1849 - Earp, G. B. Hand-book for Intending Emigrants to the Southern Settlements of New Zealand - CHAPTER XIV. OTAGO, p 181-233

"This well-defined block of land, comprehending 400,000 acres, is

situated on the east coast of the Middle Island, about 150 miles south of Banks's Peninsula, extending from S. lat. 45 deg. 40 min. to S. lat. 46 deg. 20 min.; it has a noble harbour; abundance of untimbered fertile land, and open grassy pastures interspersed with an adequate supply of wood; a navigable inland water communication running up the centre of the block for nearly its entire length, and the richest land lying on either side of it, remarkably well watered; with an ample field of coal; and to the west, and stretching away to the feet of the snowy mountains, an unbounded sheep-walk, open to the farmer and flock-owner;--these constitute a series of combined advantages rarely to be met with within such a moderate compass.

"The block from which it is proposed to select the lands of the New Edinburgh settlement, has a coast line of from fifty to sixty miles in length, lying between the mouth of Otago harbour and a headland called the Nuggetts, about three miles S. W. of Molyneux. It extends on an average distance inland of seven miles. The more hilly portions being omitted, the sections will be taken in one continuous line, extending throughout the whole district, branching out at various points so as to include all that is most desirable. The most remarkable feature in this district is the great facility of internal water communication. To so great an extent will this invaluable privilege be enjoyed, that no section will be far from, and many will be adjacent to, a navigable river or lagoon. In point of land, certainly there need not be an inferior section in the whole settlement.

"The southernmost portion of this block is watered by the rivers Puerua, Koau, and Matou, besides a multitude of smaller streams. The two last-named rivers are navigable for vessels of considerable tonnage. Connected with one another, and with the Matou, by navigable streams, are the lagoons of Kaitongata and Rakitoto, one and six miles long respectively. Their fertile shores will furnish an admirable series of sections, the only drawback to which is the scarcity (not the absence) of wood. The head of the Rakitoto lagoon is about eighteen miles from the mouth of the Matou; and here, in this direction, water communication ceases. There is no formidable obstacle to the formation of a road between this and the plain of the Tokomariro. The plain itself is about 7000 acres in

extent, and consists entirely of grass; but the neighbouring hills are not destitute of wood. Though well watered, it is free from swamps. From this valley there is almost a level pass into that of the Taieri, where water communication again commences; and, by means of the Waihola lagoon and the Taieri river, continues uninterrupted to within about nine miles of the Otago harbour. The Waihola and Rakitoto lagoons are about twelve miles apart. The plain of the Taieri is swampy to a large extent; but, on the whole, will be a valuable district. The river of the same name flows into the sea about twenty or thirty miles south of Otago. For the first five miles from its mouth, it is confined within lofty and precipitous hills, that barely afford it room to pass. Beyond this the valley suddenly opens, and the river branches, leading to the Waihola on the south, and passing through the bulk of the valley on the north. Like the preceding districts, this is rather bare of wood.

"Between the Taieri and Otago, the country consists chiefly of hills of moderate elevation, covered with a good soil. Over them, and through the passes between, a practicable road might readily be formed." --Munro, pp. 55, 56.

"At Port Cooper, half of the labourer's time would be consumed in bringing fuel from a distance to any suitable site for a settlement; and it may be safely asserted, that a section of fifty acres there would not pay the cost of fencing, and building on it, in the course of the owner's life. The neighbourhood of Otago is, on the contrary, essentially, as was observed to me by a labouring man from Nelson, a poor man's country--containing good land and plenty of wood. The plains in the vicinity of Banks's Peninsula would be more appropriately colonized under a system of division of the land into sections of not less than a square mile each, with facilities to flock-holders and capitalists to acquire a contiguous property to an extent to meet their means and wishes. Happily, the block of land purchased by the Company for the settlement of New Edinburgh, out of which we are at liberty to select 150,000 acres to meet the engagements made with purchasers, contains, in the immediate neighbourhood of the good land that will be surveyed as properties, extensive tracts of excellent pasture grounds, which will be open to all under the sanction of the Government; and outside the boundary of the block, to the westward, there is an extent of land of the same

nature--boundless to the view, untrodden by the foot of man, and affording abundant food for sheep and cattle during the whole year, with the exception of a few weeks in the winter, where the uplands are covered with snow; during which time the plains and valleys yield a more abundant herbage than in the heats of summer." --Col. Wakefield's Letter to Secretary of New Zealand Company, p. 6.

"This harbour is thirteen miles long, by an average width of two miles, with six fathoms of water for seven miles up, from the Heads to the Islands, and with three fathoms for the remaining six miles, up to the very head of the harbour; perfectly sheltered; the tide runs at the rate of three miles an hour, which will aid a vessel in working up and down the harbour. The harbour runs in a direction nearly north and south, and opens towards the meridian sun, which is justly esteemed a great advantage. The capital town of Dunedin will stand at the very head of the harbour, in a situation of great natural beauty, and connecting the rural land of the interior with the sea-port.

"The first impressions created by the site of the harbour are extremely favourable. Lying open to the north, it is entered with a fair wind from the other settlements of New Zealand, and from Australia.

"This also prevents delay at the Heads, on leaving the port. A fair wind out of harbour takes a vessel soon free of the land, and, if seized at the commencement, may carry a ship of average sailing qualities to Cook's Strait in forty-eight hours.

"The distance between Port Nicholson and Otago is 320 miles. There is no lee-shore, except in the bays along this coast, with the winds that usually blow with any violence. That from the northeast is known for its mild character. Its northern aspect, moreover, renders Otago much more agreeable than if it opened to the south; 1 as do Akaroa, Port Underwood, and Port Nicholson. The morning sun enlivens every part of the harbour, which is protected from the cold wind by an amphitheatre of hills. The wind prevails from the

S. W., which draws right down and out of the harbour; but this need not prevent a vessel bound to the place, and unable to enter the port in consequence of its strength, from anchoring in perfect safety about a quarter of a mile from the eastern head (called Taiaroa's head), in smooth water of about eight fathoms depth, with good holding ground. Ample sea-room presents itself to strange vessels unable to fetch into the anchorage before nightfall. The sandbanks which lie immediately within the Heads are of inconsiderable extent, and have, according to Captain Wing, who sounded carefully all over the entrance, three fathoms and a half of water on them at dead low water, spring tides. The tide runs about three miles an hour, and may be made good use of in working a vessel up or down the harbour; as the port is land-locked on three sides, the sea seldom rises on the banks: and the sandy nature of the bottom prevents damage to small vessels touching it. Pilots and buoys will hereafter render the channel extremely easy to navigate vessels not exceeding five hundred tons burthen up to the islands: but larger vessels will find safe anchorage a mile inside the Heads abreast of the village, which has sprung up there from its having been the site of a whaling Station, and the residence of the natives visiting the harbour on their voyages from Banks's Peninsula to Foveaux's Strait. An American whaler of 600 tons was lying there lately to refresh. A great advantage presents itself at Otago over Port Cooper, in the abundance of timber and fire-wood that grows on its shores." --Col. Wakefield, pp. 4, 5, 6.

"Before leaving Hoputai, which you will observe by the chart, is a small bay near the islands, and about mid-way between the entrance of the harbour and its head, I examined with Mr. Tuckett the capabilities it affords for the site of a seaport town. The land available for building around and contiguous to the bay, consists of about 150 acres. The face towards two sides of the bay is steep, but on the top there is table land, and at the base sufficient level to afford room for a road. Warehouses might be also built almost even with the water, by excavating back into the hill. The great advantages of the site are, its being perfectly sheltered both from wind and swell of the sea, and having four and five fathoms water close to a sufficient part of its shores, for the construction of ample wharfs and quays.

"The shores of the harbour of Otago are, as I have already said, densely wooded. The hills are not so steep as around Port Nicholson; and the soil is, generally speaking, better adapted for husbandry. The distance from the heads of the port to its termination is about fourteen miles. A channel runs throughout its whole length; but it has not yet been precisely ascertained what depth of water there is to the south of the islands, or in the upper harbour, as it may be called. Near the islands there are fifteen fathoms, and a small vessel that took some of the surveyors and stores, carried three fathoms all the way up the harbour. When the channel is marked with stakes on the sand-banks, similarly to the upper part of Portsmouth harbour, and with two or three buoys near the entrance, no harbour that I have seen will be more convenient; but in order to make it the most safe and commodious harbour of New Zealand, it requires a small steam tug, which, when not engaged in towing vessels in or out, might be advantageously employed in plying between the port and the town." --Ibid. pp. 7, 8.

