DESCRIPTION OF THE VALLEY OF THE WEIMEA.

Nelson Examiner and New Zealand Chronicle, Volume I, 26 March 1842, Page 11

DESCRIPTION OF THE VALLEY OF THE WEIMEA.

On Tuesday last, Messrs. Barnicoat and Thompson, who have contracted with the Company to survey about two thousand acres, proceeded up the Weimea, with the intention of erecting warries as residences for themselves and labourers during the progress of the survey. Mr. Cotterill, who also has entered into a contract to survey between eight and ten thousand acres, started for the Weimea district on the same day. ' He had been some distance up the river on a former occasion, and, on his return from this his second visit, has favoured us with the following communication as to the appearance and capabilities of that portion of the country. We have not been to the Weimea district ourselves, but we have understood from those who have,, and whose professional judgment is worthy of attention, that the appearance which the coast has of being liable at times to a certain extent to be covered with water, is occasioned by euch having been the case at periods long past ; and that there is the strongest evidence, not only in this, but in other neighbouring districts, that the sea is steadily receding, so that the mud flats are noiv recovering, and will continue to be recovered, for the uses of agriculture and pasturage, instead of being liable to be overflowed, as first appearances might lead one to suppose : — To the Editor of the Nelson Examiner. Respected Friend — Having' twice visited the valley of the Weiraea, and penetrated some distance into the interior, I may perhaps be able to give some information respecting that district. , The valley of the Weimea is about sixteen miles in length by six in breadth, at its lower extremity, being intersected by the river, which runs about north through the middle of the district. That part of the valley adjoining the coast consists of mud flats, covered at high tides, which extend from one to two miles into the country. Through these flats the river runs in three channels, two running to the eastward and falling into the bay called Moturoa, and one taking its course to the westward, and joining the pea towards Motuaka. Leaving the mud flats, we crossed a large extent of land, covered with flax, manuka bushes, and grass, occasionally swampy, but affording much good food for cattle. Still more to the southward are extensive plains of grass land, more elevated than the former, often of very good quality, and with a thick undergrowth. Small woods and streams abound in this part, affording plenty of eels and ducks. At a distance of five miles from the flats a river flows from the hills to the eastward, • entering the Weimea at right angles. This is a fine river, containing a good supply of water. One mile from this river we come to a fine pine grove, which extends from the Weimea to the hills at the westward, and continues till the river meets the hills on that side. Much of the upper portipns of this wood is only manuka bush. There is a fine tract of land eastward of the Weimea and southward of the river before mentioned, which contains a large quantity of fine timber, occasionally varied with open land. I understand it is the intention of the chief surveyor to lay out the land on the coast side of the Weimea as far as the river from the hills, and also the whole of the land to the west of the river, as accommodation sections of 50 acres each ; the tract of land before mentioned on the east side being reserved for the rural sections. The land in the valley of the Weimea is generally very good, producing grass, cabbage, &c. abundantly. The river falls rapidly, having occasional falls of four to six feet j but the influence of the tide is felt for some miles. The land everywhere in the neighbourhood of the river bears the appearance of occasional extensive inundations ; but they might be in a great measure prevented by the removal of the banks and timber which at present form the obstruc- • tions to the water. I am thine truly, J. S. Cottbrill.

The Rev. Mr. Hatfield, from Kapiti, one of the gentlemen engaged under the Church Missionary Society, arrived here on Saturday last, and performed divine service in the surveyors' mess-room on Sunday morning. On Tuesday morning the reverend gentleman christened several children (who have the honour of being the earliest natives of Nelson of English descent), and left on the same afternoon, being anxious to arrive at Rangatota by Good. Friday.

We are astonished to see the* rapid progress which the road round the beach from the town to the port is making, On both sides the work proceeds with spirit. The material which is dug down from the abrupt base of the hills, round the foot of which the

road winds, is evidently of a nature well suited to the purpose ; for already whatever has been finished of it seems bound down to a firm consistence merely with the pedestrian -traffic, which is but slight at present, the majority preferring the path over the hill. For ourselves, we look forward to the completion of this most useful public work with a selfish anxiety, for we have an equal aversion to mounting the hilly footway, and to stumbling over the large stones along the beach. We believe we may count upon its being finished in two months from the pre r sent time-.

The Company's agent has made arrangements for cutting a large dyke to carry off the water which must of course descend from the neighbouring hills into the valleys during the winter. This dyke, which is now proceeding rapidly, will run into the river, and will serve as the outlet for other drains which it will be necessary to cut in various directions.