4 Transactions.—Miscellaneous. 
The Lake District may be reached by four separate routes: one from 
Napier to Tapuaeharuru, on the Waikato, near its outlet from Lake Taupo, 
and from thence to Ohinemutu, diverging, if the traveller pleases, to visit 
the wonders of Orakeikorako ; or the traveller, by this line of route, might 
proceed from Napier first to Tokano, on Lake Taupo, and, after enjoying 
the grand scenery on its southern and western shores, including magnificent 
views of the volcanic masses of Ruapehu and Tongariro, might proceed 
from thence by way of Tapuaeharuru to Ohinemutu. Another route is up 
the Waikato to Cambridge, and from thence by Te Wetu to Ohinemutu. 
The third and fourth routes would start from Tauranga, from whence 
Ohinemutu ean be reached either by the present coach-road or by way of 
Maketu, which is about 30 miles to the southward of Tauranga. The direct 
routes from Napier through Tapuaeharuru, and from Tauranga to Ohine- 
mutu, are both available for carriages, whilst those from Cambridge and 
Maketu are not so. A carriage-road has been formed from Maketu to 
Ohinemutu, but has been suffered to fall into disrepair, which is unfortu- 
nate for those who can only travel by a carriage, as that road presents 
scenery of very great beauty, whilst the district through which it passes 
is one of the most celebrated in the legends and history of the Maori. 
I travelled from Tauranga direct to Ohinemutu, making that place the 
centre from which I visited other parts of the district: and I may here 
venture to state that, throughout my excursion, I found the accommodation, 
though somewhat rough, by no means uncomfortable, and received very 
great civility from all persons with whom I came in contact. 
The road from Tauranga passes for about twelve miles over open 
country of considerable fertility, gradually rising to a place named Orepi, 
from whence it traverses a tract of forest eighteen miles through. Inde- 
pendently of the beauty of the scenery in the open ‘ground, the traveller is 
interested by the sight of the celebrated Gate Pah, sections of some of the 
trenches and rifle-pits occupied by the advanced posts of the Maoris during 
the assault, being visible in the bank, where the road cuts through the 
rising ground on which the remains of their fortifications still stand. I 
had previously visited the Cemetery, at Tauranga, which contains the 
tombs of many gallant men who fell on that occasion, and I could not but 
contemplate with sorrow a scene fraught with recollections of the terrible 
disasters of that battle. 
That the native population of the country round Tauranga must, in the 
past, have been very great, is attested by the numerous extensive fortifica- 
tions which are visible on the summits of the bolder hills, and the enormous 
refuse-heaps seen in every direction ; but although we cannot feel much 
regret that a race, so little permanently improvable as the Maori has shown 
