and were shown over the place by guides, who explained all the processes in the conversion of the raw limestone into cement. At night (3rd November), there was the last official convivial dinner of the tour, at which the members were the guests of the town, Mr. L. J. Brake, Mayor, presiding. And then on and home again to Auckland, the end of a perfect tour, as one and all described it.