AUCKLAND ISLANDS.

New Zealand Spectator and Cook's Strait Guardian, Volume VI, Issue 526, 17 August 1850, Page 3

AUCKLAND ISLANDS.

The settlement formed at these Islands under the direction of C. Enderby, Esq., for the prosecution of the whale fisheries in these seas has now been established nine months, Mr. Enderby, the Governor, having arrived there with the first settlers 4th December, 1 849. The group known as the "Auckland CslaDds" consists of six islands, the largest, Auckland Island, on which the settlement is established at Port Ross, the principal harbour is thirty miles long by fifteen miles broad and contains about 120,000 acres, mostly available land. Adam's Island, the next in importance, lies to the southward of Auckland Island, from which it is separated by Adam's Straits. This Island is about fifteen miles long. Enderby Island, at the entrance of Port Ross, is a small island nearly free from wood, about two miles and thi'ee quarters long by one mile wide, and the land of an undulating character. There are three smaller islands, Ewing Island, Ocean Island, and Rose Island, and several islets, but these latter are not of any practical value. The population amounts to seventy-three souls, and since the formation of the settle-

ment there have been two marriages and four births ; the general health of the settlers has been very good, no sickness has occurred, and the settlement generally is in a thriving condition. All the Company's buildings are erected, and the settlers had completed their dwellings before the approach of -winter, and several of them had commenced the formation of gardens. The soil is described to be of the richest character and nine feet in depth, and the vegetation very luxuriant ; the general character of the Auckland Island is hilly, and it is covered with dense wood, chiefly Rata. The highest hill, about three miles from the settlement, is 1500 feet above the level of the sea. The winter has proved milder than was expected, in fact milder than an average winter in England, but we are able to supply very satisfactory information on this point, having been favoured by Mr. Enderby with a copy of a Meteorological Journal for the months of June and July kept at Port Ross, in which all the variations of temperature and weather have been carefully noted. 'J here have been two or three falls of snow during the winter, but the snow has never laid even on the tops of the hills for more than three days together. The Spring and Autumn are described (according to the experience of the settlers) as being the most boisterous seasons, the winds are mostly from the westward. No earthquakes have been felt since the formation of the settlement, and the natives living on the island have no recollection or tradition of earthquakes. Fish are caught in great abundance, fora.ing a useful addition to the settlers fare, the sorts are described as excellent, but there does not appear to be any great variety : snipes also are very plentiful, and three sorts of ducks are found on the island. The sheep and cattle which have been brought to the settlement, have been turned out on Enderby Island and left without any attendance and have thriven uncommonly well. The general depth of water in Port Ross is from seven to nine fathoms, at the spot selected for the erection of the wharf there is a depth of twelve feet water, which 1 will allow vessels to lay alongside and discharge their cargo. The rise and fall of tide is between five ami six feet. The South Harbour in Adams' Strait, at the opposite extremity of the island to Port Ross, is described as being a magnificent harbour with an entrance from the east and west ; the former is the entrance for vessels, the western entrance being contracted and only fit for boats ; the average depth of water is from twenty to fifty fathoms, and the harbour is indented with numerous coves and branches ; it has not yet been sufficiently surveyed. The Company's ship Fancy was lying at Ocean Point, whales were setting in at the end of July, with every appearance of their being plentiful, and active preparations were making for commencing whaling operations. Two vessels were daily expected out from England, the Earl of Hardwicke built b\ Messrs. White of the Isle of Wight, and the Sir James Ross by Messrs. Moore and Co. expressly for the Company, they are both barques of 250 tons each, and from the established reputation of their builders are expected to prove regular clippers. After discharging their cargoes they j will immediately proceed to the whaling grounds. We hope to have frequent opportunities of recording the prosperous progress of this settlement and the successful development of the Company's plans, as we are persuaded their operations are calculated to exercise a most important influence on the Whale Fisheries in these seas, and they cannot fail to assist in promoting the prosperity of the Southern Settlements of New Zealand. We subjoin the harbour regulations having reference to whaling and sealing, and a Meteorological Table for June and July : "Notice. — The Islands denominated "Lord Auckland's Group" having been granted to the Messrs. Enderby, for the purpose of enabling them to prosecute the Whale and Seal Fisheries, have become private property, although now vested in the hands of a Chartered Company. No vessels, therefore, except those belonging to the " Southern Whale Fishery Company," will be permitted to anchor on the Coast, nor in the Bays of the said Islands for the purpose of Whaling or Sealing, since persons capturing such Whales and Seals are no more entitled to them than in Englan 1, where they would be claimed as belonging to the Crown; Droits of Admiralty, Lord of the Manor, &c. Every assistance and accommodation? however, will be afforded to vessels which may visit these Islands for Trade, Repairs, Stores, or Refreshment ; but no vessel will be allowed to break bulk, nor land goods of any description until twenty four hours after the master of such vessel has delivered to the Storekeeper a Manifest of the cargo, and in case of failure or refusal to answer all such

