Along the Bay of Plenty.

Now out to the sea coast, by way of Morrinsville, Paeroa, Waihi and Tauranga. The people turned out in strong force at the pretty town of Tauranga this lovely Sunday evening. A full moon rode high; the quiet harbour was a sea of silver light. A halt for dinner and a talk with the townsfolk, and then on again for the terminus of the East Coast line at Taneatua.

The train rolled along through a gently modulating countryside quite new to most of the passengers; for this is a lately-constructed section of line. Through Te Puke town, and the Pongakawa settlements, then down past the ancient Maori fortress Otamarakau and the softly glowing Waitahanui stream, to the long beach of the Kaokaoroa. This name means literally “Long Rib,” and it fits the place, the long narrow rib of low sandhills and smooth sea-strand between the cliffs and the ocean. Along this far stretching sandy shore there was a great running battle in 1864 when the loyal Arawa pursued and defeated a large force of invading rebels from the eastern parts who had vainly tried to break through to reinforce the Waikato Kingites against the British troops. It was peaceful enough this evening, with the moonlight on the gently-breathing waters, and a fairy glimmer on the bold white cliffs of sandstone over which ancient pohutukawa trees outjutted.

Through Matamata, an historic pakeha-maori township above the lagoon that was formerly the page 30 sea-mouth of the Awa-a-te-Atua, or Rangitaiki, and smooth run across the Rangitaiki levels to Taneatua, near the gateways of the Urewera ranges.