FROM GISBORNE TO MELBOURNE.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume X, Issue 1116, 7 August 1882, Page 4

FROM GISBORNE TO MELBOURNE.

[Written for the Poverty Bay Stasdabd.] 1 No. XIV. 1 I think I told you in my last that we caught a glimpse of the Tasman Coast early in the morning, owing to the lifting of the haze which had hung around us since we left New Zealand. I think it was about eight o’clock when we entered the Derwent Biver, and thenceforward the sun shone brightly, and the time passed pleasantly enough. We had a fine view of the surroundings as our steamer proceeded to the wharf, but it did not take long to discover that Tasmania, like the rest of the country lying in the same latitude, had not been blessed with any appreciable quantity of rain for some time. There was little of anything green to be seen, and, although only early in the month of March, large areas of land were under fallow—good, black, loamy soil, of which the Tasmanians boast. It is a pleasant trip, on a sunny day, up the Derwent, and to landscape viewers it presents a picture not often to be found. To say that the scenery and topographical outline of the Derwentis like that ascending the Dunedin river, would not be correct, still there is a similarity. One essential difference, however, is that for the possession of which the Otagans would give half their estate, namely, deep water all round, from shore to shore, over whose expansive bosom vessels of all sixes are constantly going and coming. The slopes of the hills, undulating with convenient descent to the water’s edge, are more or less covered with plantations and anug-looking farm homesteads and cultivations, although a large number of houses are not to be seen from a vessel's deck. The "Shot Tower," which I believe is now silent, forms a notable landmark on the western slope before reaching the anchorage, some 14 miles from the Heads. The big hills, mountains in fact, that stand in the background, like faithful sentinels keeping watch from above, give a charm to the more placid scenery in the fore-ground, while they impart a grandeur of perspective, which I have heard pronounce as being pre-eminent. Preeminent is, truly, a large meaning word and I may not possess sufficient cosmopolitan enthusiasm as to “go the old hog” or none ; but although having prejudices in favor of other places—pretty Greece—like Waitemate for instance—and rejoicing in a candor that attempts to do justice to competitie beauty and excellence, I am free to say that, in view of the Derwent’s varying characteristics, a more beautifully natural, or a more naturally beautiful place it would be difficult to find the world over. Suburban and rural residences, have not yet located themselves in sufficient number, or to such extent, as to make their presence a mark of admiration from the river itself; therefore, a great charm is lost to the beholder, such, for instance, as he would feel conscious of on entering Port Jackson; but the time will, doubtless, come when these rustic beauties are greater, both in magnificence and number than now. The more I reflect on the grandeur of what I saw, and, writing as I do some four months after my visit to Hobart, I find that I have a good deal to say, and that it would be a pity not to deal a full measure of justice to this most interesting spot. Therefore I propose to give an outline of some of the antecedent history of Tasmania in the hope that it will prove as edifying to your readers in the perusal, as it is pleasurable to me in the narration. The island or colony of Tasmania —named originally Van Dieman’s Land—was, as is pretty generally known, discovered in 1642, by one Abel Jans Tasman, a Dutchman in the service of the Governor of the Dutch East Indies. The Governor’s name was Van Dieman, and the Great South “ Land,” as it was then also designated, was called after him, until about 25 years ago when the the colonists, through their Legislative Council, obtained an official recognition of their adopted home under the nomenalature or Tasmania, a title which they said they preferred to thatjof Van Diemen’s Land; lam not acquainted with the exact reasons the colonists had in altering the ancient name, but I can readily understand their desire to remove a land mark—and there is no mark so indelible as a bad name—which had been handed down from father to son, for generations deep, as one associated, but too intimately, with injury and disgrace. But to proceed chronologically. When Tasman made this teritorial discovery, he thought it formed part of a continent, or, in fact, anything but an Island ; and it was not until the year 1798, or 156 years after its discovery, that it was Bufficiently explored to establish its insularity. The establishment of this fact is credited to Dr. Bass, surgeon of H.H.S. Reliance, after whom the straits are named, that separate Tasmania from Australia. The early navigating projects were not unattended with difficulty and danger. One of the first voyages was undertaken, so the records tell us, “ in a tiny craft called the Tom Thumb." And another in a colonial sloop called the Norfolk, of 25 tons, the aforesaid Dr. Bass and j 8 volunteer seamen forming the crew, ! This latter set out from Port Jackson I on October 7th 1798, but they did not | make the coast of Van Diemeu’s land until November Ist following, or 25 days in accomplishing what is done nt the present dav in twice as many : hours. So little did the spirit of enter- ’ prisp manifest itself in those days, in 1

the doings of English officialdom, that the of grace 1803 arrived (or one hundred and sixty-one years after its discovery by Tasman, elapsed) before the (now) island of Tasmania was formally taken possession of by the British Government. It is a known fact that the apathy of the Home Rulers of Great Britain, nearly lost them your beautiful Colony of New Zealand. And so with Van Diemen’s Land. In the year 1802 a French exploring expedition visited the island, the commander holding communication with the natives, with a view to adding the territory to the French National possessions. Cupidity will oftentimes awaken in nations, or governments, as in individuals, a sense of duty which even more lofty aspirations have allowed to slumber in forgetfulness. Had it not been for the activity displayed by the French expedition, together with a certain amount of jealousy and fear of s previous occupation by a foreign rival, England might have had either to lose or fight for this “ beautiful isle of the sea. The’ steps taken, and means employed, by England on assuming the sovereignty of Van Dieman’s Land were not of a very formal or dignified character. But it must be remembered that, even so recently as the beginning of the present century, neither the necessity for, nor the advantages to be gained by, colonisation were so forced upon the attention of British rulers, as at the present day. England, apparently, did not want additional territory for the good, par te, that might be beneath the possession of it. (To.lt