THE AUCKLAND ISLANDS.

Globe, Volume II, Issue 168, 19 December 1874, Page 3

THE AUCKLAND ISLANDS.

[A 'rom the Daily Times. ] We have been permitted to peruse a very interesi.ing letter from Captain Cowell, of the schooner Mabel Jane, to Captain Cummins, of Port Chalmers, giving a descriptive account of parts of (lie islands visited by the wiiterand Mr MHver, who is establishing a settlement on the larger of them. Having, like a true sailor, alluded to the performances of the vessel he commanded, Captain Cowell states that, accompanied by Mr M‘lvcr, he visited nearly every part of the island, and carefully viewed every part from vantage points on the summits of the mountains. They went from ridge to ridge from Port Ross alias Sarah’s Bosom, on the north, to Carnley Harbor south. They also examined Adams Island in a similar manner, and found good soil on the hill sides, and plenty of native herbage to support stock. The islands are fringed with dwarf scrub, and patches of heavy timber—nearly all of it iron wood of exceedingly durable quality; the wood of trees felled in 1851 by Captain Euderby’,s people being as sound as the day they were cut down. Captain Cowell says the wood is not straight enough for building purposes, but any number of knees for ships and boats might be procured. Hair seals abound on the islands. The party caught 100 of them, and tried out about 2GO gallons of oil. Many of the seals were found in the bush quite a mile from the sea, and were tracked by the dogs and shot. A bullet in the brain was the most effectual mode of despatching them, being, indeed, the only certain method, as, to use the writer’s words “They will take any amount of bullets in the body, and then move off as if they had not been touched. As for killing them by clubbing we tried that, and it took four of us one hour to despatch one. The seals run from twelve to fourteen feet in length, some of them being as large [as bullocks. Wild pigs arc very plentiful on the islands, but are not to be caught without the aid of dogs. Goats, also, abound on Euderby Island. Five were caught alive, and were placed in charge of the man and his wife who were left in charge of the stock (thirty-two sheep) landed at Erebus Cove. Four of the sheep lambed there. Mr M‘lver purposes stocking both Adams Island and the main island with goats. Four sheep were lost after landing, and their carcases were sub sequent,ly discovered in some holes that had been sunk by the Euderby people. To prevent further mishaps of the kind the holes were filled in and covered over. Mr M‘lver and his party made good use of their time whilst on the island in cutting tracks—one from Port Ross right across to the North Harbor, the way being distinctly marked, so that shipwrecked people might, readily find their way to the settlement. A second track was cut from the head of Lowrie Harbor to the settlement. The various depots of provisions were untouched, except by mice, which had proved very destructive, the stocks of blankets especially being much eaten. The blankets were taken out and aired, and carefully put back again. The house built by Mr Musgrave at Carnley Harbor is described as in ruins, a great part of the roof had fallen, but, luckily, in one piece, that covered the stores, and so protected them from the weather. Pigs and ducks were described as being more plentiful at Port Ross in the north than at Carnley harbor in the south. The ducks are of many species, of which one lacks the power of flying. Many of these were caught by driving them on shore, and then chasing them with the dogs, which the writer says “ would tackle anything from a seal to a duck.” The birds met with in the bush were tui-tuis, paroquets, silver eyes, larks, the New Zealand robin, the moko-moko, tom tit, and a species of quail. Discoveries of coves not marked on the charts were made—one in Port Ross and named Cowell’s Cove; and an inlet on the north side of the island, to which was given Mr Mclvcr’s patronymic. A large mountain, unnamed on the charts, was designated Mount Mc‘Arthur; and to a small island in the south harbor was applied the name of “ Moncton.” Such is the substance of the letter, the writer of which is evidently a man of observation and enterprise. We hope that (he new settlement at the Auckland Islands will grow apace.