OVERLAND TRIP.

Auckland Chronicle and New Zealand Colonist, Volume 2, Issue 67, 14 November 1844, Page 3

OVERLAND TRIP.

We have received by the Government Brig *« V'ctoria'' the following intelligence from a gentleman who left Auckland a few weeks ago, with the intention of proceeding overland to Wellingtonjbutwho on the way visited the settlements and some of the stations in the neighbourhood of Cooks Straits. It appears from the observations of our correspondent, that our Southern neighbours are not in such an unhappy position as our Auckland cotemporaries would occasionally lead people at a distance to suppose ; and it is to be hoped we shall soon be prepared to follow their example, and join in that most lucrative branch of industry, the whale fishery, from which alone they are likely to derive, this season, upwards of £50,000. They appear also to be fully alive to the value of flax, bark, and timber, as quantities of these aritcles have been shipped and the merchants £are offering remunerating prices for as much as can be procured. The Agriculturalists are also in a thriving condition, and expect to be able to supply the settlements with sufficient wheat for next years consumption of flour, without the necessity of importation, and also with potatoes, which will render them independent of the maori crops. However, we will now give our correspondents' communication as to particulars. "In endeavouring to fulfil the promise made previous to starting, I now forward the following brief sketch of my rambles, and should it afford you any information worth noticing, with which you were not previously acquainted, I shall feel amply gratified by placing it at your disposal. " When we left Auckland, yon may remember that the weather had a rather unsettled appearance, and my maorie companions informed me that in a short time, there would be plenty of rain, but I did not expect their predictions would be so soon verified, for by the time we arrived at Potters' Inn, a heavy shower gave us notice that it was time to look out for shelter, and I felt happy to find myself in such a good neighbourhood, for in the course of a faw minutes 1 was snug in the comfortable parlour of the .** Eden Gaiden," Inn, and soon found myself as happy as old Adam could have been before Eve made her appearance. It contiuned to rain heavily, but a good dinner, and a few glasses of Punch, made me almost forget the weather, and the long journey before me. Next morning, however, I consultpd my sable friends, and they gave their opinion that we might now proceed, as the wind was from.the quarter which indicated fine weather. We accordingly started, and in the course of an hour arrived at Uneunga. "The friends of my Guardian Angels had assembled the previous evening, and were upon our arrival, ready;to proceed. The canoe was soon afloat and the tide being in our favour, we glided down the Manukau Harbour at the rate of about five miles an hour. There were on board, thirteen men, four women, and myself, besides 3 dogs and various packages of blanketss, tobacco, calico, prints, &0., which they had procured with the money obtained for pigs brought from their settlement to Auckland; In the course of three hours we arrived at the Manukan Company's settlement of Cornwallis, or Karnngahape, where my com« panions proposed remaining for a short time to prepare kie kie. I accordingly had an opportunity of seeing the settlement, which consists of about a dozen houses, (the most of which are unoccupied J and the saw mill establishment. The soil in the immediate neighbourhood does not appear fertile, but the hills are covered with excellent kawrie, which will no doubt become valuable, and as the harbour is one of the best on the west coast, this settlement may in the course of a few years beccma a flourishing trading port.