"On the whole, I consider Otago as an excellent harbour. It has hitherto been thought to have a bar at its entrance, which is not the case. For picturesque beauty, Otago only yields to Akaroa amongst the harbours of New Zealand." --Ibid. p. 8.

"On the 24th of April, the exploring vessel entered the noble harbour of Otago. The entrance is narrow--a little more than a quarter of a mile only; and as there cannot be short of thirty square miles of tidal water within, the current at the mouth is strong. The harbour is divided into an inner and an outer, by two islands that lie across it. The former is about six miles in length, and the latter about seven. The average width of either is about two miles. The channels leading from the one harbour to the other are narrow and deep. A great portion of the space within both harbours consists of shallows, and every tide discovers several large dry banks. Still, enough of deep water remains to render either an extensive and valuable harbour. Nothing can be more perfect than the shelter it affords; and its fertile shores, wooded to the water's edge, form a picture of no ordinary beauty." --Munro, p. 55.

"Saturday, 27th. --Landed at the head of the inner or upper harbour, the length of which must be full seven miles, that of the

lower about six. On either side the forest continues unbroken; good timber is abundant; the soil, notwithstanding that the surface is often rocky and stony, appears to be fertile, the rock being probably a species of basalt. There is certainly more available and eligible land on the shores of this vast inland sea, than on any portion of Banks's Peninsula; and in respect of the facility of constructing a road, it possesses a corresponding superiority. A space of less than a quarter of a mile intervenes at the head of the harbour between it and the ocean shore; here, for a space of two miles, there is a water frontage to the harbour of unwooded land rising gently inland. Landing, I followed the native track for about two miles towards the Taieri, and then returned to the boat at this point. It offers an ornamental and commodious site for a town, most suitable in every respect, save the distance from the deep water of the lower harbour: the channel throughout is on the west side, and generally narrow, and a fathom and a half of water would be found to within two miles of the extremity of the harbour. Two-thirds of the space covered by the flood is left dry at the ebb. Whilst I was there the surface of the water was almost unruffled, and no swell entered from the ocean, where the entrance is narrow. The schooner lay without motion." --Tuckett, p. 37.

"To pursue the narrative of our perambulation of the boundaries. On arriving at the head of the upper harbour, an unexceptionable site for a town presents itself to the view. The character of the country here entirely changes. The land lies in long slopes or downs, upon which grows good grass, mixed with shrubs, indicative of a strong soil. The aspect of the town will be northerly (facing the meridian sun), and fronting the harbour. To the west of it, some undulating slopes, covered to the water's edge with beautiful timber and copse wood, offer space for several hundred ten-acre sections, semicircling a cove, almost dry at low water. To the south, the uplands, which separate the large promontory, in which the harbour is found, from the level pastoral country of the main, rise gradually as a protection from the cold winds. To the eastward, is an opening in the chain of hills that belt the coast between the eastern head of Otago and Cape Saunders, across which extends a barrier of recent sandy formation, shutting out the sea, which in former times evidently flowed through what is now the harbour of

Otago. The site of the town thus fixed at the head of the navigation of the port, and at the commencement of the rural lands of the settlement in their whole length, abounds in wood and fresh water. The waters of the harbour teem with fish of the best sort. The habouka is taken in great quantities near the shipping town; flat fish and oysters in all the bays." --Col. Wakefield, p. 8.

"We returned to Otago on 26th of July. The proposed site of the town pleased me more on a closer inspection, and the next day I had my good opinion of it confirmed by Mr. Commissioner Spain, with whom I again visited it, and who pronounced it an admirable position for the purpose. In this particular I differ with Dr. Munro, who may possibly have not been struck with the advantages I have had to seek for the location of towns. The only objection that I can name is its distance from the shipping town and port, viz., seven miles; but this is greatly palliated by the excellent water communication of the upper harbour." --Ibid. p. 11.

"This fine river is a quarter of a mile broad, six fathoms deep, and retains, it is said, that depth and width for fifty miles inland as the crow flies. By all accounts, it appears to wind through extended plains of great beauty and extraordinary fertility. It forms the southern extremity of the block, whilst Otago harbour forms the northern extremity.

"The Clutha (or Matou) is a river which even an American would not contemn; its course inland is so distant, that I cannot pretend to estimate the distance. The hills west of its course are certainly twenty miles from the shore, and no snowy mountains are visible.

Mr. ----- informed me, subsequently, that he had ascended it in a boat for at least fifty miles, and that it was still navigable for a large boat; also, that, many navigable creeks unite with it, by one of which a boat may be taken to a lagoon, called Kaitangata, and then by a narrow channel to another lagoon, called Rangitoto, from whence the distance to the Taireri valley does not exceed six miles.

"Mr. Palmer informed me, that he once ascended the Clutha (or Matou) in a boat for a distance, he imagines, equal to fifty miles, in a straight course (not estimated by that of the river); and he was

still, he believes, very far from its head. I was much pleased with the Tautuke. It is not merely rich and picturesque in scenery, but very productive. I have no doubt but that a road might be easily formed up the valley, and over the summit ridge to the unwooded plains Tutu-rau and To-Toi." --Tuckett, pp. 42, 46.

"A short distance farther, and the rising ground, which had hitherto been close upon our right hand, turned off towards the interior; and we had before us the long beach at the bottom of Molyneux Bay, with a large extent of level country behind it. On mounting to the top of some low sand hills, we came in view of the Molyneux river,--a majestic stream of water about a quarter of a mile broad, deep, with well-defined banks, flowing close to us parallel to the sea, with a steady, gentle current. Looking up it, we could trace its course through a large extent of alluvial land, by the thick foliage of ti-ti trees upon its banks, and by numerous groves of wood, producing a most picturesque effect. At the distance of about ten miles inland, gentle slopes, apparently grassy, rose to a moderate elevation, behind which no mountains were visible, save in one direction towards the north-west, where the white summits of a very far distant range showed themselves. Hie landscape was altogether one of great beauty and unusually rich softness." --Munro, p. 119.

"The Clutha (Matou or Molyneux) river is a magnificent stream, of near a quarter of a mile wide, deep, and with a moderate current. It is difficult of entrance from the surf over the bar at the mouth, and from the circumstance of its having an invariably outward current. Beyond the bar it has six fathoms of water; and it is said to preserve its depth and width for sixty miles from its mouth.

"The plain of the Clutha, which is from 10,000 to 20,000 acres in extent, has a fine growth of grass, flax, &c. The land is undoubtedly good, but liable in portions to be overflown. Probably, the most desirable land will be found on the neighbouring hills, which display a series of most beautiful slopes, chiefly clothed with grass. As on the plain itself, there is a fair sprinkling of wood. In every direction there are extensive tracks of this valuable description of country. The two white settlers have grown such crops of corn and potatoes on the fine wooded slopes behind the villages, as leave no doubt of their great fertility." --Ibid. p. 55.

"At Ivikatea the Clutha (Molyneux or Matou) is a splendid river, upwards of 200 yards in width, with a deep, steady current and definite banks. Each of the branches into which it divides is a large river, with a depth of several fathoms of water; but, unfortunately, at its mouth the river is contracted by a reef of rocks. What its navigable capabilities are has not yet been ascertained, but it is certain that its mouth is not easily accessible. By small vessels or steamers, it might, generally speaking, be entered, but not by sailing vessels of any burden, except in particular states of the weather. In a direction inland, it is said to be navigable for whaleboats for fifty miles, by the windings of the river, which, with deductions for exaggeration, may probably amount to about twenty-five." --Ibid. p. 233.

"Otago being situated at a distance of between 150 and 200 miles from the chilling influence of the vast range of snowy mountains running along the west coast, the climate is markedly warmer than at such places as Port Cooper, which, although lying 150 miles nearer the tropics, is yet within twenty or thirty miles of these mountains--which is found to be far more than sufficient to counterbalance the difference of latitude. The adaptation of the soil for the growth of wheat and other grain, and particularly of the finest qualities of potatoes, and also the richness and abundance of the pastures, seem to place this district in the very foremost rank, in point of agriculture, amongst the soils of New Zealand. Coal, iron, and copper have been found in the district.

"Beyond the first ridge of down, which forms the southern horizon from the harbour, lies an undulating country, covered with grass. This is more or less good, according to position and aspect, and has been much deteriorated in places by extensive and repeated burnings, which impoverish the land. The worst of it, however, affords abundant food for sheep.

