By a Recent Visitor to Wairoa and Kaipara.

Maori Messenger : Te Karere Maori, Volume 3, Issue 76, 20 November 1851, Page 3

By a Recent Visitor to Wairoa and Kaipara.

In a former number of the "Maori Messenger" I wrote a short sketch of Rangiaowhia, and of the progress made by the Natives there in the cultivation of wheat. I wish now to draw the attention of its readers to another Disliict in which the Natives are busily engaged in raising another very valuable production. I mean Kauri timber in the district of the Wairoa. I trust these occasional sketches may prove useful in indicating the natural resources of the country and its different capabilities, in encouraging enterprise and emulation, and in recording the progrestire advance of Native trihes in civilization and good conduct. The "' Wuiroa" lulls, after a course of about 150 miles, into the harbour of Kuipara. For 80 mile* up its course a brig of BO tons often sails. Sixty mi'es fiom the heads, at Mnngowhave, also lie vessels of any tonnage, and take in Ireight with great facility. Magnificent forest* of Kauri timber gird the banks of this noble river, and strong tides soon sweep the rafts to the place of enibarka'ion. Tiv European establishments for the timber trad Q have been already formed there, and, in their employment, the Natives urc busily engaged in Idling, sawing, and dragging out spurs, and rafting and loiding. Two of them were recognized pi'ots, and the entire management, for the time, of largo vessels and precious freights, is entrusted to their care. Within the last twelte months, 434,000 feet of timber and 63 Kauri Spars have pcen exported fro.n Kaiparu, to assist in the con&truition of houses, ships, and machinery. Their commercial value is j6:ITCO. Such an excellent commencement leads one to anticipate lar more excellent re»ult» in the course uf a few year*. be two chief difficulties at present in the way of the progress of this important trade there, arc, cite unsurveyed state of Kaip.ira Harbour, and the unfrcquent < oiumtiniuation with Auckland. Both are, however, temporary. The first will toon be obviated by the arrivnl of FI.M. Surveying Vessel, the "I'andor»," now eng iged in surveying Hoklingi,

Jiiu shoitly expected at Kaipara. The second difficulty arises from ihc intervening obstacle of the harbour at the Heads of Kaipara, which it is o/ten dangerous to cro-s in open boats. I, however, trust that small decked vessels may soon be running along the Wairoa and Kaipara River«, as a chain of communication between them and the Waitema'a (separated from each other so narrowly), and I think, as I have heard suggested, an overland road of a day's journey, might he found between the sources of the Oruawharo and Waitemata, an I thus avoid the Kaipira altogether. The advantiges of facility and regularity of inier-commimt>*atinn are so obvious, that I hope for the sake of the prosperity of a valuable district, these two suggestions may soon be carried into efll'tt. Kuch is, I think, easily attainable by the Natives themselves. How gratifying it U to see on both sides of Auckland, —at liaiitiiaowhia and at Kaipara, the Nati»es so laudaMy exerting themselves to develope the resources of their country, and improve their own condition. For they are no le«s industrious than thev arc honest and well behaved. It may be >ai-l these are only small beginnings, but, I ask, who can predict the immense conclusions of small beginnings. The massive stem of the Kauri rprings from on almost invisib'c seed, and the enormous ship in whii h that stem is but an insignificant spar, tails upon a river which you ran retrace to a petty rivulet. We can only calculate the future by reeollerting the past. Within the memory of the present generation, Now Zealand was so dreaded by mariners, that for years the Rev. Mr. Marsden was nnat'le to procure a vessel to convey him on his holy mission. Later still, the Native population of the North was decimated by internecine warfare. What have a few years done? In this very district of the North, the Natives are amoni? the chief producers of co'onial wealth, and the hest examples of mora'ity. The spear and musket are now the axe and plough. The lonely travellar is as safe, and as sure of hospitality at Native hands, us at his own fireside. What then may a lew more years do ? I can foresoe, on the one hand of Auckland, the vallies of the Waipa and Waikato, one vast district of corn, while, on the other hand, the valley of the Wairoa yields its abundant supply of timber. What a cheering prospect I Agricultural and natural treasures floating on the streams of Waikato, and on the tides of Kaipara, al the very threshold of. Auckland! Gold may attract multitudes to New South Wa'es. Let them come; and as sure'y a time will come, when New Zealand 6hall be able, out of her stores of plenty, to furnish bread to feed them, wood to house them, end ships to bear their merchandize.