CHAP. XX.] 271 



CHAPTER XX. 



Gulf of Hauraki Coromandel Harbour Waiho, or the Thames 

 Waitemata Harbour Auckland. 



WHAT is commonly called the Thames is a very 

 large estuary or gulf on the eastern coast of New 

 Zealand, containing several harbours, and many 

 islands of various dimensions, and receiving the 

 waters of two rivers of considerable size. I give 

 to the whole the name of the Gulf of Hauraki, 

 although the natives apply this name only to the 

 eastern part, which receives the river Waiho, or 

 Thames, and the river Piako. If the denomination 

 of "Thames" is to be retained, instead of the well- 

 sounding native name of Waiho, this part of the 

 gulf would be most appropriately called the " Frith 

 of the Thames." 



The northern headland of the Gulf of Hauraki is 

 formed by Point Rodney ; the southern headland is 

 Cape Colville ; the distance between them being 

 about forty miles. Cape Colville is the extreme 

 headland of a long promontory, forming the eastern 

 limit of the Frith of the Thames ; throughout its 

 length runs a chain of wooded hills, with a sharp 

 crest and steep declivitous sides, which are washed 



