Auckland

[Any particulars that the touxist may require as to fares, hotels, boarding-houses etc., may be obtained tree at the Government Tourist Enquiry Office, Customs Street West].

Post, Telegraph, and Money Order Offices.—The G.P.O. is open every day except Sunday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. The telegraph office is open on week days from 8 a.m. to midnight; on Sundáys from 9.30 a.m. to 10 a.m., and from 5p.m. to 5.30 p.m.,;and on holidays from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., and from 7 p.m to midnight. The money order office is open from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. These three offices are in the same building. For further particulars see Post and Telegraph Guide, price 6d.

Clubs.—The Northern and the Auckland.

Hotels.—Grand (12S. 6d.), The Star (12S. 6d.), Central (10s. 6d.), Royal (ios.), and excellent boarding houses—"Mountnessing," and "Glen Alvon."

Principal places of Worship.—Anglican, Presbyterian, Román. Catholic (Cathedral), Wes-leyan, Congregational, Baptist, and a Jewish Svnagogue.

Newspapers.—"N. Z. Herald" (published every morning), "Evening Star" (published every evening). The following are weekly papers: "Auckland Weekly News," "N.-Z. Graphic," "Observer," and "Sporting Review."

Population.—Ovcr 70,000.

Conveyances.—Electric tram-cars run from the railway station, on

Maori Tiki

page 6 week days only, to Parnell, Newmarket, Epson, Remuera Mt. Eden, Newton, Ponsonby, and other places at regular intervals.

Holiday Trips.—The S.S. "Clansman," which is well equipped for passengers, leaves Auckland every Monday en route for the Bay of Islands, Whangaroa, and Mango..... returning on Friday morning. This is a delightful........ for travellers who have only a few days at their disposal The coastal scenery is unrivalled, and many interesting memorials of the earlv history of the colony may be sent en route. In February the Northern Company dispatched their fine steamer "Ngapuhi" for a grand pleasure c... along this coast extending over eight days, and calling at all the most beautiful islands and harbours. This trip provides for the North Island what the Sounds trip doa for the South—an opportunity of spénding a summer holiday under the most pleasant conditions.

The Devonport Steam Ferry Co .—Steamers run from Auckland to the North Shore from 6.30 a.m. to 11 p.m. Time tables may be had on application at the office of the company on the wharf. The fare is 6d. return. Boats also run to Lake Takapuna in the sumrner, and some of the Devonport boats connect with a coach running to this interesting spot. There is a good hotel at the Lake, which commands a fine view of the surrounding country.

Railways, Steamers, and Coaches .—As the fares, and times of departure of trains, steamers, and coaches, are necessarily Hable to altera-

[unclear: Waitaku] Falls

Muir and Moodle photos

North Shore, Auckland

Niuotupu Falls Near Auckland

Muir and Moodle photos

Auckland Free Llbrary

tion, such information will not appoar in these pages and the tourist should obtain a copy of the Gov-ernment penny time-table, or Government Tourist Department's "Itinerary of Travel," issued free, as soon as possible after his arrival.

There are some very beautiful drives in the neighbourhood of Auckland, and a buggy, landau, or drag, may be hired at reasonable rates by the hour, or for the day. The drive to Mt. Eden, with its bowl-shaped extinct crater, through Remuniera and Epsom, is one that should on no account be missed. It can be done very comfortably in two hours and a half, and the panorarma from the top of the mountain is one of striking beauty Another interesting route is through Onehunga and Mangere; the country is volcanic, and the land is fertile. A pleasant four hhurs' trip is to Panmure and St. Helier's, There is a good view of the harbour all the way. Cornwal Park (or One-Tree Hill), a beautiful domain, may be visited en route. Longer drives may also be taken: To the Nihotupu Falls, about 18 miles from the city; the scencry ncar the falls is bcautiful, and the famous Kauri

Thames River

Muir and Moodle photos

Wairua Falls and Kauri Logs

pine (Dammara australis) may be seen on the way. On the road to Waitakere Falls some very pretty country is passed through, and the Falls aro exceedingly fine.

In the city itself there are the Free Public Library, the Picture Gallery, and the Museum.

Northern Wairoa-Whangarei Tour.—Probably the most interesting tour north of Auckland is that across the Kaipara, up the Northern Wairoa River to the Wairua Falls, thence overland to Whangarei, and back to Auckland by steamer. This track takes the traveller through the greatest inland water-way in the Colony, traverses the heart of the kauri timber and kauri-gum industries, and includes in its attractions some charming scenery. The first stage of the journey is by train, 38 miles to Helensville, a township on the South Kaipara waters; in the vicinity are some valuable hot mineral springs. From Helensville the tourist voyages by steamerover the broad reaches of the Kaipara, and up the Wairoa River to Dargaville, 40 miles from the sea. The river is a wide browny-yellow tideway, not beautiful on its lower waters, but invaluable as a shipping channel. Ocean-steamers and large sailing vessels come up the deep river as far as Dargaville, Mangawhare, and the other timber-shipping townships; sea-going steamers in fact can voyage as far up the Wairoa as Tangi-teroria, over 70 miles from the sea. The great industry of the district is timber-milling. The saw mills at Te Kopuru, Aratapu,

Wairua Falls

Cowdell, photo

and Aoroa are busy establishments well worthy a visit; the latter mill is said to be the largest in Australasia. The river is a lively scene of maritime business; steamers, barques brigantines, and schooners are constantly entering the Wairoa lo load, or towing down to sea with timber freights. At Dargaville and Mangawhare there is hotel accommodation. Here the traveller boardsa small steamer for the upper river trip. He should enquire at Dargaville or .Mangawhare for Captain Pearce, the up-river manager for the Northern Union Steamboat Company, who will do all he can to facilitate the movements of visitors.

