Overview
Sat. Feb. 7.
The finest, clearest + hottest day yet. After breakfast walked through "The Extension" via beach road to the last house (Mr H.B. France's) + ascended the rounded topped hill behind (the end of the ridge between Motuhara + Spring Valleys.) Photo (37) 1/2pl[ate] of Karehana Point., The Reef, South head of P.[Porirua] Harbour, +c (nearly high tide) from hilltop: 38) 1/2pl. "The Extension, lower end Motuhara Valley, shore-platform +c from hilltop looking south-east. Walked along ridge + looked down into Spring Valley. Photo (39) The heads of Spring + Motuhara Valleys showing the flatish
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topped ridge between +[sic] Pukerua Road to saddle. Returned to house + Maud, Nancy + I went down to rly. st.[railway station] to meet Dora, Marjorie, Clif + Ronald who are also taking a house here for a fortnight – Father was also on the same train en route for W’gton [Wellington] – photo (40) ¼ pl of the new arrivals on rly. st. Their cottage is 3 or 4 doors south of ours. Then went for a bathe, Clif + Ronald joining us later. Photo (41) 1/4 pl. Three mermaids (Maud, Gertie + Nancy with legs up); (42) 1/4pl. Maud in boat with anchor. After dinner walked back to "The Extension". Photo (43) 1/2 pl of "Somme House", an up-to-date stucco + stone residence showing the effective use in architecture of the beach boulders. Had a talk with Mr. J.W. Stubbs who owns the other boulder-ornamented house + with his friend a Mr Anderson (a friend of Mr. France’s). These gentlemen told me what they knew of the neighbourhood, the Maori history +c + mentioned some of the place-names:– Karehana Bay, in front of "The Extension"; Motuhara Valley; Motuhara Road = the hill-road above "Somme House"; Wai Rock, on the coast near Pukerua; Komanga Point = Bridge Pt., south of Titahi Bay. Walked through Plimmerton to old sea-cliff south of mouth of Tapu Creek (this name was supplied by M. Sarcich[?]) Photos (44) 1/2 pl. Flat of lower Tapu Valley with Walker’s homestead on one side + Plimmerton
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on the other from hill above terminus of Pahautanui Road (45) 1/2pl. South reach or arm of Porirua Harbour from hilltop above last, at low tide (same view as 1/4pan 15-16) (46) 1/2 Mana + South head with sunlight on sea, from top old sea-cliff above rly line. (47) 1/2pl. Same view as No. 44 but from top cliff above rly. Line. Returned home via beach. The others had been for a bathe so went in on my own + practiced side-stroke, making good progress. Photos (48) 1/4pl. Nancy naked on sand in front of house; (49) 1/4pl. Nancy + Clyde ditto. After tea Maud + I walked as far as the rocks at south end of Tapu Beach + also visited the "wild west" ice-cream shop. Vivian arrived by evening train + stays with Dora – Clif brought our mail from Levin – "Auckland Weekly News" accepted 3 photos of Mangahao Scheme + enclosed £1.1.0 – I also got a copy of the 2nd edit. Of Dr Cockayne's "N.Z. Plants + their Story" which reproduces my photo of glaciated Park Valley + gives my name as supposing it to be due to former glaciation.