OVERLAND TRIP.

Auckland Chronicle and New Zealand Colonist, Volume 2, Issue 68, 21 November 1844, Page 3

OVERLAND TRIP.

{Concluded from our last.J The distance from Otea to Kawhia,* is about five miles, over sandy hills which extend along the coast. The Harbour of Kawhia is of considerable extent, and perfectly safe. There is a bar at the entrance, but vessels ol 309 tons may enter at high water, Several small rivers, the banks of which are inhabited by a numerous native population, empty themselves into tu is harbour. On the western side, there are about eight european settlers, residing within the distance of a mile, whose houses tend to increase the natural beauty of this pleasant spot. Altho' no extent of level land can be seen from the Harbour, yet large tracts of productive soil can be found between the hills, and on the banks of the various streams- Kawhia will hereafter, 1 thins, become a place of some importance, as an agricultural district. Produoe is abundentand chop, and the facility of water communication renders it a desirable p ort for vessels to load 'at. Some years ago cargoes were sent from this place to New South Wales; and when the Natives begin to grow wheat, it will again, I think, be resorted to. There being a small trading vessel lying in the Harbour, bound for New Plymouth, I engaged a passage by her, and, with some legret, discharged my faithful maories.

We had only been companions for a pciiod of nine days; but in the course of that short time, I had many opportunities ot observing the willing manner in which they endeavoured, during the journey, to promote my comfort, bv anticipating my wants, and rendering me all the asssistance in their power; as"well as carefully protecting my luggage from injury or loss. The vessel being ready, I went on board, and we sailed during the afternoon for Taranaki, It was nearly dark before we cleared the South Head of the entrance to the Harbour of Kawhia • but a light breeze off the land, during the night, took our- little vessel along at the rate of about five knots an hour; and by eight o'clock in the morning she was abreast of the township of New Plymouth. We anchored about two miles from the shore, and in the course of half an hour a whale boat belonging to the settlement came off, by which we were enabled to land. The Company keep boats and crews in readiness to convey on shore, free of charges, the goods and passen gers, arriving by all vessels, which is a great coti venience. The surf sometimes runs so high that it would be impossible to laud in a square sterner) boat. The Company theiefore had large boatsbuilt sharp at both stein and stern, and are very skillfullly managed by experienced crews. This Township is beautifully situated on land which gradually rises from the shore; and two rivulets, which join near the middle oi the settlement.Jafford the iuhabitants an abundant supply of excellent water. There are about 200 houses in the township. A road has been formed which leads through a very fertile district to the Waitera, a rivor oboat 12 miles inland. The country being lightly timbered, the farms are easily brought into cultivation, and the crops of wheat, barley, and potatoes, yield a most abundant return. The settlers are mostly from Devonshire, and appear to be satisfied with the exchange of country. We remained at New Plymouth about 30 hours only, as the master of the vessel obtained a charter to convey a cargo of coals and Jime from Maasaore Bay back to the settlement. I also felt inclined to visit that Bay, notwithstanding the natural honor which its name excites, and accordingly got ou board. By the favour of a north west wind we were soon some distance on our passage. Towards the evening we appeared near that most magtiifi. ctent feature of New Zealand Scenery—Mount Egmont—whose snowy peak appeared above the dense olouds which clothed its sides. This moun. tain is upwards of 12000 feet high, and rising like a pyramid from the west cape serves as an excellent land mark lor vessels going into Cooks Straits. 6 On the jgcond day after leaving New Plvmoutrj