"The anise plant, so valuable as pasture for sheep and cattle, abounds on all the land we traversed. It is this plant that renders the plain of the Waimea, near Nelson, so propitious to the fattening of stock. I have never tasted such well-flavoured meat as that fattened on the natural pastures near Nelson. The plant is also found in

abundance near Port Cooper, and in the Wairarapa valley, near Port Nicholson. I have not seen it farther north, or in any district where fern abounds. Its chief property seems to be a warming tonic. As such, I believe some preparation of its seed is given in racing stables in England, as a condition ball. It arrives at its full growth during the summer; but in many places, during our journey, I found it at this season of the year eighteen inches in length, and scarcely a square foot of ground without a root of it. In the uplands we found snow in some places knee deep, and the ground frozen to the depth of an inch; but on our return, these indications of a severe climate had disappeared before some days as warm as those of summer. The vicinity of snowy eminences is highly estimated by flock-owners, particularly where the downs are round topped and in long slopes, so that the gradual tricklings from the melting snows go to nourish the roots of the grasses. After traversing these downs for five miles from Otago, we overlooked the plain of the Taieri, which contains about 40,000 acres of land, and is intersected by the river of the same name, navigable for large boats twelve miles from the sea, which it reaches at about twenty-five miles from Otago. About two-thirds of the plain are now available. The remainder is subject to inundations, but may be reclaimed and rendered more valuable than the higher parts. --Col. Wake field, pp. 9, 10.

"The land at the head of the Waihola Lake consists of undulating downs, round topped and covered with herbage, grass of various descriptions, and anise of larger growth than any I had previously seen. Quails are plentiful over all these downs, and in the plains adjoining, and would be more so but for the hawks and kites. Hereafter it will become the business of the Scotch sportsmen to give rewards for their destruction. The view from Owiti is very extensive. At its base, to the S. W., lies the plain of the Tokomairaro, containing about 14,000 acres. To the east, hills, to the breadth of seven miles, extend to the coast; to the north lies the portage of six miles between it and the Waihola; and to the west, undulating prairies of boundless extent, available for cattle and sheep three parts of the year. It would be a most advantageous and attractive thing to the settlement, if some Scotch proprietors would send some red deer to be turned out here. In the course of

a few years, there is no doubt they would increase largely. The sport of hunting them would be highly attractive, and would conduce to the improvement of the breed of horses, and afford a manly amusement to the young colonists, fitting them for the more serious occupations of stock-keeping and wool-growing. The communication with this country from Otago is extremely easy. Water carriage can be made use of down the Taieri to the head of the Waihola Lake. A good road may be made without much expense from thence to Rangitoto. A short portage thence to Kaitangata Lake and to the Clutha river and district " --Ibid. pp. 10, 11.

"The tide having ebbed, we descended to the base of the cliffs, and walked along a natural pavement formed by the horizontal strata. We were not long in perceiving indications of coal in black streaks in the sandstone, and thin beds of richly bituminous shale; and we picked up several rounded pieces of pure coal cast up by the waves. But on turning a projected point, we found ourselves in face of a black wall or cliff, which, upon examination, turned out to be pure coal. In thickness, what we saw of it could not be less than eighteen feet, while, as the pavement on which we stood was coal as well, extending out to meet the waves, it was impossible to say how much deeper it went. Mr. Tuckett was of opinion, that in quality it was very superior to the ordinary New Zealand coal; but in this opinion I could not agree with him, as it appeared to me to have the same conchoidal fracture and resinous lustre as the Massacre Bay coal, as well as that which I have seen from other districts in this country. What was rather remarkable, was its nearness to the surface. Above it lay a bed of about twenty feet of a conglomerate of small quartz pebbles, on the top of which the soil commenced. We were not able to estimate the horizontal extent of the bed. What we saw ranged only for a few hundred yards, disappearing in some small gulleys, which at that point intersect the cliffs." --Munro, p. 119.

"As we proceeded about the time of low water along shore, I was gratified to observe very abundant large pieces of drift coal of good quality; still no bed was visible in the face of the cliff. Farther on, the beach became again rocky, and quantities of coal were lodged between the rocks, and soon appeared in view a block cliff. I felt certain it must be a vast formation of coal, although Mr. -----, at

Waikauwaike, had declared that there was no other coal discovered along the coast, but the insignificant appearance which I had examined at Matakaea. Approaching this cliff. I found it to he a mass of coal for about one hundred yards in length, in thickness from twelve to twenty feet, as seen in the face of the cliff above the sand, and to what depth it exists beneath the sand I could not ascertain; I should suppose, from appearance of coal, adjacent to the depth of low water.

"The beach is not accessible on account of the heavy swell and great surf. The coal must, therefore, be worked inland, and the bed will be no doubt discovered near the bank of the Clutha (or Matou) river, which, in a direct line inland, is probably not more than four or five miles distant." --Tuckett, pp. 41, 42.

"The locality of the settlement of Otago is hundreds of miles from the scenes of the recent disturbances with the natives. These were in the Northern Island. In the Middle Island (nearly equal in extent to England and Scotland), in the southern end of which Otago is situated, it may be almost said there are no natives at all, as it is calculated that there are not more than 1000 in the whole island, and these are almost entirely located on the shores of Cook's Strait. In the large district of Otago itself, there are only about fifty men, women, and children in all; and the opinion of some persons who have resided in the islands, and are thoroughly acquainted with the native character, is, that they will be found too few, at least in the infancy of the settlement, as at that time their services would be very useful in doing a great many things for the colonists, which they could not do either so well or so cheaply for themselves."

1. Among competing projects of colonization we would be inclined to prefer that one which, other things being equal, recognised the concentration of the settlers as an important element in the prosperity of the colony. By concentration it is not meant that they should be crowded together, but that they should not be scattered over a larger space than

is consistent with mutual aid and support. When thus dispersed, many evils are apt to ensue; and have, in fact, been largely experienced in the United States, Canada, and the African and Australian colonies. The distance from one another at which the settlers have been located, has occasioned waste of capital and misapplication of labour, retarded the progressive division of labour, exposed them to privations which have operated prejudiciously on their habits of industry, and in many instances thrown them back into a condition approaching to barbarism. Instead of trying how much produce of every kind they could raise, they have been led to consider on how little they could subsist. Far from labour and from markets, these consequences have been inevitable; whereas, had they kept near the peopled limits, they would have acted beneficially to themselves and to others. The best locations, indeed, fall to the lot of all first settlers; but others of the second, third, or fourth quality, as regards soil, &c., near a good road or a town, may greatly exceed in value those of the first description in other districts which possess no such advantages.

The causes which have led to the scattered and solitary condition of immigrants in many of our colonies may be all classed under one head-- the improper disposal of waste land. Gratuitous and unconditional grants lead to great abuses. In this way large tracks have often been acquired which have remained unoccupied, and been a bar to the progress of settlement around them. The crown and the clergy "reserves" in Canada are instances in point of the injury that arises to settlers from interposing deserts amongst them. The same happens, in proportion to the extent, in all cases in which persons by purchase are allowed to appropriate more land than they can possibly use. When land is too cheap--when the price is so low that great tracks are attainable by paying a trifle of money, individuals speculating vaguely on some distant benefit to arise from increase of population, acquire large allotments, thus causing an extreme degree of dispersion, and reducing the power of capital and labour to the lowest point. Another consequence of cheapness is, that it becomes a general practice to trust to nature for all, and to skill for hardly anything; and when the fertility of the land is exhausted, to abandon it for another acquisition, to be treated in the same way.

Where, however, dispersion, and the causes which produce it, do not exist, and are carefully excluded, the people if originally civilized and experienced in the arts of production, will continue to be so, instead of falling back into a state between civilisation and barbarism. Having a

ready market in which to dispose of their surplus produce, they are stimulated to skilful application of capital and labour; and obtaining high profits and high wages, they offer the strongest attraction to emigration, and increase rapidly. In short, they are placed in the most favourable circumstances for becoming an epitome of the parent society in everything, save the uneasiness of capitalists, and the misery of the bulk of the people.

