No. IV.

Southland Times, Issue 668, 10 May 1867, Page 2

No. IV.

(EflOM OTIB BPBCIAI OOEJBBBPOinJHirr.); : \ BIVEETON. It is perhaps a digression in what iB intended .aß, r^^ B AgW J ¥4t ur^-B e PP r -' ; »^ ; tp^dißcant-at^any. length upon any other subject than, land. and crops; Still- the towa of 'Biverton cannot be parsed over without mention. It w, with the exception of InvercargUl and the Bluff, the only seaboard settlement in the Province/and itisjser"tpinly erifitledTo rank~ se'cond"only r to the capital. It iB a finely positioned and well laid out township. Approached from: -the f -North Ebad, when first sighted it presents a pleasing view. -The banks ! south of the Aparima and; ( Purekamu, Eivers,' that form tie Jacob's. Bayer, Estuary, are the first to attract^ attention {.the high South, Bivertpn range timbered 'almost to the water's edge, i» fringed, as it ■wcre^ with, habitations of no mean dimensions,' an.d*tne"towditag^iotont3iong--wood Banges make a back-ground that renders the scene both pleasing and.roimantic.' . The town is built oa the north side of the Estuary. It ; commands an extensive* land and water view, afld 1 is sheltered from the westerly winds by thei: high laads of Longwopd. This is not only > a-i well proportioned, "but a well built town, and" promises to speedily become of considrrableim- : portance. It is encircled by splendid agricultural; country, and possesses maritime facilities of . a. character not often aftorded on the south vfreißt coast of New Zealand. It has a jetty 200 feet long, and wharf accommodation far in excess of its present requirements, a Custom House, Court House, and Police Station. The business premises are r for the k most part large and substantial, equal to 1 most of the first class houses in In-" yercargilL It is considered that the surest" evidence of the prosperity of atown is the absence of vacant houßes, if Eiverton can be judged from this standard it must be prosperous, inasmuch aB all buildings of any pretension appear to be well tenanted. During.my stay in this locality I took some pains to ascertain the condition, commercially and socially,'bf this- rising town. Coinmer^' cially,it appears mos.t healthy, a large trade is carried on with . the. Lake district, in. addition to the country district business' which" is extensive, and increasing. The only drawback to its becoming an inpoitant seaport is an awkward bar, near the entrance of- the-Kstuary, but it is stated that at high tide vessels drawing about 10 feefi can 'come jtotthe: wharf, ■' and- ships-of "any. size can ride with Bafety in Howells Eoads, about i a mile andi» jiatf from the -townships Socially there is a deficiency.. There are.np,local r institutions of either a mental Or scientific charac-'" twS^no place : .;of resortwhere enquiring' youngs men can Beck instruction or wholesome recreation. And- what surprised me most of all; there is no school; For the size_of the town thiß, is an : anomaly I have never before witnessed. In any other place visited in this or, other colonies, num^U beringl a population equal to that of Eiverton, there has been found two or more academical' institutions. - Here there, are none, r I also observed! that the religious denominations were but part^y-reprOTented.-~TheHEJpiscopaliansr-andr the Presbyteriwis have, each neat places- of worship, inwnxch'Bervice i 3" regularly held,' but tne other denominations, except, the Maories— l am ( . at a losi'how toblalsß^ them-^-have 'no'staidiiig:; There is a good Volunteer Eule Opmpany, and from the'Scofistant 1 practice "the members'; appear to delight in, a champion shot, it is npt unlikely may be found -amon^- theiti' to carry- off- the befit next year. Whatever, may ,be,the deficiences pb; ; servable, Biverton is a pretty, 'healthy' lbokuig," increasing township. South Biverton, Jhe subur-^ ban residence of many, is beautiful ibo ! a degree."' It is situated on the South side of the water, , on high table land commanding' one of the most mellow and yet romantic views I have ever beheld^ Here is tho estate of His Honor the Superintendent, and scarcely any thing can be conceived that would surpass it as a gentleman's residence. The view is extensive, embracing ocean, and river, level and mountanious scenery in one' glance. Eiverton is certainly entitled to be ranked among the most invitingplaces for settlement that New Zealand can present. -