THE ALBERTLAND GAZETTE. FEB. 3, 1864. ALBERTLAND AND AUCKLAND. THE TRAMWAY AND SERVICE-BOAT.

Albertland Gazette, Issue 9, 3 February 1864, Page 2

THE ALBERTLAND GAZETTE. FEB. 3, 1864. ALBERTLAND AND AUCKLAND. THE TRAMWAY AND SERVICE-BOAT.

Tt is decided that Alher'tland shall liave i political existence, and we wait wilhinte- ;- restto see its boundariespreci selydefined, and the first exercise of its political influence. More than ever does it depend on the Albertbinders themselves—on their unity, their energy aud tl'^ir wisdom, what this Special Settlement may became. "For our own interest "ibwever, it is a Representative in the Provincial Council, rather than in the Parliament <£ New. Zealand ■ that we require, though the latter may be Jooked upon as more decidedly coriferrin-i both honour and responsibility. Tlie importance of such representation has been jnade evident in the recent discussions in the Council on the means of communication between the city of Auckland und the north-west part of the province; To speak of Port Albert alone, we are distant from Auckland upwards of "70 jniles, and yet we have, not one certain Jine of communication by which "we can depend upon .'either reaching that-city, or getting produce there in less than ten days, or even a letter or message in less than ii week. So that, were 'there" any probability whatever, (which there is .-riot), of the Kaipara maories proving Ireacher-. ous, we mii!ht all have disappeared from the scene of action lotig befoie the AuckJanders could be nwaie of any existing danger! If nature had so blocked uj) our way as thus to sei'lude us from the lt-st ol the proyince, in the . interest of \\ bich we count it an« honour as well as pleasure, to exert our eiiei'gies, we could urge no complaint. But it is quite otherwise, and wj have some liopesnoiw that-one at least of the several routes which nature has prepared for us; will'heiriade available. , i We have before adverted to the extensive gedgraphical,iriipbrtance, ,of the projected; tramway cohtiecting tlie Waiteiuata and Kaipara .'.'tet anyone turn to tbe:' map ariii then "say whether we" are I wrpng in affirming that "this must be one; tif'iiie first .publibW6rk|, when the pros- j jperity^ftbfeii'ortb of Auckiancl is really i

;:;Btiujie(l. '■Tjus/iiccomijHshed, and the weekly service boatf.'ojrthe Kuipara 'jactualjyin operation, antl only t Jpit ■ Alberts l>ut a dozen more Tisins; stittlemehis will •he hrnunht • within-24 ■to 48 hours of Auckland. ■ In the discussion'in 'the "Council, tlie Provincial Treasurer ■"■adv«ir.teil 'lo the; trumpeted dangers of -the -Kiiipara. and jjitve as his opinion that tlie Alan^awai Breakwater would he ;i trivater benefit to n*\l\ 'Thrtie mont'is residence at I^*c>i~t, 'Alhert would yivc him a very drHTireut., notion. How comes it to pass th'ai'iu this dre'ided FC; iipar.i Hiirjtonr, trawrseJ in- ■ ci'ssantly n it only Ivy-ciUters, hut hy-'small l>oat< and n iliw; canoes, we have never heaid of a serious ae.cid.eut'since we have j heen here P Without wishing to driw any odious,comparison <, can,the s.-ime hn said of .VJan^awiii ■? We hav^ ourselves passed tlirou^h the Kaipar.i Harbour ten times in nine months, duriiiy summer, autumn arid winter, by day and by ni-ht. eiiihfc times out of,the ten crossiri«r the Heads-, and have not seen the smallest danger, but on one occasion, when it arose from tht; incupiiciiy oi'ihe captain and,the dt'Japidiiied condition of an o'Trloaded boat. The shores of thef KViipara are studded with nativesetilemants, into which a boat driven by stress of we.itlier can readily inn and find cheering Inspiiality. A boat c-iin lie in perffel security at either the North or the South He.id. waitin.n' as it occasionaljy nii^ht be nfces-arv, f.'om (5 to 24 hniirs, the subsidence of a westerly i^ale. and a favorable opportunity to (ross the Heads. It is quite -possible thin inca- . pacity and recklessness miifht. (•quander life-and property in the Kaipar.i, as well as in uny other water, but that competency antl.judunierit .would.ever experience any serious dim'cuityishj>>hly improbable. Hut in fact, it is not a question at all whether the Kaipara Harbour shall he! used ;hy the Albertland Settlers; it is so used constantly, and must and will be incr«asin»ly, simply I'ecause it is .the bi^h road which nature has prepared for us, by which we can traverse iitmiireds of mih-s, with only seven ■(.•icrivss the Heads,), pivsentinu r any serious danger at any-time. The only question.is.-whether xv;e shall be left as we now are, at the mercy of chance traffic and inexperience, or whether we shul.l. hiiveilie piiviie^eof regular and certain communication'-under the guidance iOfjudnment and'knowledjfe. There may be other cotisiderations afft't'tiny: this question, of which we are, ignorant, but on the '"round- of...we will not say the" progress 6f..'.||ut- common jusiic»;:to..-.i\lbertlari<l; the decision of'the subject cannot occupy awO minutes. '■'■