THE CHATHAM ISLANDS.

Hawke's Bay Times, Volume II, Issue 44, 1 May 1862, Page 5 (Supplement)

THE CHATHAM ISLANDS.

A rr.w clays ago Mr. William Hunt, who has resided with his father and uncle for seventeen years in the Chatham Islands, called on us, and furnished 113 with some exceedingly interesting particulars concerning them. It appears that Mr. Seed’s report, and our own remarks with whicli we accompanied it, far from being exaggerated are within the mark ; the picture presented to us is of two islands, limited in extent, but possessing unrivalled natural advantages, prominent amongJt which is a soil of unequalled fertility. Mr. Hunt resides on Pitt’s Island, which is the second in size—-the third island is of inconsiderable extent. Pitt’s Island is twelve miles from the main or Chatham Island. It is about forty miles in circumference. On Pitt’s Island there are throe families of Europeans, and about four families of Maorics. Mr Hunt’s friends have abont 300 acres under cultivation, beside the ground they occupy with about 800 sheep, which have sprung from 20, with which they originally commenced. Beside tliis increase, they have sold and killed a great quantity. The sheep average libs, weight of wool a-year. The main island is much larger in extent, about 200 miles in circumference. There are about 61 English and Americans living on it. They live with the natives, or in friendly intercourse with them. Thousands and thousands of acres in tliis island are suitable for sheep county, and the soil is so fertile that year after year crops can be raised without a chance of failure. Last year 2,000 tons of potatoes wore left to rot in the ground, and this year, our informant believed, they would be procurable at 20s. a ton. About 20 chiefs live in the islands, and the native race which the Maori supplanted is kept in slavery, under close surveillance. The Maories arc very friendly and hospitable; in fact, Europeans can live there almost for nothin". Fish and wild pigs are to be procured in the greatest abundance. The two islands abound in fresh water, and wood is to be procured in sufficient quantities. The climate Mr. Hunt describes as similar to Wellington. He passed three months in Otago, and says thereis nothing like so much rain at the Chathams. He has never seen snow there beyond a few flakes, insufficient to cover the ground. ’ We mentioned some time ago that several specimens were sent us from the Chatham Islands, one being an excellent specimen of lignite associated with iron pyrites (niundic) ; the others being mundic in various shapes and forms. Mr. Hunt tells us that lignite exists most abundantly in these islands, as also niundic, and other ores of iron. Both lignite and mundic are good indications of gold, and wc see no reason to alter an opinion expressed sonic time hack, that auriferous deposits would be found within the Chatham Islands. It seems a pity that islands so fitted in every way for settlement should be left in their present comparatively uninhabited condition. We arc told on excellent authority that the extinguishment of the native title would bo a matter of very little difficulty. Would not the colonization of these islands be a good field for speculative enterprise ? A company formed for the purpose of trading with and settling the islands would probably secure most favorable privileges hv an act from the Legislature. The profits would be likely to prove considerable. Prosperous towns and settlements could bo formed, and would flourish, and the agricultural, pastoral, and mineral resources of the islands would iu themselves form an inexhaustible source of remuneration. —Olano Daily Times, March 25.