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Salient: An Organ of Student Opinion at Victoria University, Wellington Vol. 24, No. 6. 1961.

Kapiti

Kapiti

If 25 People are to go Somewhere by Boat, One of them is Statistically Certain to Miss It.

The Tramping Club party set out from Paremata harbour on Easter Thursday one short, all gazing anxiously back to shore. The foamy-necked boat rode upon the gullsbath, with lashings of spray for the passengers. In the lee of the island there was quite a formidable tide-rip. which threw her about a bit. One peasant made a sudden rush for the rail. The boatman rushed, after him. The rail, apparently, was not too strong.

Some time after dark, up in the manuka in the Waiorua Valley, the tents were all pitched and the stew was ready to eat. Then we stayed sitting round the fire, talking and singing, till midnight or so. These sessions got later each night: on Monday till 2 a.m.

Good Friday was Stephenson's birthday, but Saturday being April 1 was a much more appropriate date for the party.

On Friday we scrambled along the sea cliffs to the caretaker's cottage, within the Bird Sanctuary; then up to the summit of the island. Titeremoana. Two beautiful hours were spent sprawling on the top, looking almost vertically down 1700 feet of scrub-dressed cliff, into the gently moving sea. Up to the north, where the cloud was thinner, silver patches glowed on the water.

On the next day we went up to the head of the Waiorua Valley and down the cliff-face to a rocky point, Arapawaiti, where the breakers surged through narrow caves. Back to camp round the shingly north end of the island. All done in a marvellously leisurely fashion.

The kakas and parakeets are increasing, although recently rats and opossums have been on the increase. too. Possum-trappers are at work at the moment. These native parrots and the bush robins can only be found in the very remote parts of the main islands. Wekas stalk round everywhere looking for something exciting to steal.

Two old tri-pots stand on the beach as the only remnants of five flourishing whaling stations. The site of the Maoris' kumara patches can still be seen; and according to custom, in a cave right down in the. south, lies the old fighting chief of the island, the brilliant and ruthless Te Rauparaha.