The scheme for the settlement of Otago is evidently designed with a view to prevent the evils, and to bring into full operation all the beneficial objects we have described. There will be no undue dispersion of the settlers. The block of land on which they are to be located, and to build towns and villages, as well as to form farms, consists of 400,000 acres. But only 144,000 acres, and these all suitable for tillage, are at present offered for sale. They are divided into 2400 properties, each consisting of three allotments, viz. 50 acres of rural, 10 acres of suburban, and a quarter of an acre of town land. The payment of the stipulated price gives a right of choice out of the 2400 properties, unless the number of properties sold do not much exceed 400, in which case the choice will be limited to 1200 properties. The priority of choice of each allotment is determined by ballot, and any person buying more properties than one, may have his rural allotments in contiguity, except for the sake of the general interest, as to lands on both sides of a river or main road. Without going into all the details of the terms of purchase, we may observe, that there is one general and unvarying rule for the obtaining of land; that there can be no capricious exercise of the right over it; and that no one can obtain it gratuitously, or at a lower price than another. The price will operate as a check to the appropriation of more than the purchaser is able to use beneficially; and yet is so low as to make the acquisition and use of land one of the most productive employments of capital. Then, again, the properties are small, to suit the immigrant of moderate means; and any number of them can be bought by a person possessed of large capital. The right of choice is free and unfettered--the mode of determining its priority impartial--and its range capable of almost indefinite expansion; while care has been taken to limit it in proportion to the number of purchasers, so as to prevent that detrimental dispersion--that cutting up of capital and labour--which has led in many colonies to poverty and barbarism. In all these respects the system to be pursued is based upon the true principles of the art of colonization; and being fixed, uniform, and impartial, the greatest good of all, without distinction, is consulted.

2. But the scheme would be imperfect if it did not provide for a sufficient supply of labour to the colonists. The inducements to emigration are usually high profits, and especially high wages. Those who go in search of high profits may be supposed to possess the means of going. But those who desire to go in search of high wages are the poor --persons who live from hand to mouth, and have no property except their skill, or their strength for labour. These, however powerful their inducement to emigrate, cannot move without assistance; and the cost of their passage, therefore, must be defrayed, or at least advanced, by somebody. This indispensable requisite to a supply of labour in the proposed settlement has been provided for in a very ingenious and satisfactory manner. Nominally, the price of the land is 40s. an acre; but in reality this is the price of other things beside land, and without which the land itself would he worthless. Among these other things is a supply of labour; to provide which three-eighths of the purchase-money, or fifteen shillings an acre, is to be employed. As each property consists in all of sixty acres and a quarter, the price at 40s. an acre, is 120l. 10s.; and the sum provided out of each property for giving free passages to the settlement is, at the above rate of 15s. an acre, a little more than 45l. The expense of a steerage passage, including a full supply of provisions, during the voyage, being about 18l., a sum is provided more than sufficient for taking to the settlement two labourers for each property purchased; or, in the case of a small capitalist who intends to till his own land, for conveying himself, his wife, and a child thither. And supposing the whole of the 2400 properties comprised in the settlement to be purchased, there would be a fund appropriated exclusively to emigration, and the supplying of labour, of no less than 108,450l. By this provision two classes of persons are benefited-- landowners and poor labourers. But this is not the only excellence of the plan with respect to the supply of labour. In ninety-nine cases out of a hundred, persons belonging to the class of labourers in time become purchasers of land with the savings of their wages; and thus, in turn, become contributors of funds for the supply of more labourers, they more than doubly refund the expense of their own passage. In this way the supply of labour is constant and regular, because every labourer who leaves off working for wages and becomes a landowner must have acquired the necessary capital, and by purchasing land with it he provides a fund for bringing more labour to the settlement. The plan adopted should also have the effect of regulating the supply of labour, so as to avoid a glut of it on the one hand, or too small a supply

on the other. In order to this it is evident that nothing can be better devised for showing that there is a demand for labour than the amount of land sold. One of the greatest merits of the plan, therefore, is its self-regulating action in these respects. And altogether it is devised on the principle that a foundation of prosperity should be laid, broad from the beginning, and susceptible of continual enlargement as the population of the settlement increases.

3. Land, and a supply of labour for its cultivation, are not the only things, however, which the future settlers at Otago purchase with the price of a property. We have already alluded to the advantage of roads, and the value they confer upon land. We have also remarked, that land in the neighbourhood of a town is always more valuable than land equally fertile in a distant part of the country. Though it may cost no more labour to cultivate the one than the other, it must always cost more to bring the produce of the distant land to market. But good roads serve to diminish that labour and expense; to put the near and the remote lands more upon an equality; and to encourage the cultivation of the latter. Where the means of communication by water exist, the convenience of navigation will evidently have the same effect. These considerations have not been overlooked. Roads are to be made between the different parts of the settlement, and it is proposed to have a steam-boat which will ply between Dunedin and Port Chalmers and other places, and tow ships up the harbour to the anchorage, towards the expense, therefore, of surveys, roads, bridges, and other improvements, including steam if deemed expedient, and if the requisite funds be found available, one-fourth part of the price of all the properties, or in whole 72,300l. is to be appropriated.

4. But the account of the things purchased by the price nominally paid for land would be incomplete still, should we fail to include churches and schools, and a provision towards the sustentation of ministers and schoolmasters. Our remarks being addressed to men imbued with Christian principle, who set a high value upon religious ordinances and the means of a Christian education, we need not enlarge on the benefits secured to the infant settlement by these institutions. In common circumstances, and much more in those of hurry, overemployment, and over-anxiety, such as men founding a new settlement experience, institutions for the training of the young, and for public worship, are necessary to implant, maintain, and uphold sentiments and impressions of religion in the mind. No one will deny that it is necessary to give to religion all the advantages we can give it by dint of education.

and the stated observance of its ordinances. But how are these advantages to be obtained in an infant colony? We shall suppose that its members are drawn from various religious societies at home, which differ from each other in shades of opinion, but agree in the main on all essential points: A fund, necessarily limited, is set apart for founding educational and religious institutions in their new and adopted country, for the benefit of themselves and their children, adequate as a whole, but not so if divided: Institutions of the kind are indispensable, and in order to their being formed and efficiently maintained, some one denomination must be preferred, and yet this preference must not be the occasion of discord. It is evident, that the most likely way to fulfil this condition is, to declare beforehand the particular denomination, and to select one holding principles of belief and a form of church government common to most of the other denominations represented by the settlers. This arrangement demands no compromise of principle, but it assumes that Christian men, alive to the importance of religious institutions, rather than suffer the total want of them, will prefer to avail themselves of the institutions provided, though these may not in everything exactly conform to their own ideas. The experiment has been tried how far the force of Christian principle, unaided by any preconcerted arrangement, such as that proscribed by the Otago scheme, would produce unity and concord among settlers on the subject of their religious institutions; but, alas for human nature! the experiment has been unsuccessful; and it would have been foolish had the New Zealand Company, whose truly liberal and enlightened purpose has been frustrated in one instance, again followed the same course, especially as the consequences have been exceedingly prejudicial to the religious principles and habits of the colonists.

The educational and religious institutions in Otago, to which support is guaranteed, are to be in connection with the Free Church of Scotland; but all denominations are at liberty, if they think fit, to provide other institutions. The sole object of this arrangement is to give a certain and firm, instead of a precarious and feeble, existence to such institutions in the settlement from its origin. To accomplish this object, one-eighth part of the price paid for land, or five shillings an acre, which is equal to 15l. 1s. 3d. for each property, is to be set apart for churches and schools and a college. The aggregate amount, when all the properties have been sold, will be 36,150l. Besides, the trustees for educational and ecclesiastical purposes are allowed one hundred properties for the benefit of the trust, at the rate payable by private individuals; which

properties must, in time, become very valuable. We would suggest that it would be a suitable application of a portion of the funds, were the trustees to purchase for the use of the settlers, and send out along with the first party, a judiciously selected library.

We have now shown that the buyer of land in Otago obtains not only full value for his money in land, but other things also, without which the land would be worthless; that he obtains uniformity in its disposal --a free choice as to the situation and extent of his grant--the advantages arising from a due concentration of the settlers--a system which must hinder ruinous fluctuations in the value of land--labour wherewith to cultivate it--markets in which to sell his produce--roads, bridges, and other means of inter-communication--educational and religious institutions--and all the other advantages of the system of which his individual payment is a part. We have also shown that, out of the 40s. per acre paid for land within the settlement, no less than three-fourths of the price are applied for the purposes we have stated, being an actual return to the purchaser of value to the extent of 30s. per acre. The remaining fourth, or 10s. per acre, is, therefore, all that in reality is paid for the land; and forms, with a small per-centage, the only fund out of which the New Zealand Company are reimbursed for the price they themselves gave to the natives for the land, the interest on the capital employed, and the expenses incidental to their establishment.

Port Chalmers, 19tli April 1848.