questions relating 10 the cargo the master of such vessel shall either quit the Islands without breaking bulk or forfeit the sum of (£2O) Twenty Pounds. Any person or persons attempting to introduce, sell or dispose of Wines or Spirituous Liquors, without permission first obtained in writing from the Lieutenant- Governor, shall be subject to a fine of (£2O; Twenty Pounds, and such Wines or Spirits will be forfeited. The masters of all vessels touchiug at the Auckland Islands will understand that application to woo( ? , water, and refresh must be made to the Storekeeper appointed. Charles Enderby, Lieutenant-Governor." Port Ross, Auckland Islands, June 15th, 1850.

Pr< tvioua 24 The 9 a, ir. at ir. lours . m. Date I* 1 to en C i a fl 4J June a 1 b 2 c 3 4 d 5 c 6i / 7 9 8 h 9 i 10 3 11 4 12 13 I 14 jmls 16 » 17 18 o 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 p 27 q 28 r 29 s 30 49. 48. 49. 47. 40. >!36. 38.5 42.5 43. 47. 38. 36. 40. 44. 45.5 49. 45.5 45. 46. 47. 47. 48. 45. 47. 49. 49. 45. 45. 44. 38. 34. 31. 33. 32. 40. 30.5 26.7 27. 32. * 41. 42. 41. 29.5 38. 39. 40.5 42.5 40.5 43.5 44.5 45. .1 .4 .2 .3* .2* .3 .1 " .1 .1 .1 .2 45. 48. 49. 39. 34. 35.2 38.2 42.5 42.5 34.5 30. 33.2 42. 42. 45.2 45. 43. 41.5 45.5 47.5 45. 45. 45. 45. 49. 48. 49.5 36.2 34. 29. 44. 46.5 48. 36.5 32.5 33. 35.5 42. 41.7 33. 29.2 32.7 41. 42. 45. 44.5 41. 41.5 45. 47.2 43. 44.5 42. 45. 48. 47.5 49. 35. 33.7 29. 47.5 48.5 48.5 40. 36.5 36. 38. 43. 44. 39. 33. 35. 43. 49.5 49. 47.5 45. 43. 47. 48.5 45. 47. 45. 49. 50. ' 50. 51. 43. 35. 33.5 29.6 .4 .2 .2 .2 .4 .9 .8 .5 .6 .9 .9 .4 .4 .3 .5 .9 30.1* .1 .1 29.9 .8 .7 .30 30.1 .0 29.6 .3 .4 .4 W nw nww w sw Isvrs Isw sw w w ws sse nly nly wsw w bs wbs - I .2 k w .1 .2 .3 .1 w wbn X w nw * aw nnvr 49. 38. 35. 36. 30.7 25. 1.3 sw sw sw — — — i' M [ 44.31 IS7. I 4.3 I U1.6 40.6 143.6 J29.7 i a a.m 6 010 c «.m d Hei Bnc c Sni •BSn *in / Fin a p.m i Clei j Call k Call / Ove wThii n Fin< o Ove p Hea q Ban r Sno * Wa •Ii a. fine a somy d< i. light savyfall iow; fin low; sti le oleai le clear i.passii asing si jarcaln 1m and < 1m and sreast a ick foge te; caln eicast a avy rail rometet dw shov xter fro: inapprei and sunny p.m. cloudy. lark weather with'P«wsi»g-light showers. , showers, p.m. cleared. II of snow during the night; ground covered. le clear weather with occasional snow showers. brong puffs of wind and snow during night. r weather. r sunny weather. Ing light showers all afternoon, night showery. ihowers, drizzling rain. in sunny day. . clear. . clear, p.m. cloudy. it intervals with light drizzling showers. gy weather, calm all the afternoon; dense fog. na and clear; 18th, do. do. and drizzling rain. ji all night. r fell to 29.25. wers. >zen. ;ciable quantity.

