158 Willis’s Guide Book of New Route for Tourists.

go town for a day or two and leave his keys with him. This wasfrequently done, and Takarangi took care that dogs, cats, and fowlswere duly fed, and Mr. Smith would find everything safe on his return.

Below Kaiwhaiki, the houses of the settlers are plentiful, andsome very picturesque.

50 M. Upokongaro (The Hidden-head).—P.O. Hotel, Stores,Smithy. Churches : Ang., S. Mary’s, and Wes. S. Mary’s churchhas a three-sided spire on a square tower, the effect of which is veryannoying to the eye, as, except from two points of view, it always ap-pears out of the perpendicular. There is a ferry here. Fares, VehicleIs., Horse and rider, 6d., Footpassenger, 2d.

52 M. Kaimatira Hill and Cliff.—On these may be seen theearthworks of two old pas. These are worth a visit.

55 M. The Railway Bridge here crosses from Eastown L.bank to Aramoho R. bank, where there is a station at which therailway to Wanganui from New Plymouth meets that from Wellington,Mangaonoho, and Napier.

From this the pretty suburbs extend two miles to the town itself.

Just opposite the Market Place Wharf, at which Messrs.Hatrick & Co’s Steamers land their passengers, is ShakspeareCliff, which is the scene of the legend of

TUTAEPOROPORO AND RANGI.

“ Long ago there was a very voracious taniwha ,, named Tutaeporo-poro, who lived in the deep pool at the foot of Taumaha-aute(Shakspeare Cliff). When the people who lived up the river camedown in a canoe, Tutaeporoporo would come up, and rush at the canoewith his great mouth wide open, and swallow all those who were onboard. Then he would spit out the canoe, and go back again to hishole in the bottom of the river, and sleep till he had digested the mealhe had eaten.

“ This was a great evil. The up-river Maoris were afraid to comedown to go to the sea to fish, and they grew very tired of living on fern-root and eels only; for this tribe was at peace then with the neigh-bouring tribes, and so no people could be got for meat. Tutaeporoporodid not care for that; but as the Maoris were too frightened to comepast his den, he got very hungry and very cross.

“ Then the people assembled, and held a runanga to considerwhat should be done in the matter of this great evil of Tutaeporoporo.And after all the old chiefs had spoken, a young chief named Rangistepped forward, and threw off his mat, and said he would kill Tutae-poroporo, or die in the attempt. And everyone was very pleased,except one girl, who feared that her lover would be the prey of thetaniwha ,

“ Then Rangi told his slaves to make him a strong box largeenough to hold himself. And the slaves hewed a large box out of atotara log, and Rangi got into it, taking with him a big stone and hisknife. Then he told his slaves to tie on the lid, and to throw the boxinto the river opposite the mouth of the Mataraua Stream.

“As the box drifted down with the current, Rangi’s sweetheartsat hidden among the ngaios at the upper end of the cliff, and the