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The Cyclopedia of New Zealand [Auckland Provincial District]

Opononi

Opononi is situated on the south side of the Hokianga River, three miles from Hokianga Heads and fifteen miles from Rawene, the township, which is also known as Herd's Point. Opononi is part of the property owned by Mr. John Webster, and is a convenient landing-place for goods for distribution in the surrounding scattered districts. The land is used for grazing sheep, but Mr. Webster has a fine orchard; the place is, however, chiefly a trading centre. The Canterbury and Auckland special settlements are about twelve miles from Opononi. There is very good anchorage, where vessels drawing twenty feet can lie safely; the largest sailing vessels have crossed the Hokianga bar and lain off the Opononi wharf on their way up the river to the sawmills at Kohukohu. Some fine scenery is to be found in the neighbourhood. The Blow Hole at the Heads is a grand sight, and the Pakanae Gorge on the road to the Waimamaku settlement is worth a visit, besides numerous waterfalls easily accessible. The climate is healthy, and good shooting and fishing can be found in abundance. There is regular steam communication with Auckland and a weekly overland mail service by coach by way of Horeke, to and from Kawakawa, at the Bay of Islands. A hotel near the beach offers good accommodation for travellers. There are several native settlements in the page 615 small, rich valleys formed by numerous tidal creeks on the Hokianga river, in which the easy-going inhabitants do a limited amount of cultivation. Europeans settled on the Hokianga in the earliest period of the colony, and at one time both Maoris and pakeha settlers grew wheat and maize to a considerable extent, and did a good export trade with Sydney. Of this there is now no trace, and the principal industry at the present time is timber, very extensive forests of kauri, totara, and other valuable trees existing over a large area of country. There is also a large trade in kauri gum, and the Government obtains its principal supply of puriri sleepers from the district.