Before going on up the Wairoa, however, every traveller should take a run up the Kaihu Valley railway, 17 miles in length, to the kauri forests. From Kaihu (the head of the line) a ride or drive of six miles takes one to the celebrated Kauri Park at Mangatu, a Crown reserve which contains sonie splendid specimens of the fast vanishing kauri pine, including one tree 48 feet in circunifereiiel In the vicinity, timber getting and hauling may be witnessed, and a typical river-dam in connection with the industry is to be seen.

Returning to Dargaville, a start is made up the rivera Pukekohe, near the Wairua Falls, over 40 miles from Dargaville. The river improves in point of beauty as its head waters are approached. It winds and bends through low-lying bush lands, then skirts the foot of the Maungaj and Tangihua ranges, stately and forest-clad. Here some lovely landscapes are opened out, and the picturesque homes of settlers are now and then passed. The river in its upper

Whangarei

Cowdell, photo

Entrance to Whangarei Harbour

reaches is thickly fringed with weeping-willows, formmg a green wall of foliagc on either side, and the reflections m tthe still brown waters are very fine.

At Pukekohe, the head of navigation, accommodation may be had at the cottage of Kaui Tito, a Maori settler. From this centre the Wairua Falls, two miles away, are comfortably visited. The Wairua, a tributary o the Wairoa, plunges in grand volume ovcr a perpendicular Cliff; its width and general appearance have led to its being called The New Zealand Niágara. The rocky gorge below the fells is verdurous on either side with native vegetation, mdthe river bed is piled with massos of great kaun logs, feate.d down from the up-river forests, on their way to the Wairoa milis. The logs lie here jammed in wild confusion, until swept down by floods; on the very verge of the falls are perched—in summer time—more logs, stranded until the winter floods send them hurtling over the precipice into the whirlpool below. During a flood the falls present a magnificent spectacle.

Wairua Falls to Whangarei, a drive of about 20 miles, is the next stage. The road passes through the Poroti gum-fields, a stretch of dreary manuka, and enters the rich volcanic lands of the Whangarei back-country, skirting the base of the Whatitiri (Thunder) Mountain, and opening up to the traveller's eyesome beautiful landscapes charming in their variety of wooded hill-cones, thick forests, and cultivated clearings. As Whangarei town is approached, the scenery becomes even more attractive. One sees the best farms of the north in these thriving agricultural, dairying, and fruit-growing arcas, and a far-reaehing view of the island-studded! sea presents itself.

Whangarei Waterfall

Cowdell, photo

Whangarei, the largest town north of Auckland, is pleasantlv situated in the midst of one of the finest distrital in the Island. In the neighbourhood are some very

Rlver Scene, Whangarei

Cowdell, photo

flourishing orange-groves and vineries, and the local fruit growing industry is one of large dimensions. The Kamo hot springs, where there is excellent accommodation are about six miles from the town, and possess a high reputation for their medicinal qualities. The springs are in the centre of a very picturesque country, diversified with fantastic limestone outcrops bush-clothed bilis and fine waterfalls The-Puhipuhi State forest is an easy journey from Kamoj There is almost daily steam communication' between page 13 Whangarei and Auckland, a distance of about 8o miles; the steamer track passes close to the archipelago of islands in the Hauraki Gulf. Notable amongst these islands is the beautifully wooded Kawau, the old-time home of the late Sir George Grey.

The Hot Lakes and Thermal Springs Districts.—That every visitor to Auckland will visit the world-renowned thermal district is almost a sine qua non. Trains leave Auckland in the season every morning for Te Aroha, us miles; Okoroire, 131 miles; and Rolorua, 171 miles. For fares the tourist is referred to the Government penny time table, obtainable at all railway stations.

Okoroire

There are many visilors to Rotorua who would like to visit Okoroire or Te Aroha, or both, en route.

Te Aroha. is noted for its hot spnngs and the quiet peaceful beauty of its surroundings The view from the rammit of Mt. Aroha, 3,176 feet high, is exceedingly grand.

Okoroire is a pleasant spot in wluch to break the long railvav iourney to Rotorua. The scenery is pretty the trout-fishing is good, and the hotel and the bsrths all that could be desired.

Waitomo Caves

Waitomo and Ruakuri Caves.—These beautiful limestone stalactite caves, situated in a picturesque valley of the "King Country," are reached by train from Auckland (or Rotorua) to Otorohanga or Hangatiki, on the main trunk railway; hence drive or ride about 10 miles. There is accommodation at Otorohanga and Hangatiki, and also at Waitomo. Visitors should not use bare candles in the Caves, on account of the resultant discolouration of the slalaetites and stalagmites; magnesium wire, and lanterns or small electrie lamps are preferable. The wire is obtainable at Otorohanga and Hangatiki.

"Maggie"

Rotorua Sanatorium and Public Gardens