THE VISION. A. FRAGMENT.

Daily Southern Cross, Volume I, Issue 33, 2 December 1843, Page 3

THE VISION. A. FRAGMENT.

************** "Awakening with a start" from a few hours of troubled sleep, 1 huddled on "those troublesome disguiseB which we wear," and at peep of day went fojth to breathe the

pure and freshening air of "earliest morn." I required not to thread my way* through the intricate mazes of Victoria, Waterloo, or Coburpr Quadrants : nor yet to wind around to Trafalgar Ciicus, it being still reserved for the good citizens of Auckland to display their taste in the erection of their houses on these spots, but unimpeded soon gained the ridge above, and rested for a moment beside a little stump — of late a stately pole — which marked the centre of these fanciful vagaries ; but a new broom has swept the cobweb clean away — the stately pole no longer rears its lofty head, and save the little stump, sad, fallen, but true emblem of the great mind that placed it there — all is gone. I turned me round to gaze on the magnificent view that now stretched before me, and methought it never wore a more lovely aspect. — Beneath me slum* bered in yet peaceful quiet the embryo city— the yet - to be, Great Queen of the South Seas — the morning dews ascending in fitful vapours expanded over her— and here and there the blue tmoke of some early kindled fire — which told me all her citizens were not wrapt in that sweet oblivion of repose in which she seemed herself so peacefully to lye — rose tall and straight, like so many pillars supporting the fleecy canopy above. The Waitemata — smooth — calm — and unruffled, had rolled her fullest flood towards the shore — the vessels with slackened cable swung lazily here and there — save one, a lovely model, whose finer mould already felt a changing influence-— and graceful turning round her prow, she kissed the bosom of the ebbing tide. A stream of golden light now played along the surface of the waters, and looking up, I beheld from behind a gorgeous array of clouds on the far distant mountains of Houraki ascend the God of Day, coming forth " as a bridegroom irom Mb chamber," and lightening up with his effulgent rays Rangitoto's highest, boldest peaks, — Deceitful island !— how fair your undulating hills, and pleasing to the eye your sloping sides, but ill will be repaid the toil of him who seeks to climb your steeps to see thy extinct crater, — for broken and rugged is the path, with scoria covered, — and the sharp edges of the now frozen lava that once boiled down your sides, will truly make it to him evea as thy name imports, a Rangitoto (bloody day).— Strange island '. without one spade of soil you nurture vegetation, for goodly trees uprear their lofty heads, the roots find fpod, but in the crevices of your flinty rocks ; but my adopted, country ! 'tis the luxu-» riance of your fruitful clime. Leaving this enchanting prospect behind me, I quickened my footsteps, and ! skirting the native fence which encloses the hallowed precincts of Government house, I soon found myself crossing the rude bridge which leads towards ths Domain, Stopping for a moment to look at the sluggish 'stream that seeks its marshy -way through raupo, flax, and reed, and many a stately grass with waving ' plume ; my busy mind went floating onward full fifty ; years into the far future time. Ino longer saw the ! boggy marbh stretching before me to the beach, but a noble sheet of water, — on either side I saw lofty warehouses, and docks and quays with innumerable shipping — the hum of voices struck upon my ear, and all was busy life. — Here, just arrived from far England's distant shore, a cargo of rich manufactures was discharging — there a sloop laden with rich copper ore from the Barrier mines, disgorged her heavy treasure on the wharf ; and New Zealand's sable sons were to be seen, some, with noisome glee and native song, turning round the screw press to pack in smaller freight the country's export, flaz ; and others rolled the compressed bales along the gangway of a home bound ship. — Hard by a noble modelled vessel on the stocks, now caught my eye — the shipwrights plied the busy hammer in driving home the goodly trenails through the cauri plank, the oft repeated blows re-, sounding through her hollow hull ; and all the varied scene bespoke a rising prosperous community. The heavy footsteps of an early milkman trudging along the wooden bridge on which I musing stood, as he brought the produce of the neighbouring dairy into town, recalled me from my reverie — the lofty warehouses — the docks— -the ships, all fleeted from before my eye, no longer the cheering sound of busy life regaled my ear — the waving flax and raupo, and the stiff reed now rose again before my sight ; the noise of the receding passers' steps had ceased ; nor did the sluggish waters as they stole along, break upon the quiet solitude that now prevailed. 1 Having crossed the swamp and entering in the Domain, I now ascended the steep on the opposite side, half way up which there stands a neat veran» dahed cottage, and still a little higher, a raupo hut lies nestling in the wooded bank, — close by confined within the stock yard, there lowed some cattle impatient with distended udder — a gallant cock called loud on his attendant harem to share some new-found spoil, and the proud turkey, big with self-conceit, majestic sailed along with stiffened neck and ruffled plumage, as he sung his hurble burble song. Delightful spot 1 how often have I wished that you were mine, then would I wander through your leafy shades and listening to the noisy stream that rushes through your mimic glen, my sad heart would gladden with the melody of Nature's sweetest music. But whose the neat white cottage ? and whose the pleasure to enjoy this rapturous spot ? Ye Gods forbid it ! but 'tis t ru e — before the City's streets could safe be walked along— before the settler with his team could reach his dear-bought farm, these monstrous follies all were reared with public money — for what ? for whom ? An easy sinecure was wanted for some favorite hireling, and the linen of Her Gracious Majesty's Representative must need be pure and white as driven snow ; aud this Laundry then was built ! ! ! Oh I let us trust such days are now gone by ; and that no longer publio weal shall yield to base private ends. Continuing my route through the Domain, I struck along the ridge leading to the right, leaving below me on the left the Government Garden ; an object generally entertained to be more useful (to the culinary departments of certain favoured individuals) than ornamental to the colony, and soon arrived at a certain suburban allotment which has recently been cut off from the Domain, and surveyed for sale; to suit the grasping views of one man, whose absence to the colony would truly be good company. Having heard some whisperings of the beauty of this allotment, I came for the purpose of inspecting it previous to the day of sale, and found my early walk more than repaid by the pleasure I derived in sauntering over' it. It is indeed an enchanting spot; ever-green shrubs luxuriate on its sheltered and beautiful exposure— a noble view to seaward — the whole harbour and adjacent isles — the distant city and its suburbs all lie before it. But enough— the spot I covet as well as he who hopes to get it, (I wish, he may ?) but others will oppose, although his fawning sycophants dare not snatch the prize from out bis greedy hands. Feeling the morning's sun already powerful, I sat me down to reßt under the umbrageous foliage of b, Cracker Tree ; and was musing in my own mind how