Meteorological Journal at Port Ross, Jhne 1850, by C. M. A. King.

Pn riou! 24 The: 9 a. -. at ir. tour: i. tn. Date 6 Q 4-3 p. I CD hi Ph 4 .2 a a — July 1 2 3 4 40. 43. 44. 44. 47. 45. 46.5 50.5 49. 48. 45. 47. 50. 49. 45.5 48. 40. 37. 40. 42. 43.5 40. 44. 45. 45. '44.5 |44. 44. '46. '46.7 49. 27. 39. 39.5 39. 32. i. .2 41.2 41.5 42. 44. 35.5 45. 48. I 49.5 45. 42. 45.2 48. 47.2 45. 46. 40.5 34. 37. 42. 42. 40. 39 7 43 5 41. 44.5 42.2 36. 43. 46. 46. 49. 41.2 38.7 41.5 42.2 31.5 43. 47.5 49. 42. 39.7 45. 4747.2 44. 46. 38.5 33.2 34. 40. 40.5 37.5 38. 42.2 37.5 43 40.7 35. 41 44. 45 5 47.5 43. 42. 45.2 44. 37. 4750. 4849.5 43. 48. 43. 36. 39. 43. 45. 42. 39. 45. 41. 47.5 42. 41. 42. 46. 4950. 29.4 .9 30.1 29.8 30. var. sw&c *.i w w a 5 6 b 7 c 8 9 10 11 12 d 13 14 c 15 / 16 ,17 A 18 * 19 20 21 j 22 k 23 24 25 26; 27, I 28 m 29 30 31 43. 45. 37. 35.5 41. 40. 44. 41.5 42.5 36. 30. 32. 35. 39.5 36.5 31.2 38. 39. 39. 36. 36. 33. 33. 42.2 45. •• .5 .4 .2 .4 .3 .1 .2 .0 .1 29.5 .5 .9 30.1 29 8 .7 •9 •7 •9 •0 •9 30-0 •0 29-5 •6 •7 .7 .5 30.0 29.8 .9 .6 .7 .6 sw wbn wbn » w w k X * .1* see calm sw sw .4 Isse • .5 var. wbn scalm .4 .2 w w .2 .1 .5 w w sw .2 .8 .2 w w w w M ' '44.9 I 137.2 1 I 7.7 42.9 41.4 44.3 29.80 a Snow fell b Bain in n c Strong ga rise gale : d Altered tl c Calm all c / Occasion) q Snow. H A Gale mod i Light airs j p.m. gale k Night ble' I Bar. rose m Hard gale I during light, ale allr freshet he situi day; m talsun i leavy g derated s and c i from ■« sw very to 30.11 c all d« gnigl it; sm it; snow, fin< le calm weather r. light; lied aj ution mggy showi fale; ! Latsu ifthns. vestw hard Oatli ly. ; nighi gain, of rail night modei rain. srate and clear; ; at sim ?ain. of rain gu*g< and close. 3rs. 3qually all nil n-set. [c. ight. ith showers. ; hard gale al 1) p.m. ; fallir ill night, ng all day.

July.