NEWS FROM TE WAIROA.

Hawke's Bay Times, Volume IV, Issue 198, 28 October 1864, Page 2 (Supplement)

NEWS FROM TE WAIROA.

LAND PURCHASES BY MR. M’LEAN,

The Herald of Saturday last lias the fol lo\vinng"glowing description of the Superin teuclent’s doings, at Te Wairoa, the corrospendent alluded to evidently being on h Honor’s staff.

By the arrival of the government schooner Iris, on Wednesday last, we learn that Mr. M’Lean has succeeded in purchasing, for the sum of £2,000, a piece of land which may be roughly estimated at one half the Mahia Peninsula, including as it does the southern side ; that the northern side is also under offer to the government, and the purchase likely to be effected, which will place the whole of the Peninsula in the hands of the Europeans.

Our correspondent, in referring to tins uegociation, says that on the north-east side of the Peninsula there is land of very superior quality, with plenty of timber easy of access. The shipping accommodation is excellent. In olden times a veay extensive trade was carried on by the Auckland shipping with the whaling stations then established all along this part of the coast. 4t the present time the nor-east side of the Peninsula is a favorite place of refuge for vessels during southeast gales—the water being smooth as a pond during the heaviest blow. There is also, we understand, abundance of land suited to the purposes of the small holder—the climate excellent, and the soil rich, with plenty of timber at hand. At Wangawehi, on the north-east side, vessels of 30 to 40 tens can enter the river in any weather.

With'reference to Mr. M’Lean’s proceedings in general, we understand that he has held one meeting,at the Wairoa, at which the natives expressed themselves strongly in favor of land selling, and spoke highly in favor of having white settlers amongst them. Our correspondent says that ho could not but be struck with the change in these natives. Some 10 years ago, his experience was that they were an overbearing, haughty and despotic race—no white man being able to live amongst them with any peace or comfort. Since that time Kingite propensites have been strong ; but, now , the King is never spoken of but in terms of derision, and the protection and friendship of the pakeha is a egerly sought after. Nothing will go down now-n-days but towns, towns, pakeha towns. It is to be hoped that the Government will gratify them in this matter. I (continues our correspondent) have no hesitation in saying that the Wairoa far exceeds all other places in the Province for the richness of its soil, the facility of its internal communication, and its general adaptability for small farms. The feeling of the natives hei'e and ail along the coast is in favor of selling. In fact there appears to be a general mania in that direction ; but of course there are some exceptions. These, however, will be overruled ; and I have no doubt that before long the greater part of the land north of Napier will be in the hands of the Government.

Mr. M’Lean, at the date of the letter from which wo get our information (Oct. 26) was about to meet a largo body of Wairoa natives, who were then collecting, for the purpose of receiving their proposals for the sale of certain lands on the river. Of the value of those lands there can be no doubt, and we believe Mr. M’Lean will use every effort to acquire so suitable a tract of country for a flourishing European settlement. It is also said that the country extending from the Mahia to the Nuhaka is under offer, although, in this ease, there are difficulties which may protract the negociation. But the spirit of land selling j s abroad ; and it would almost appear as if

our correspondent is right when ho remarks : “The Mahia being sold, all the rest will follow. They were only waiting for the string to be loosened—the ice to be broken.” Wo trust it iiiay so prove. A flourishing township on the Wairoa river, with a back country of some extent in the hands of the government, would be a very fine thing for Hawke’s Bay generally, to say nothing of its effect in hastening the time, foretold by the editor of the Press, when Napier will rank before Auckland in the scale of colonial towns.