453 
At 5 p. m. we reached Rangiawhia, situated in the fertile 
plain between the Waikato and Waipa. Extensive wheat, maize, 
and potatoe-plantings surround the place , broad carriage-roads run 
in different directions; numerous horses and herds of well-fed cattle 
bear testimony to the wealthy condition of the natives; and the 
huts scattered over a large area are entirely concealed among fruit- 
trees. A separate race-course is laid out; here is a court-house, 
there a store; farther-on a mill on a mill-pond, and high above 
the luxuriant fruit-trees rise the tapering spires of the catholic and 
protestant churches. I was surprised on entering the latter sanc- 
tuary, at beholding a beautifully painted glass -window reflecting 
its mellow tints into my wondering eyes. Such is Rangiawhia - — 
the only Maori-settlement , among those I have seen , which might 
be called a town — 1 a place, which by its central position in 
the most fertile district of the North Island, and as the central 
point of the corn-trade , bids fair to rise ere long to the rank and 
size of a flourishing staple -town. A large number of the inhabi- 
tants had assembled at our arrival , among them the pretty young 
wife of the chief Wiremu Toctoe , who had been one of the party 
on board the Novara on the return voyage to Europe. The magni- 
ficent sorrel, on which I was mounted, had been sent by Toetoe’s 
spouse for my special accommodation; it was Toetoe’s own favorite 
charger. I had to tell them of the Novara and her route to Europe; 
and was subsequently not only charged with letters and greetings, 
but the affectionate Mrs. Toetoe even sent a photograph by me to her 
distant husband. On a good road we had soon traversed the short 
distance between Rangiawhia and Otawhao , where we were received 
with a most hearty welcome by the Rev. Mr. Morgan and his family. 
May 19. — Otawhao is one of the principal Mission stations 
of the Anglican High-Church. A church, a school, gardens, mea- 
dows and smiling fields have taken the place of an old dilapi- 
dated Maori Pah ; and we could well appreciate the proud joy 
swelling the heart of our noble minded host, on seeing the lovely 
1 Otaki in the South of the North Island is said to have a still more city-like 
appearance. 
