SHIPPING INTELLIGENCE.

Nelson Examiner and New Zealand Chronicle, Volume I, Issue 5, 9 April 1842, Page 19

SHIPPING INTELLIGENCE.

ARRIVED. April 2, ship Martha Ridgway, Webb, from Liverpool. Same day, ship Clifton, Cox, from Port Nicholson. Same day, barque Birman, Cleland, from Port Nicholson. Same day, schooner Vanguard, Murray, from Port Nicholson. Same day, schooner Kate, Reid, from Port Nicholson. SAILED. April 3, ship Hope, M'Lachlan, for Lima. April 7, schooner Ariel, Mulhollond, for Port Nicholson. Same day, ship Martha Ridgway, Webb, for Port Nicholson. IN PORT. Barque Lloyds, Green. Schooner Vanguard, Murray. Kate, Reid. Rory O'More, Nunn. Nymph, Scanlon. Ship Clifton, Cox. Barque Bolton, Robinson. Lord Auckland, Jardine. Birman, Cleland. REPORT of an EXAMINATION of the SHORES and LANDS adjacent at Massacre Bay, Tasman's Gulf, and also at Wanganui, on the Western Coast of the Middle Island, New Zealand. 1842. By Mr. Tuckett.

Sailed from Nelson Haven on the 19th of March, standing across the bay for Astrolabe Roads, thence along shore. Separation Point is not visible from Nelson Haven, as it is covered by another point about ten miles to the south of it ; below which there is an island not marked on the published chart, between which and the shore there is a tolerable roadstead, in which a vessel might take refuge, but not equal to Astrolabe Roads. Crossing the first ridge of high land, you descend on some level grass land, a few hundred acres in extent. Between the point and Separation Point there are two spots frequented by the natives for culture — Gotara Nui and Pukkoeboo. The land is wooded, and, with little exception, very steep : the coasts are rocky — all the rocks granite. Round Separation Point, entering Massacre Bay, is a small pah, called Poupou, belonging to Eiti, a principal chief of the Motuaka district ; passing which the shore recedes considerably ; and, in the south-west extremity of this bay, is another pah, called Pukkapou, the residence of Ekkawau. Contrasted with the shore to the east and west of it, which presents a continued frontage of steep granite rocks, the little bay of Pukkapou appears attractive, and what land there is is undoubtedly good; but the whole, as I imagine, would not amount to 2,000 acres, and this perfectly isolated by two rocky hill from any other district. Pata is less than two miles to the south-west. Intermediate are two rocky islands, or rather rocks, composed of magnesian limestone, about half a mile off shore, between which and the shore is a good secure road for shipping. The opposite rock on shore is of granite, and the limestone is first seen, on the main land, about a mile to the west of Pata. It then appears to prevail both on the coast and in the mountain range which runs to the south, nearly parallel with the coast line between Separation Point and Astrolabe Roads. At Pata, Eiou and Eia, brothers of Ekkawau, are the resident chiefs and in the vicinity resides Oupore, another chief, of equal rank and superior in age. Immediately at the back of Pata there is a little available land, but not equal in quality or extent to supply the wants of the native population, who cultivate other lands, chiefly on the Pakaka. On the 22d of March, Eiou conducted me to the coal district. Beyond the limestone cliffs already mentioned the shore recedes, forming Powarra Bay, on the western side of which is the outlet of two streams, here united, the Motupippi and the Tehowo. The water within the bay, within three miles of high water-mark, is very shoal : still there is a channel in which the bank is always covered, so that the Motupippi may be considered as accessible every tide to vessels drawing no more than seven feet of water. There proved to be abundance of good coal in the bed of the river, of which I procured a specimen. The direction of the strata is N.W. and S.E. ; the dip to the N.W. very great ; on which account, if worked on the coast, a locality on the south-eastern shore would be preferable ; the coal mounting rapidly, the mine would drain itself. The course of the Motupippi is lost to sight in a dense forest; but it probably lies at the foot of the mountain range from the south, and forms the eastern boundary of a magnificent valley, stretching at least ten miles inland to the south, then headed by a mountain, the base of which separates it from some of our best land in the Motuaka district. On the west this valley is bounded by a mountain of still greater elevation, the foot of which is of easy ascent, and abounds — as I am assured by' the natives — in coal. [To be contitnud.J