MR. SUTTON'S JOURNAL.

New Zealand Colonist and Port Nicholson Advertiser, Volume I, Issue 2, 5 August 1842, Page 4

MR. SUTTON'S JOURNAL.

' (Continued.) The Wai-pa is here very deep and rapid, and it was with great difficulty we stemmed the current. Shallows occur occasionally, and we had to propel our canoes by means of long poles instead of paddles. The breadth of the river varied from one to three hundred yards, seldom, however, attaining the latter width. The hanks are principally composed of a dark brown clay, on the surface of which is generally found a rich black soil, varying in depth from one foot to two and a half feet, and capable of a very high degree of cultivation. Indeed, the vegetable productions are magnificent, in spite of the carelessness of the natives, who work the ground in a most slovenly manner, seldom or never clearing and planting more land than is sufficient for their immediate necessities. Much and splendid soil might, for some miles along either bank of the river, be rendered available. Easy carriage by water, of which innumerable streams irrigate every part of the land, might be obtained, and a level and fertile district, now lying idle, be thrown open to the small settler. The bed of the river consists, in the deep parts, of soft mud, and, in the shallows, of round stones, over which the current runs with great rapidity, requiring us to observe much caution to prevent the canoes from being capsised. It was at a Maori settlement here, that I was robbed of all my bacon, and nearly half my tobacco, by a rascally European, to whom I had given a free passage to Wai-kato, and who had fed off my provisions. The natives were extremely indignant at the theft, and expressed great anxiety lest I might suspect them of it: I knew, however, they were innocent, as the whole tribe, men, women, and children, had accompanied me to launch a very large canoe down the river.

I may observe, that both the Wai-pa and the Wai-kato River, are infested with men of the very lowest grade, under the name of Pig Jobbers ci-devant sawyers, and people of every disreputable denomination, whose sole employment consists in cheating and demoralising the natives, and endeavouring to throw difficulties in the way of the few industrious and honest Europeans who are fighting an up-hill game for the support of themselves and their families.

These characters should be rooted out, and kinder feelings would soon exist between the Maories and the White Settlers.

I left this settlement (composed of Maories not yet converted to Christianity), with divers charges to them to remember me kindly to my white friend, should he ever again visit their station, and travelling all night, landed the following day, for the purpose of walking to a house belonging to one Turner, within a few miles of the head of the Wai-pa. (To he continued.)