we came to anclior on ths ea*t side ><i Massaoer Ba\: und<r i small lsia>.d which afff-hd s'iclht lr-m the north west win.'.s that semetiuies blow vio'ently tnere Our a ichoinge was about three miles frem Motopipi, a place ai the b<-l om of the, Hiy where <he coa! mines ate MtiMted. A boa l ,niv<-d from the mining station during the day (riid a bargain for the cargo was soon made. The .oal is easily obtained from excavations marie in he high banks, which form the southern boundary ofthe Bay. Some of the strata. <»■ seams are above the level of the sea, but it has rot yet been ascertained to what depth coal can be fouad. Limestone of superior quality is close to the mines in inexhaustible quantities, consequently the best of lime can be burned without much lobour or ex* pense. In the valley of Takaka, about three miles distant, there are forests of excellent timber fit fot ship building. Two vessels of about 130 tons each are now building there, and several sma : ler cralt have been launehed dnring the present year. After the timber has been cleared, the land sends forth, with little trouble, the most luxuriant vege tation. Around the shores of this Bay there are about five small settlements of natives. They are of the Kawhia and Taranaki Tribes, and were driven from their own conntry by the Waikato people. They trade with the Nelson settlement which is about forty miles distant, in Tasman's ijulf, «ud is sepeiaied from Massacre Bay by a tongue of mountainous land.which st etches into Cooks Straits from the north end of the middle Island. About twenty Europeans reside in Mass saore Bay While I was about making an arrangement to cross the mountains from the valley of ihe Takaka to Motuaka, a settlement an the west side of Tasmans' gulf, a small vessel arived from NeU son with supplies for the miners and shipbuilders, and after taking in a cargo of coal, wav. h utiM for Wellington. I therefore abandoned my ci'mmd journey and sailed for Wellington. ihe leather in Cooks Straits is at all times very unsettled, and we experienced a full share ot baffling winds; and a southeastercompelled us tojbring up under thelee of there are several whaling establish mebts. The fisheries there have procured abou> """ J **' * ■' ■ w **•* * n -'« 210 tons of oil, and 10 tons of bone, valued at £SOOO. From Kapiti we made Queen Charlotte's Souod. where the master of ihe vessel had to deliver some small packages at the station of a Mr, Toms who was also engaged hi the fishery. The whales had been so plentiful that the whole of their casks were filled, and two fine whales were lying at the shears and likely to be unfit for use before the vessel which they had sent for casks could arrive. They had then about ,£2OOO worth of oil and bone. We proceeded through the Sound, but a seoonrl visit of our friend the south easter drove us to the Island of Manna, the residence of the notorious native chief, Rangihieta. While at anchor there we went ashore at the whalsng station ofthe Messrs. Frazer, who have also had during the season a fair share of what they termed " greasy luck," to the amountof 105 tons. Through the introduction of Mr. A. Frazer, I bad the honour of an interview with that gigantic Savage Rangihieta. He had only arrived at Manna on the previous day, and was agoiti about to start for Otaki, a settlement on the main land where he has chiefly resided since the Wairau affair. He is a man upwards of six feet io height, and of a powerful form of body with a ferocious cast of features. He had along wiih him fourteen active young men for the crew of his cauoe. He does not yet appear to feel Wanna a eafe {[residence, and prefers the main, so that he can take to the. bush 4n the event of alarm. Mr* Fraser informed me that by a road, from Porirua Bay, opposite Manna, I could reach Wellington in five hours, I preferaed the walk to the ooance of being in our small vessel two or three days. Mr.fF. Very kindly put me across to the main in one of his whale boats, and when once upon the road I could not lose my way as the thickly timbered land on each side kept me to the right path. The land between Porirua Bay is good, but the expense of dealing would amount to about £5 per acre, but the greater difficulty arises from a dispute with the natives as to the Title, and they have erected a fence from the valley of' the Hutt|to the sea coast in Cooks S traits, a distance of about 17 miles, and will not permit any european to settle on the land so fenced off, In the course of four hours I saw from the elevated road, on which I travelled, tha spacious Harbour of Wellington and part of the Town ; and anoiher half hour brought me near the centre of the principal town in New Zealand. The Harbour for a distance of two miles is bounded by substantial well built stores, shops, Inns, and private houses. There are at present three large vessels, and nine of smaller tonnage in the harbour. Oil is discharging at, and being shipped from several places along the beach. Bark, Timber, and Flax, are articles in demand by the Merchants, for which they give part payment ie cash, ondpartin stores for any quantities. The farmers are ready to contract for the delivery of wheat at five shillings per bushel, and potatoes at £3 per ton. They stale that the crops will amply supply the demand during next year, as well as a reserve for seed. The settlements at Nelson and Akaroa will also have sufficient grain, so, that the importation of flour will be entirely superseded; and it is expected that the produce ofthe Fisheries will more than cover the value of all imports from England. Seven vessels are expected to leave this place with full cargoes valued at £50,000. The Oil and Bone at the several stations may be. valued as follows :

STATIONS. Queen Charlottes' TONS. VALUE »«•• 2 600 .«.. 2 400 .... 10 000 .... 1,700 Flax, Wool, Bark and Timlier .£48.600 <£'5O,000