226 MANGO-NUI HARBOUR. [PART II. 



I was agreeably surprised to see the native plant- 

 ations at Oruru. In neatness they exceed every- 

 thing that would be done by Europeans with 

 similar means ; but, strange to say, the natives had 

 preferred the steep sides of a hill to the rich allu- 

 vium of the valley. 



There are not many people living here : those 

 who do belong to the tribes of the Haupouri, but 

 Pane Kareao, the chief at Kaitaia, claims the whole 

 place and the right to dispose of it, as the present 

 occupants belong to a subdued tribe. The greater 

 part of the land has been sold, chiefly to Mr. Ford, 

 who was formerly the surgeon attached to the 

 missions. 



The harbour of Mango-nui is not laid down in 

 any chart ; vessels rounding Point Surville should 

 keep close to the southern shore of Lauriston Bay, 

 and will then have no difficulty in avoiding the 

 reef of rocks which runs off Oruru in a north- 

 easterly direction, and which is the only obstacle to 

 a safe and easy entrance into the harbour. The 

 channel is not above 100 yards wide, but is very 

 deep. Several whalers have at different times re- 

 sorted to this harbour for provisions and repair. 

 In the narrow part of the channel a vessel can keep 

 close to the southern shore ; and, entering the basin, 

 haul close round the southern head, and anchor in 

 five fathoms water about a quarter of a mile off that 

 head, where a small number of vessels are perfectly 

 sheltered. The rest of the estuary is a large basin, 



