The Chiefs of the South Taupo Region.

At the remote little village of Ngatokorua, sheltered from the icy winds off Ruapehu by a belt of tall forest, he found Peehi, who, “although a rank Hauhau,” as he described him, agreed, after a little talk, to help him; the chief was not really averse to the railway scheme. Rochfort now deemed it advisable to seek the support of the other principal chiefs of the interior, so he visited Topia Turoa (Peehi's brother, an ally of the Government in the campaign against Te Kooti in 1869–70), Matuahu, and Te Heuheu Tukino, at Roto-a-Ira, and the Lake Taupo villages Tokaanu and Waihi. Topia contented himself with sending a telegram to the Native Minister informing him that he would allow the surveyor to go on, but Te Heuheu and his kinsman Matuahu sent two men with Mr. Rochfort.