long we yet should groan under our present anarchy, when lo ! there stood before me ; an animal uncouth and strange to behold-two legs it had. and from each other they were far outstretched, as if the earth felt foreign to them, or on a shaking earthquake it thought it atood, and feeling insecure, it thus asunder put its pedestals the better to secure the perpendicular posi 4m of its superstructure, which was in sootb, sufficiently ungainly. The body was round, and fat, and comfortable to lotfk upon; and yet the akin was neither sleek nor glossy, but seemed the worse or we ar— two arms had it, which by some strange freak of nature curled around down o'er its back arid the hands were fast closed below a long broad fold of skin, which in the shape of two tails hung dangling down between the outstretched legs, shaken to and tro by the genial morning breeze. The head, almost devoid of neck, ensconced itself right snugly tween the shoulders broad, and bore a face like unto the birds o f p re y_the beak stood boldly out ; a hawk sit most resembled, and on either side, deep set, peered forth the cunning eyes. The mouth well formed was, and yet not pleasing, for the whole expression wore the aspect of deep subtihty. My eye had barely time to scan thus far this strmgej animal, *when its whole frame convulsive shook— the face grew ghastly pale— 'the eyes seemed bursting from their sockets, and gleamed forth a deadly fire-the teeth were firmly set, methought I heard them grind against each other, in fierce anguish and despair,— its breast upheaved one rending groan, then again it stood as first it bioke upon my Bight, but gazed intently on some distmt object 1 looked around to see what dreadful sight had so disturbed it, when my eye caught the full swelling sails of a stately ship, " walking the waters like a thing of light and life," and doubling the North Head, she gallantly bore up for tne city; From her mast-head there floated a graceful pennant, and high -o'er her stern the British colours flew. Now from her •aide streamed forth a flash of liquid fire, the curling arooke then rolled itself away, aud thundering pealed her canons deafening roar— the nearer hili« reverberating flhook with noisy echo which grumbling died away in the far distant mountains of the west, again— again— again. Now from the shore innumerable boats put off; quick plies the eager oar ; a tiny fleet soon •float around her— faintly on the breeza I heard a gladeome shout, and Fitzroy I ! ! was the cry. Suddenly I started, for heavily at o>y side the str mge anini 1 fell senseless on the ground. W hen stooping to raise it up, I struck my nose against a Btump when I awoke •and found I had b.en fa^t asleep— and lo I— 'twas all a dream 11.! ********