Page:Tales-of-Banks-Peninsula Jacobson 2ed 1893 cropped.pdf/268

years had passed since tender hands had reverently placed it in this remote situation? The view from this place is remarkably fine. The bold cliffs of the northern head, which rise 600ft sheer from the sea, the many rocks in the Bay against which the waves dash sheets of foam, the southern head with its 400 feet of overhanging rock, and inland the peaceful valley and gentle spurs, with patches of bush here and there, and above all, the great peaks of the main range—form together a most imposing picture, and it was with regret I turned my steps towards the house. Going back on the south bank of the creek, through the flat, no one can help noticing the extraordinary growth of grass. All the posts in the 60-acre paddock you go through, came from one great totara tree, and there were some left over. The walk up the valley is very delightful, the trees being of exceptional beauty. There are a great number of nikau palms, and a curious kind of broadleaf growing here, which I have never seen before. It takes root in the forks of the big pines, and gradually grows down till it reaches the earth, where it roots, and gaining fresh strength, gradually embraces and strangles the tree like the rata. It is very beautiful, its leaves being larger and brighter than those of the common broadleaf. The Messrs. Masefield turned out turkeys and geese in the valley. Three of each were turned out. The turkeys increased so fast that in a few years there were hundreds; but of late they seem to be declining in numbers. We saw several healthy broods. The geese have always done wonderfully well, and there is a great flock of them. The native birds are still numerous, but the kakas and pigeons have disappeared. Mr. V. Masefield does not believe that these birds have been shot out, but that they have migrated to the West Coast. He says that the kakas disappeared in a very short time; that one