Nothing can surpass the romantic beauty of the views from the site of the port. The whole harbour from the Heads to Dunedin, 14 miles in length, is bounded on each side by a succession of headlands, projecting a little way into the water, forming little bays, with a beach of hard dry sand. The headlands rise up at once to a height of from 300 to 5000 or

6000 feet, and are wooded from the water's edge to the very summit. It is a remarkable fact, that whilst the soil on these hills, and all around generally, is remarkably rich, consisting of dark vegetable mould, varying from 1, 1 1/2, to 2 and 3, and in certain places to 6 and 7 feet deep, if you ascend to the tops of these hills, instead of finding, as you would in Scotland, little else than rock and heath, you have here the same soil as at the bottom of the hills, viz. black earthy mould, with a subsoil of good strong clay. Along the whole sides of the Otago harbour, you will not find in all the 14 miles anything like live rock. Wherever the sides and bottoms are laid bare by the weather, and clear of timber (which is not very frequently the case), you still find the clay with boulders hardened together. In some of the streams running into the harbour there is solid freestone of good quality, through which the stream has worn a channel for itself. A party of settlers are prepared to commence brick-making immediately. They are well satisfied with the clay as they find it all around. Thus I hope to see our houses, at least some of them, and the Church, for which I brought building plans from Edinburgh, built of brick or stone from the outset. On the whole, my present impressions of the country, both as to beauty and richness of soil, have greatly surpassed my expectations. You will of course remember that these are first impressions, and some of them necessarily derived more from the information of others than from my own observation. All the Europeans here without a single exception, speak well of Otago. But I trust more to the opinion of the surveyors, particularly that of Mr. Kettle, the principal one, who speaks in the very highest terms of it. Moreover, a short time ago, Governor Grey visited Otago for the first time, and remained, he and Mrs. Grey, for three or four weeks in Mr. Kettle's house at Dunedin; and Mr. Kettle tells me that he was quite enchanted with Otago, particularly for the boundless extent of rich grass land lying inland from Dunedin for 150 miles right back to the Snowy Mountains . . . . The manse is in progress of erection, and by accounts we should get into it next week. The situation seems rather an exposed one, standing on the reserved lands forming the water frontage, just beside the wharf: it looks right down the harbour. Immediately behind the narrow stripe of reserved land, is laid out Princes' Street, having houses only on one side of the street, and looking down the harbour. The manse, therefore, standing on a little knoll between Princes' Street, and the principal landing-place, is rather conspicuous, and admits of no privacy about the doors. Our voyage has most agreeably disappointed us. Our anticipations were of the most unpleasant

kind. Yet we could turn about and make the same voyage back again without much hesitation. We had 4 deaths, 3 births, and 3 marriages. The 4 deaths were infants--one of them the case of one of the three born on board.

Port Chalmers, on board the Barque Philip Laing, 25th April, 1848.

MY DEAR SIR,--We entered this harbour on Saturday the 15th inst. after a favourable voyage of 115 days from land to land, or 117 days from port to port. We left Milford Haven on the 20th December; we lost sight of land in the afternoon, and with the exception of the Island of San Antonio, one of the Cape-de-Verd Islands, which was seen by some on board, but so faintly that only a well-practised eye could distinguish it from a cloud on the distant horizon, we saw no land till we had rounded the southern point of Stewart's Island, and descried to our great joy the remarkable headlands of the eastern shores of New Zealand. The ship sailed out of the magnificent harbour of Milford Haven, and, with no other help than the compass and the quadrant, pursued its lonely way across wide oceans where there was no travelling mark, rounding capes which could not be seen, traversing seas, which, in their "melancholy" sameness presented no distinguishing feature to inform us when we had passed out of one and entered upon another; and after a lapse of nearly four months, without seeing aught but the heavens above us and the wide waste of waters all around us, the ship, like a thing of life and of more than mortal sagacity, glided with perfect precision, and without hesitation or mistake, into its destined place at the farthest corner of the earth. What a "triumphant display"--I could not help saying to myself as we passed up this peaceful haven to Port Chalmers, and found that there could be no doubt that we were in the right place, although not a creature on board had ever been in these seas before,--"what a triumphant display of the art of navigation!" The voyage most agreeably disappointed our expectations, so much so, that at the close of it we said, were it to become a matter of necessity that we should do so, we should not shrink from facing about and making the same voyage back again. . . . . My first impressions of Otago surpass my anticipations, which certainly were high enough. The harbour throughout the entire 14 miles to which it extends, is one uninterrupted scene of most romantic beauty. Nothing but hills on

both sides,--steep and bold headlands, and peninsulas of various forms,--descending to the water's edge, and forming little bays of hard sand; all of them without a single exception densely clothed from the water up to their very summits with evergreen woods, presenting an unrivalled scene of the richest sylvan green and alpine beauty. In the few places where the sides of these headlands happen to be laid bare by the action of the water, I have seen no instance of live rock presenting itself; in every case it was clay of a yellowish colour, hardened like rock, and intermixed with numerous boulders. This description applies only to the bottom of the headlands, where they touch the water. Ascending up the sides of these hills, and on all their summits, without exception, you find a very rich soil of dark vegetable mould, in some places several feet in thickness, and lying upon clay of the same yellow colour,--hardened as at the bottom. This state of the soil seems to extend so equally over the hills, that the growth of the timber appears to be as good on the tops of the hills as farther down. As we sailed up to the anchorage, some of our people exclaimed "how like this is to the Trosachs and Loch Katrine." The difference is, that Otago is on a larger scale and of a blander character. Up at Dunedin, at the head of the harbour, the country opens out into untimbered land, and continues of the same description of open grassy land across to the foot of the snowy mountains running along the west coast. The large river Clutha (Molyneux of the maps,) rises out of three very large lakes, situated near the foot of these mountains to the north-west of Dunedin, and so soon as it issues from the lakes, becomes at once a very large stream, flowing through a widely expanded valley of grass land, interspersed with timber blocks, admirably adapted for sheep grazing. Governor Grey paid a visit to Dunedin two or three months ago, when he expressed himself in the very strongest terms in regard to its adaptation to the requirements of a large and flourishing settlement, and especially as to its almost unlimited means of expansion over the tens of thousands of acres which stretch back behind Dunedin and throughout the magnificent valley of the Clutha. As to the present productions of the place, all our party can bear most laudatory testimony in favour of the beef and mutton and potatoes, the growth of the wilderness, and also as to the abundant supply of fish of excellent quality. It only requires a sufficient supply of capital and labour to convert this into a very rich agricultural country. Such are my first impressions from all the information I have been able to gather from some of the older settlers, and from my own observation. . . . . .

. . . . "Mr. Inglis is very desirous of learning from me what are the intentions of the Free Church in respect of Wellington. I have written him that I entertain a very sanguine expectation that your committee would respond to the requisition which they had received from Auckland, and would provide the Presbyterians there with a suitable minister, but that beyond that I did not think they would go at present, especially so soon after sparing one for Nelson, and another for Otago. I have strong hopes of Mr. Inglis being settled at Wellington, the more especially as the prospects of success for him with the native population are the very reverse of flattering; he tells me what a cheering prospect it would be for the Presbyterians of New Zealand, if the four principal settlements were each provided with a faithful gospel ministry. The first Sabbath after my arrival, I preached to the emigrants from the John Wickliffe, at Dunedin, in the forenoon; one of the audience was the Rev. Mr. Reed, Wesleyan missionary of this district; he preached to us in the afternoon; he is an excellent devoted man. I hope that we shall be able to strengthen each other's hands. The second Sabbath I conducted morning and evening service as usual, on board the Philip Laing, at Port Chalmers. Mr. Nicholson preached to us at noon. In the afternoon I preached on board the John Wickliffe, and baptized Mr. Nicholson's infant son, born to him last week. My manse at Dunedin is in a state of great forwardness, a most respectable looking fabric, occupying a commanding position at the very head of the harbour. The Church for which we have brought out with us, working plans, windows, and other fittings, is to occupy a still more imposing position, and will form a conspicuous land mark from the main ocean, seen across the low neck of land that separates it from the harbour. Will you communicate this to the Governor of the Colonial Committee, as I am pressed for time, and cannot write him by the John Wickliffe.

Ever most truly yours,
(Signed) THOMAS BURNS.

Port Chalmers, Otago,

On Board the Barque Philip Laing, May 2, 1848.

The soil here seems to be remarkably rich and very productive. The potatoes raised from it, and with very imperfect tillage, are uncommonly fine; no disease such as in the old country has appeared amongst them.