On leaving Cornwallis we proceeded across the harbour, and arrived in tile afternoon at a Pah neas lire Missionary station conducted by Mr.. Hamlin. The natives in that neighbourhood appear to have derived much benefit from that gentleman's instructions, by the apparently sincere manner in which they conducted their Evening and Morniug devo» lions. The land on the South side of the Har» bour near the native settlement, appeared much superior to that on-the North at Cornwallis, and may account for the preference which is given to the South side by the natives. The next morning being fine, I gave my friendly host a few figs of Tobacco for the shelter and Potatoes with which he had accommodated me, aud commenced a rather long days' journey towards Waikato. We soon reached the beach on the Western coast which is a plane of fine sand from the. South head of the Manukau Harbour to the North of the Wai&ato River. At half tide, or low water, the beach is an excellent road, the. sand being firm—but at high water we were obliged to beep up to the bans:, where travelling becomes difficult irom the loose nature of the shingle and sand thrown up during Westerly gales of wind. However, notwithstanding the loads carried by m> guides, they trudged along at a smart pace, and, towards even ing, we arrived on the banks of the Waik'Hos We were soon seen from the.Pah on the oppo.-ite. side, and a canoe was bi ought ov t r, but the men who were in it, remained a short distance from the shore, until a bargain as to the amount of titti f the conveyance across was made. Twelve figs of tobacco were demanded, which I consented to gire upon reaching the other side of the river ; bui these wary sons of Charon preferred the payment at once ; arid I was compelled to open one of my packages of luggage to comply with their lerms. Upon-getting over, I obtained quarters in a house kept for the accomodation of travellers by a person who stated that he had, at the early settlement of Auckland, baen a Publican, but who now, prefirred a quiet eountry life. He ocoupied a large well built Raupo house, of three rooms, with boarded floors, near the Pab of a chief, bearing the English name of Clark, and in the neighbourhood of one or two European residents. About half a mile from the mouth of the river, is the church and residence of the Hev. R. Maunsell. Within a distance of miles on the south side of the Waikato, I was informed that tbere are about three thousand natives in the various settlements. From the slight opportunity I bad of observing them, and from the information affordedme, I look upon the Waikato tribes, as an iudustrious, and well disposed cLss of natives. The day after my arrival being Sunday.l remained and felt particularly gratified on seeing about four hundred persous engaged in divine service—who but a few years ago were utterly uaconscious of the great |happt3 ness which they now experience through the instructions and example of the pious Missionary. The country on the banks near the moutn of the river appeared mountainous, with narrow rallies where cultivation was carried on; Jbut I was informed that the soil inland is of the richest discription, and that canoes c»n convey produce on both the Waikato "and Waipa which joins the former river—from a distance of upwards of one hundred miles. Without a pilot it would be dangerous for vessels to go into this Harbour, as the heavy Westerly galesopposed to the body of fresh water in the river, often cause a variation of the chann el. On the Monday morning, we again pioceeded on our journey, and after ascending steep hills for about an hour, and passing along ridges through a thick bush, we lost sight of Waikato. A fatiguing journey of twodavs over mountains and through deep valleys, brought us to Wangaroa—which by coast line, is about forty miles from Waikato. Wangaroa is improved by a number of native settlements on a river flowing from the mountains which divide that part of the ceantry from the Waipa district. The land is of average quality, and in some places well cultivated. There are about half a doaen European settlers residing on the south east side of the Harbour, who cultivate small farms and oure pork- The WesJeyan Missionary, Mr. Wallis, is stationed here, and has, besides his house and office, a very handsome weaiherboarded Chapel, which viewed from the settlement on fhe north head, gives the landscape an English like appearance—the country being lightly timbered with gently undulating ; plains. Vessels of 500 tons bu.then could enter this Harbour at high water, and be safe from any weather when inside. But no stranger ought tempt to take a vessel in, as it is, like the others on the West Coast, a Bar Harbour. From Wangaroa a tract has been cut through the bash for about 12 miles, to Otea. This is a largs shallow basin, with a narrcw entrance from The natives in_ the neigbbourhosd amount to about 2000, The soil is good, and great quantities of corn, and some wheat, besides the staple artiole of maurie diet—potatoes, are cultivated here. The Wesleyan Missionary, Mr. Smale, resides at this place, and three or four Europeans in the vicinity One of whom, who has resided there ten years,! found to be of a particularly obliging, and hospitable disposition ; and who not only afforded me the best that his house could famish, but also conveyed us iu bis boat across the harbour, and accompanied me to Kawhia, for which kindness I felt extremely thankful. The harbour of O tea can on ly be entered by small vessels of not more than 40 tons bnrthen. (To be eoncludtdin our next)