310 
than the flag -staff rising from among the bushes, on which on 
occasions of special solemnity the national flag is hoisted. 
Leaving the Waikato we turned into the Waipa. The names 
of both rivers are indeed characteristic: Waikato, the streaming 
water; Waipa 1 the quiet or placid water; for while the Waikato 
runs at the rate of four to five miles per hour, the Waipa has at 
its mouth at the most a velocity of a half to one mile. The Waipa 
is in regard to water-supply greatly inferior to the Waikato; never- 
theless it had, despite the low water mark, quite a distance up 
the river, a depth of from 8 to 12 feet. The temperature and the 
colour of the water in both rivers were likewise remarkably dif- 
ferent. The Waikato showed 68° Fahr. , and its water was light- 
green and clear; while that of the Waipa showed the dark-brown 
colour of peat- water, and a temperature of 70° Fahr. 2 
The passage on the Waipa between high banks on the right 
1 The term pa is used by the natives, when somebody is holding his breath, 
or fails to answer a question; it moreover signifies a “fortified village.” Waiho, 
the third of the principal rivers of the middle Waikato Basin, signifies the new 
river; the Piako has its name from a kind of Kaika tea-tree, which used to grow in 
the river-bottoms, and was known to the natives by its extremely pleasant 
fruit. Of this fruit a chief once remarked: they are like Piako's eyes. But it the 
fruit is like Pinko's eyes, then, according to the conceptions of the natives, the tract, 
upon which the tree stands, must be Piako’' s body, and thus the whole region and 
the river received the name of Piako. 
2 To Professor J. Smith at the University of Sydney I am indebted for infor- 
mation as to the results of an analysis of the water from both rivers. The analized 
sample of Waikato water was taken on January 24. 1856 near Arowhena, about 
40 miles above the mouth of the Waipa. It had a temperature of 63° F., a pleasant 
taste, and was quite clear. The sample of Waipa-water was gathered on January 29. 
1856 near Whatawhata , 15 miles above its mouth, and had a temperature of 64° F. 
The water while fresh, had neither smell nor taste; but when on March 26. the 
bottle was opened, a decided smell and taste of sulphuretted hydrogen was observed. 
The analysis of both samples yielded the following result: 
Waikato. Waipa. 
fixed ingredients 4.8 7.04 (j grains per 
volatile, principally organic substances . . 1.6 3.20 \ gallon. 
“TU 10277 
The fixed ingredients were carbonate and sulphate of lime, chloride of sodium, and 
traces of alumina, magnesia and iron. The Waipa-water contained more than the 
Waikato-water. Hardness of the water according to Clark's scale: Waikalo := 1° 5; 
Waipa = 1°3. 