The beef and mutton fed in these wilds is remarkably well-flavoured very fat--some think it too fat--but it is in no respect like the fat of over fed meat, but firm and high-flavoured. Altogether, my first impression of this country is, that it only requires a sufficiency of capital and labour to make it one of the finest in the world. The climate is somewhat different from what we, or, at least I expected, but not in point of salubrity, for I am satisfied, from all I have seen and heard of it, that none can be more healthy. The Europeans squatting here all concur in giving the climate of Otago a decided preference over that of Wellington, the boisterous character of which seems to be its main fault. We have had hard gales since we entered here. The peculiarity is, that these gales blow uniformly all the year round, either up or down the harbour, and never last beyond forty-eight hours at a time, and are followed by weather of the most beautiful serenity, finer, certainly, than our finest days at home. On the other hand, the bad weather here seems to be just about as disagreeable as at home, with this difference, that it never lasts longer than the time I have mentioned. The winds are sometimes very cold: we have had the thermometer here as low as 48 and 46 degrees. I daresay at home, and in the month of November, we should find this not an uncomfortable temperature, but coming ofT a four months' summer voyage through the tropics, we are more affected by it. I am told that the amount of fine weather throughout the year bears a large proportion to the whole. We have had a selection of the town sections of land by the different proprietors and their agents, and they are now being leased --I mean the sections of absentee proprietors, and such others as have them to dispose of--and this at high remunerating rents. . . .

Port Chalmers, Otago, New Zealand,
5th May, 1848.

DEAR AUNT,-- . . . The soil is very rich, and I do not think it will be ill to clear. There is a great deal of brushwood, and there is level clear land a few miles back; but I have not been far in the bush. We have a visit from some of the natives every day; they seem glad to see us, and are very peaceable. Some of them are dressed in the native mat, and are very wild looking. There are a number of Scotch settlers; some of them have been here for a number of years. They seem quite at home with the natives, and have no fear of them so far as I have seen.

The winter is beginning to set in. We have had heavy rains since we came, and some of the warmest days we ever had in Scotland in the heat of summer. The settlers who have lived here for some years say that this and the next month ends their winter, and then I hope to commence farming in earnest. There are plenty of horses here running wild. Jones has between one and two hundred; their price is somewhere about 20l., but I see no market for them yet, so I do not think I will deal much in horse flesh for some time. Mr. B. and Captain Cargill think there will be a great demand for them so soon as the road opened up between the town and country sections. Provisions are not very dear; the Company have a store, and sell meal at 2s. 6d. per stone; flour at 3s. per do.; tea at 1s. 3d. per lb.; sugar at 3 1/2 d. per lb. The wages to labourers are 3s. per day; mechanics, 5s. per day....

Dunedin, 31st May, 1848.

MY DEAR FATHER,-- . . . Here, as at home, there is a great deal of spirits consumed, but steadiness is requisite in every quarter of the world, no matter what place it may be and none should leave home, as I have often thought, with the idea that he will get gold for the lifting, and an intention to act the gentleman; they must come with bodily strength, if granted them, and willingness to exercise it. No cloth-merchant or clerk need come out here with the intention of doing no other thing than standing at the back of a counter, or sitting at a desk; they must be able to use other instruments than scissors or pens. Nor must they come with the intention of sporting jewellery or good clothes, but must come out steady and ready to do what is going, unless they have plenty of means to carry the gentleman out. All must work hard here to get on. I never wrought so hard in my life as what I have done since I came here, but I hope to be repaid for it yet. We will very soon be proprietors of a good house. We are nearly finished with a house or shop 24 feet long and 12 broad, with a division for a room off the shop for the man and wife. We have engaged a carpenter and cabinetmaker to work; we are going to stop with them. We have very good prospects. I have got a great deal of orders for furniture and joiner work. I really do not know what to do first after the house is finished. I am, like yourself, too anxious; I am never idle. We have given in estimates for a church and school. We have also given in an estimate for a boat that is to be built by the Company, 36 feet long;

these matters are not yet settled. If one thing will not do I will try another. I am determined to make my own of this place, and I would be quite happy here if I only had my father, mother, and friends out beside me. I am very well now.. . .

Otago, New Zealand, Dunedin, 13th June, 1848.

MR DEAR BROTHER AND SISTERS,-- . . . The climate of the country is certainly very fine, beyond all doubt, for European constitutions; for my own part, if I had suffered the same privations in Britain, as I have done in New Zealand, it must have been my death, what with sleeping in the bush, and wet nearly up to the middle for six or eight hours at a time, and yet without the slightest injury to my health; let the labour be what it may through the day, you get up next morning quite invigorated; in fact, I thought the voyage was a great means of restoring my health. To parties not strong, the air here is pleasant, and there is something light and exhilarating in it; it does not create that tickling sensation in the throat you experience in Britain, which, I think, is often the means of bringing on consumption and other diseases. This is the winter season, and we can sit in the house with the door open. In the morning I have often gone out with nothing but trousers and boots on, and gun over my shoulder, to get a shot at the ducks. Milch cows and calves are out winter and summer in the bush, without any effect on either; no turnips or any artificial means to keep the cattle here; in winter no byres, the only thing is a stockyard to drive them into to milk. Horses are treated the same as the cows, winter and summer. Pigs thrive well from the great quantity of fern root they eat; they are never put in styes, but allowed to roam about; we very much want a good breed of English pigs; they are quite easily brought out, and should have plenty of water on board ship; Any one coming out who can afford it ought to bring a Clydesdale horse and Ayrshire bull and cow, and get broad canvass belts made to sling them in when the ship rocks. An improved breed of sheep will be of importance, say Leicester and Cheviot for wool, and black-faced for mutton. Beef is now selling at sixpence and sevenpence per lb.; I never tasted anything like it in Britain. Plenty of grass seeds must be brought, and be sure and exclude them from the air. Cuttings of fruit trees ought to be brought. All should be packed up in air-tight cases to exclude air and damp, and on landing, opened immediately and put into the earth. Bring a great

quantity of garden seeds of all kinds. Turnip and cabbage grow to an immense size. The following articles are of great service:-- Good strong spades; augers from an inch to two inches across the mouth for fencing; axes--there is no axe better adapted for cutting New Zealand wood than the American bill-hook, it is of great service for clearing land for the plough; pit saws; whit saws; and cross-cuts, and files for ditto, saws being of no use without them; needles and thread; small blocks for boat masts; real navvies' boots (as they are called) laced up the front, with nails in them; strong knit socks; strong corduroy and moleskin trousers for the country--nothing better for the bush; Glengarry bonnets best for the bush; a good broad belt with buckle better than braces for the bush. . . . .

In stating the above-mentioned articles, it is for the purpose of showing you what is really wanted in the colony, and supposing any one was to bring them they would pay. Captain Cargill has appointed me storekeeper. I feel thankful that I left Britain, because I see that, if a man keeps steady and industrious, he will attain more in five years than he would in twenty at home; parties who have no wish to indulge immoderately in intoxicating liquors, with the assistance of Providence, could not but get on. I shall not say to any one to come out here, as all depends upon their own conduct. On board of ship, you have everything you require, but you may take some preserves and pickles if convenient, two good pillows and a mattress, as the ship's ones are too thin, sheets and blankets, a tin wash-hand basin, a little frying pan and goblet, cinnamon, arrowroot and sago, and a few cabin biscuits; mine were put below and only got at on arrival, but I sold them for 7s. per stone, cost 3s. 6d.; also take a little oatmeal, you will find a relish for it. Be sure and take care with whom you associate; be attentive and clean; keep near you some books, as well as your brush and comb, knives, forks, and spoons; and purchase marine or salt-water soap. If it is possible to send the seraphine, do so, and I will pay the freight. The vessel sails to-morrow, so my time is short. The dog is my constant companion, and very useful in the store. Remember me to all parties kindly at home, and living in the hopes of seeing you with God's assistance. -- I am, &c.

Dumfries, 14th November, 1848.

