THE BISHOP OF NEW ZEALAND'S VISITATION TO THE SOUTHERN ISLAND IN 1848. [From the New Zealand Journal. April 21, 1849.] [Concluded from our last Number.] VOYAGE TO THE CHATHAM ISLANDS.

New Zealand Spectator and Cook's Strait Guardian, Volume V, Issue 428, 8 September 1849, Page 3

THE BISHOP OF NEW ZEALAND'S VISITATION TO THE SOUTHERN ISLAND IN 1848. [From the New Zealand Journal. April 21, 1849.] [Concluded from our last Number.] VOYAGE TO THE CHATHAM ISLANDS.

'As it seemed probable that I should be obliged to return speedily to'Wellmgton, I did not-prolong ray stay, particularly as the season was far advanced, and I bad still nearly 2.QQO .miles t,o sail. After attending the levee held by Lieut.-Governor Eyre, on the Queen's birthday, a ceremony which I had never' witnessed since the first-day of my .land ing ,-jn,, Ne,w Zealand, I, embarked on board the Undine on the 24th of May, and ran rapidly out of Port Nicholson. This being „ the first of my voyages out of sight of land, I was a little- anxious about the performance of my pocket chronometer, though the report of the master of the Dido had been, " Dent, 5796, goes more steadily than either of the watches on board her Majesty's ship Dido." We therefore began a strict reckoning by-log and observation, so far as the unfavourable state of the weather would allow. In our lazy navigation within sight of land, these precautions are too often neglected. On Saturday evening, May 27, we. had run down our distance ; and the wind being strong, and the weather thick and stormy, we shortened sail, and lay-to for the night. The next morning the Sisters, or Itutahi rocks, to the noith of the great Chatham Inland, appeared in sight, and the shore of the large island was dimly seen through the haze. At this time the sea was very high, and the wind boisterous ; and, not daring to run for the harbour, we stood out to sea and again lay-to. In the afternoon 8 great American whaler passed us xunniug to the north-west, tod condescend «

to show us her colours, though we must have looked like a mere fishing-boat in the heavy sea which was then running. Towards evening the gale abated, and we enjoyed our afternoon prayers, with the Thanksgiving from th prayers to be used at sea. We all felt very thanjcful that we had kept a good reckoning, for if we had not lam-to when we did, we should have bepn close upon the Sisters in the middle cf the night. On Monday, 29th May, saw land at daylight ; but a native who came with us from i Wellington would not believe that jt was Wbarekauri, from its preseniing the appearance of two islands, with an open sea. between them* I was too sure of my position to have any doubt upon the subject, and therefore I comforted the oM man by telling him that he wou'd soon see the low banks rise up which connect Maunganui, the northern hill, with Wbakaewa (Mitre Hill), on the south, and enclose the great fnland lake, which covers a large portion of the surface of the island. The haze cleared away as we sailed on, and the whole circuit of the wide^ay soon became vi* sible, with the flat sandy beach shining brightsly between the harbour of Waikanae, or W-hangaroa, on the north side, and the red bluff of Waitangi, on the south. Whakaewa bega T i to show its reared crest at the southwest extremity of the bay ; and, from the mast-head, the line of surf was seen breaking upon the dangerous reefs which lie off the north- wps t head. A bright clear sunshine and smooth water enabled me to take satisfactory observations, and I found that my little watch had not belied its reputation, but had preserved its rate unaltered from Ship Cove. My native boys, ten in number, bad now recovered from sea sickness, and emerged in their clothes to enjoy the sight of land. Their blue dresses ga^e to our decks a smart «nd crowded appearance, and made the Undine look like the tender of a man-of-war. By a good Fren -h chart, which I had copied on board the Dido, and with pilotage of the old native we found our way about sunset into the anchorage of Waitangi, avoiding \a the dusk a bank of kelp, which afterwards proved to be the safeguard of our vessel, for the sea runs so high in this exposed roadstead, and the eddies of wind come off the land with such fury, that nothing but this floating breakwater of sea-weed preserves vessels from being driven ashore. A wreck of a large vessel was lying up on the beach to warn us of the necessity of caution. We had jnst anchored, when a boat full- x>f, native* came&ff-fi onv tbe shore, and recognised me immediately ; some of the party having been under my instruction at Mr. Hadfield's mission station at Waikanae. They returned to fetch their chief, to whom Mr. H. gave, at his baptism, the appropriate name of William Pitt ; but he is better known by his native name of Pomare. He soon came on board, and greeted me as an old friend, having visited us at the college in 1847, and having sailed with me in the Undine from Auckland to Wellington. He is a worthy man, of remarkable steadiness of character; b.t the hand of God has been laid heavily upon him, for his sons have been taken from him by shipwreck and disease. By trade with Port Nicholson he has now acquired several horses and cows, and many of the comforts of civilised life. But he requires some further help to change the habits of his people, who are far behind their chief in civilization.