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Nelson Examiner and New Zealand Chronicle, Volume I, Issue 23, 13 August 1842, Page 92

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its brilliant purple neck and breast and crimson beak, is often seen. There are many of the duck tribe, and among. them the paradise duck (putangilangi) is particularly abundant. Its flesh is coarse and strong, and unfit for the table, but the other sorts are very fine flavoured. A species of bittern frequents the low land near thenewaka, and is a bird of handsome plumage and large size. The other larger birds are several varieties of the falcon tribe, the woodpigeon (kukupa), and the kaka, the latter of which is met with in great plenty. The smaller birds are more numerous than the large ones, and some probably peculiar to this neighbourhood. The bright-pluraaged paroquet (kakariko), the elegant songster the tui, the robin (pitoiti), the active little flycatchers (tirakaraka), with many other sorts, are very abundant in the woods, and enliven the air with their songs. There is also a kingfisher, different in plumage, but anaiagous in its habits to the- British species, that is frequently seen near the minor streams. As so little is known of the animal and vegetable kingdom in any part of New Zealand, this district, among other places, would afford a fine field for the naturalist's scientific inquiries and researches'. The natives here are mostly favourable to the settlement of a white population near them. They are rapidly beginning to appreciate the superior comforts and advantages of civilized life, tend are very anxious to procure a better kind of food than that to which the have hitherto been accustomed. Their diet of potatoes is becoming unsatisfactory to most of them, and those who have it in their power purchase flour and sugar to a considerable extent. Their mode of cooking is as yet very primitive, boiling the former loose in the pot and afterwards putting a quantity of sugar into it, thus forming a mess like sweetened paste, which they transfer to their mouths with great dexterity, by means of the knives and forks which nature gave them. They are very attentive to the observances of religion, in which they have been initiated by the missionaries. They have morning and evening prayers every day, and exercise themselves by catechizing each other, reading and singing hymns during most of their leisure hours. On Sundays they have service twice or three times a day, to which they are called by the tinkling of a bell — the service being read by one of the natives, whoalso frequently delivers a sermon extempore.^ They observe great decorum during the time of service, and none of them can be induced to do any kind of work, even of a casual nature, on a Sunday. The principal resident chiefs are Enaki, Ayti, and Epoa; Epiko, who is a chief of another district, also resides here from choice. There are, however, several others who rank as rangateras, or gentlemen, who are held in nearly as much estimation as the chiefs. But little more remains at present to be said of this district, the description of which many of your readers probably will deem too prolix already. It is, however, one which will eventually be of importance to the Nelson settlement, and must necessarily create some interest in such of its inhabitants as intend to devote their attention and capital to the useful and agreeable pursuits of agriculture. Hoping, therefore, speedily to see the plough in operation here, as I have heard is the case in the district of the Waimea, I beg to subscribe myself, sir, Your obedient servant, An Officer of the Surveying Staff. . Motuaka District, July 25.