MY DEAR SIR, I have to apologize for being so long in acknow-

ledging your letter; certainly it was from no reluctance to comply with your request, for I had a letter from my brother about the time that yours reached me, and I could not but feel, while reading it, a deep thrill of gratitude to the New Zealand Company, for securing the carrying out of their wise and benevolent arrangements so admirably, as appears to have been done, thereby making it evident that, under their auspices, emigration, even to the other side of the globe, may take place in compatibility with a large measure of comfort during the passage, and with comparatively little difficulty or inconvenience to the emigrants after arriving at their destination. It is certainly for the benefit of thousands of the community in this country, as well as for the honour of the New Zealand Company, that this should be widely known. It does not seem too much to say, that the plan on which the Otago Colony has been founded is no longer an experiment, but one that has been tried and found successful. The circumstance of so many emigrants landing on a distant, uncultivated, and well nigh uninhabited island, all at once proceeding to useful labour, the benefit of which they themselves are largely to reap for which, besides, they are more amply recompensed than they would have been at borne,--with a sufficient supply of provisions purchasable at a moderate price, and at the same time carrying along with them all those means necessary for education, and the uninterrupted observance of religious ordinances, and thus making them feel, in relation to their highest enjoyments, as if they had never left the shores of their native land,-- is, I presume, without a parallel in the history of colonization.

The letter I received having been written early, a few days after landing, contains little with which the public have not already been made acquainted through the excellent address of Captain Cargill to the emigrants on their landing. It is pleasing to me, however, to learn from a source so interesting to myself, that there is not the slightest exaggeration or colouring in it; indeed the letter of my brother is, to the full, as animating and cheering as the address of Captain Cargill. It seems, indeed, that some discontent existed among the passengers during the voyage; however, this arose from a cause which will not excite much pity, which is fitted indeed to excite indignation at home, where so many have been subjected to the severest privation: it arose from the superabundance of the provisions made for their wants by the Company; a number, it appears, having been dissatisfied, very unreasonably one would think, because they were not allowed to store up for the future what they were not able at the time to use. This of itself is proof that every one had an ample supply; and it seems that the passengers got a

week's provisions after landing, which, I think, was exceedingly generous. . . . . My brother thus writes:--

"The natives seem an obliging, well-disposed sort of people. We would be the better of more of them. They are employed by the Company at 2s. 6d. per day. I intend to have a few of them at my house for a few days, as they are very good at building grass houses. They raise excellent potatoes; we get them for about 7d. per stone; there is no potato disease here that I am aware of. They have boats, and sail about the harbour, managing them very skilfully. Mr. Chalmers and I came down in one of these boats from Dunedin the other night, managed by five of them, and when we went aground, as we did twice, in they went at once into the water and pushed her along, chattering in their own language at a great rate.

"But, after all, the absence, and at such a distance, from friends, is certainly very severely felt by us when alone; we hope, however, that a good many will yet join us; but more of this when we next write, which we intend to do more particularly when the Philip Laing leaves, which will not be for a month. --I am, &c."

When we first landed we had merely a shed; the weather was very wet. I slept between blankets on the ground, and, extraordinary to say, caught not even a cold; but still I could not affirm that I was quite well. With difficulty I arose in the morning, and my limbs were for some time afterwards very stiff; the great wonder was that we were not all knocked up. Since our house has been built we find that one built of brick or stone would be far more comfortable in winter, as it is generally cold by night, the thermometer being as low as freezing point during the night and until eight and nine o'clock in the morning. This has occurred during the months of June, July, and August. Blankets are most useful and warm clothing-most indispensable. We certainly have more sunny days than in England, with less extremes of temperature, but with more humidity, and perhaps more wind. Accidents are continually happening; and stomach complaints occur at different periods of the year, making work for doctors. Besides, ladies require the attendance of medical men, and a great many invalids flock to a climate of this description. Children are particularly healthy. I have also observed that those who from accident or other cause have been obliged to have recourse to the aid of our two doctors soon recover. Young men take greater liberties with their con-

stitutions here than in England. You rarely see a greatcoat worn in the day time. I have mislaid my journal kept on board the ship, or I should give you some extracts from it. However, from all I can learn, and my own observations, a voyage at best is a very monotonous affair. We have had a few vessels from Wellington since our arrival, but our party being small I suppose it is not worth while to send provisions here at present. Everything has been very dear; but there can be little doubt we shall soon have an abundance of everything. I do not know what we should have done but for your kindness in getting a few little luxuries, which in the hurry I should have entirely forgotten myself. Not a drop of wine or good spirits is to be had here, and the worst spirits are excessively dear. When I give a little away I assure you it is highly prized. I have chosen my town, suburban, and rural land--all excellent choices. I have got certainly the best town section in Dunedin, and the only one which immediately adjoins the water. In a beautiful little bay opposite Dunedin, and sheltered from nearly all winds, I have chosen my suburban, and when there is a ferry-boat across, which would occupy about ten minutes crossing, I intend living there. The section contains about twelve acres, two and a half being covered with bush to the water's edge. My rural land I have chosen at the Molyneux; a beautiful section, covered with wood, and adjoining the reserve for a village or town. The reserve made is only fifty or seventy acres, and as there must be a considerable town there in a very short time, I have no doubt my land will come in for building purposes. I should tell you that I have already let my house and town section for a hotel to a very enterprising man, who, I have no doubt, will make it answer well, as he does every thing he undertakes: a Mr. ----- who, to make sure that all was as represented, came out without his wife and family, intending to return by way of Sydney should the country not prove, upon inspection, what it was represented to be. He is a man of middle age, and has purchased more than 1,000l. worth of stock since he has been here. It is possible he may want brandies, &c.;--but here he comes. He wishes you to procure for him a list of articles, which I will enclose, and he is to give me directions for payment in the evening, all which I will give in a postscript. Mr. ----- has written home for his wife and family, and his brothers, and advised them to charter a small vessel, which they can afterwards use for coasting purposes. He is the first man who harnessed a bullock. A more valuable settler there cannot be.

EXTRACT OF A LETTER FROM CAPTAIN CARGILL TO THE SECRETARY OF THE OTAGO ASSOCIATION.

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LETTER FROM A LAND OWNER IN OTAGO TO HIS BROTHER.

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LETTER FROM THE REV. THOMAS BURNS TO THE REV. JOHN SYM, OF FREE GREYFRIARS, EDINBURGH.

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LETTER FROM MR. GEORGE ROSS, A LANDOWNER.

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LETTER FROM MR. WM. WESTWOOD, LANDOWNER IN OTAGO.

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LETTER FROM A SETTLER.

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LETTER FROM JOHN THOMPSON, SAWYER, OTAGO, TO HIS FATHER, THOMAS THOMSON, DALKEITH, AND OTHER RELATIVES.

LETTER FROM J. ADAMS, TAILOR, FORMERLY OF EARLSTON.

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Dunedin, Otago, New Zealand, 17th December, 1848.

DEAR MOTHER,--We arrived here safe and sound, Sunday, 3rd Dec. 1848, and anchored 8 h. 30 m. P.M., well pleased to have got over the first difficulty, the sea-voyage, so easily. We did not go ashore till Tuesday morning, as Port Chalmers is ten miles distant from Dunedin, which you will recollect is at the head of the harbour. But as our last letter left off at sighting Nelson, we will first describe the remainder of our voyage. Nelson is a very pretty town, on a level piece of ground surrounded by hills, but not like any town you ever saw. The houses, with one or two exceptions, are of wood, and detached from each other, with spaces of ground occurring every here and there, with fern and flax growing on them, where the proprietor has not made any use of his section. There are some very nice shops and houses, a flour-mill, a church, free kirk-house, and Wesleyan chapel, the latter almost as ugly (so I have every reason to consider it orthodox) as they are in England. To my thinking, it is not altogether unlike Long-lane, Bermondsey,--(ye gods! I hear you exclaim,)--built upon three times the ground, without smoke, the windows all looking exceedingly clean to a Londoner; the houses all newer, with a view of the sea, and a beautifully clear rivulet running through the town, over which a large tree, squared, is thrown for a bridge. The banks are fringed with small trees, and a tribe of young ducks and geese are in the seventh heaven of delight in its limpid

waters. The roads leading out of Nelson are exceedingly good, and remind me of those out of London; but we saw them in the summer season; in winter they may be impassable, as they are in a clayey soil. In the vicinity of the town are a number of houses dotted about among the dark verdure, whose careful building, and gardens nicely fenced, with shrubs trained inside, and filled with roses, pinks, sweet williams, peas (and in fact every kind of flower), and young fruit trees, make no despicable imitation of an English home, and in six years will equal it. The people here are exceedingly kind and hospitable, and the manner in which we were greeted by them, more like old friends than utter strangers, was very pleasant twenty thousand miles from home. The place is steadily progressing, the emigrants (72) we had for Nelson found immediate employment, and the prices of things in general are very reasonable, except hardware, and boots and shoes. Bread is 7d. the 4 lbs. loaf; the best fresh butter 10d.; all mutton 5d.; pork 6d.; cheese, most excellent 1s.; new laid eggs 6d. the dozen; fowls 2s. per pair; potatoes 50s. the ton; all the produce of the Settlement, and the finest that could be had. One farmer told Howard, that he was going to offer 60l. and rations (sixty pounds!) for a ploughman, and much doubted whether he should get one! And yet there are hundreds in England wanting a meal. There is some beautiful level land about four miles from the town called the Waimea plains, which contain many flourishing spots, and sixty miles distant (a new road will make it thirty) are the Wairau plains, ever memorable in the history of the Colony as the scene of the death (by massacre) of Captain Wakefield and many other noble-hearted gentlemen. These plains will afford extensive pasture for sheep and cattle, and the whole Colony is talking of them. I saw many spots around the town that reminded me of Devon, but strange to say there is an absence of trees on the hills of Nelson that surprised us; having heard of the forests of New Zealand "growing to the water's edge." This and the cultivated land are the points of contrast between the genial aspect of Nelson and Devonshire. Howard went as far as Richmond, a place nine miles from Nelson, to buy some potatoes, and was surprised at the resemblance to Kent, which the country around presented, and on saying so to a farmer, his wife immediately said, "Ah, that's what I say, sir, I come from Kent, you know." He passed the night at the "Star and Garter," a perfect miniature of an inn in the old country. He says, this inn presents very much the appearance outside of a road side country house of entertainment in England, but as usual on a reduced scale. It is kept by a well informed young Scot, who also possesses land and cattle. The table spread for our entertainment, was excellent, in fact, equal to a good inn

at home--the snow-white cloth, plated candlesticks, &c. &c., included -- all this at a place nine miles from the town, and on a spot that six years ago was a flax swamp, at half the price at home. Does not this redound to the honour of the Saxon race? The shoemakers were doing well; we were told that if you wanted a pair, you must bespeak them six or eight weeks before you wanted them, and then it was a favour to make them. All the stock of hardware that was provided by the first emigrants, has been used, and consequently it is very scarce; and will be till some merchant sends a cargo; which will be taken up by others, till the market is glutted again, you would hardly imagine how many other comforts and even luxuries of life are to be had here (Nelson).

Some of our emigrants slept at old Mr. Bell's, "Laird of Wanganui," and were quite delighted with him. He is a venerable old man, with long white hair and a Scotch bonnet. And now for Wellington. But first let me say that the climate of Nelson (and Taranaki, as far as we experienced it) was most delightful; clear skies and fine weather day after day, while delicious breezes tempered the otherwise fervid rays of the sun. Well, we entered Port Nicholson 20th Nov. 11. 30 P.M. anchored. The entrance to Wellington and all the outskirts of it are guarded by lofty hills, more steep than any we had yet seen; though not so barren looking as those at Nelson, equally bare of timber. Though so late at night, a boat boarded us with visitors eager for the latest news. Among others, a young man named Duncan who formerly lived for some years in Rood lane, and with whom Howard had a long chat. He came out here about six months ago, and is living with his brother, who keeps a store. He likes the place very well, and says a good deal of profitable business can be done very easily. At daylight the next morning, the ship was got under way and moved up the harbour, and on rounding a point the town came into view, and formed one of the most picturesque scenes we ever witnessed. The ship lay in one of the finest sheets of water in the world, the shore of which for the circumference of three miles was lined with houses built mostly of wood, of various sizes and designs, but generally painted white outside, and roofed with "shingles" (flat squares of wood), which from exposure to the weather looks like slate. Behind this long semicircle of houses, rise hills of moderate ascent, crowned with various buildings, barracks, stores, churches, &c., &c. This morning on the parade ground, distinctly visible from the ship, her Majesty's 65th Regt. stationed here were being exercised, the band playing various lively airs. Went on shore to see a shepherd, a friend of one of our Scotch emigrants. On the road was invited into the house by a Scotch lassie to take a drink of new milk, and a slice of cake, a gossip about the "auld countrie" included. She was

married, but her husband was absent; she showed us her complete little dairy, &c., and begged us to see them again before the ship sailed. There has been a very severe shock of earthquake at Wellington, not felt at Otago or Taranaki, and only slightly at Nelson. This has injured several of the brick houses in the town. All the Wellington people seem to have cared about appears to be the town; for they have very little land cultivated; as the prices of agricultural produce will show; eggs are 1s. the dozen; butter, 1s. 6d. per pound. Sailed from Wellington 28th November. The scenery of the valley of the Hutt (Wellington) is magnificent; lofty hills and impenetrable forest, matted with creepers of all sizes (some two inches across); and the song of birds resounding everywhere, mingled with the rush of waters. But of all the places we have seen, we prefer Otago. The land is more level, the hills more rounded and moderate, and covered with a brighter, fresher green, more like English scenery. Here, too, is plenty of wood as you go up the harbour. The harbour itself is a most beautiful one, abounding in fine views. Dunedin consists at present of forty-eight houses, prettily situated, though not very conveniently for those who have built, having placed themselves on the hilliest part of the place, neglecting a fine flat that would have held all Dunedin for twelve years to come. There is plenty of flat land for a town, belted with hills; after which, fine valleys clear of timber stretch away for miles and miles.

The people at Dunedin seem to be of a good sort: hospitable and friendly, and anxious to improve their colony. We have chosen our town and suburban sections, and are very well pleased with them. Our town quarter of an acre is a level piece of ground, well suited for building, with two frontages--one abutting on Princes-street, the main street; and the other on a street leading to the north-east valley (one outside the town, which bids fair to be soon cultivated, and the support of it). Our suburban lot is chosen in this north-east valley, which runs from Dunedin to Port Chalmers; having thereby an increased importance, as the "route" from the port to the town. A road is already being formed through the valley to join them. Yesterday we started for our section (the suburban being that we intend cultivating first), with our axes and hoes on our shoulders, and provisions for the day in a bag. We set to work and cleared a space which we selected for our hut, set fire to the fern and flax, and cut and dragged down out of the bush some twenty poles for the frame-work. In doing this, however, Howard, who was felling and lopping the trees for that purpose, over-worked himself, and is so fatigued that to-day he has kept in bed to recruit himself; which is the reason I write to you, solely.

The north-east valley is a most beautiful spot, bounded by hills on one

side, clothed with trees; and on the other stretching away in pasture for flocks, with a streamlet styled "The Water of Leith" (the name of one in Scotland) meandering through. The sections are being rapidly taken up; and we trust, ere long, that it will be a beautiful instance of the value that cultivation can confer upon land.

We are living at present in the "barracks" till we can get one house up. There are four of these of various sizes, three of wood and one of grass (wari). They are comfortable wooden houses, with a fire-place in each, and fitted up from the wood-work of various ships that have come out with emigrants, and are very acceptable to the "houseless wanderer."

We made an excursion of two days into the interior to view the rural land (Howard had made one previously of three days, with knapsack and blanket, kettle and gun), in company with the surgeon and one of the cuddy passengers, Mr. -----. After travelling twenty-one miles (thirty by the track) they came to a native reserve on the Taieri (Ty-ee-ree) river, where there are but two white men squatting, by permission, on the native land. They have Maori wives, and live an easy indolent life on wild ducks and eels, and wild pigs (which abound here), with a few potatoes and some wheat, but no cattle (they are too much trouble they said), so they have no butter, cheese, or milk, which they might have. Five miles further is the Waihola lake, a beautiful piece of water, where an extensive proprietor has chosen nine sections. The chief of the tribe here, who owns an immense tract of land, is, Howard says, the beau-ideal of savage chieftainship--generous and hospitable, and very anxious to have white men among the Maories. The Taieri is a beautiful river, something like the Lee at its broadest part, and navigable for boats for miles. Very few of the rural sections are yet chosen, as people are waiting to see where the roads will be made, and how the land will look in winter; besides which, the ten acres near the town is quite enough to occupy one for the present. The labourers working on the roads here get 3s. per day (meat is 6d. per lb.; butter, 2s.; sugar, 5d. and 6d.; tea, 2s. 6d. per lb.; shoes and clothing dear). Labourers' wages are not high at present, as the number is regulated by the quantity of land bought. The weather here is very pleasant as yet, though they tell us it had been more variable lately than usual. We saw Capt. Cargill, and he spoke very kindly to us, and told us if we wanted information to ask him, he should be happy to give it. This letter has been all about ourselves, but we thought you would like that best, and have not forgotten one of you. Howard sends his kind love with mine. --We remain, dear mother, your affectionate sons - - - HOWARD & HEBER LAKEMAN.