—THE WAITEMATA— TO DAY-

Auckland Star, Volume LXX, Issue 189, 12 August 1939, Page 4 (Supplement)

—THE WAITEMATA— TO DAY-

Here you see Auckland almost 100 years later with its population of 214,000, the largest city in New Zealand, and set on and about the shores that were once covered in fern and native busk. Gone are many of the Maori names and in their places are names famous in history. Hob'son, Parnell, Wellington, etc., and also names of places in the old land. No doubt, the latter were so named to keep alive the memories of home. In the actual streets themselves you will find the names of Pitt, Symond, Cook, Victoria, Wynyard, Wellesley, Shortland, Beresford, Grafton and a host of others whose needs made them worthy of remembrance. In its waters that were once so calm and undisturbed have come giant steamers from distant countries thrashing and churning the waters as they slowly move to an anchorage in one of the safest harbours in the British Empire. How changed is this same harbour from what Marsden saw in 1820. Thus he describes what he did when he sailed the harbour in a launch. (Notice how he spells Waitemata)

IMPORTANT DATES

7th May, 18o(».—Responsible Government begins. Bth October. 1884. —Railway completed to Cambridge front Aucklan d. 9th Xor ember. 1902.—Wreck of Elingamite on Three Kings. 10th October, 1842. —handing of settlers from ships Jane Clifford and Duchess of Argvle. 10th January, 184t>. —First steamer (H.M.S. Driver) at Auckland. 11th January, 1840. —Capture -■/ Ruapekapeka Pa and end of war in the Xorth. 12 th April, 1872.—Telegraph communication between Auckland and Wellington. 13 th January. 1877. —Mercer-Xga-ruaicahia railway completed.

"This morning (July 26) we weighed anchor and sailed up the Wyeteematta with a strong fair breeze. We anchored about five o'clock in the evening in five fathoms water near the shore, tying the launch with a rope to a tree." It would be difficult to-day to tie a boat to a tree and yet have five fathoms of water to float in. In the air instead of the native birds are the aeroplanes, and to our shores have come flying-boats from England and America. I wonder what the first settlers would have thought of a radio set? In the city itself are numerous factories, offices and stores that carry on trade and commerce; for Auckland is like the neck of a bottle. All water goes in and passes out the neck, and in a similar manner the products of the large districts to the north and south send their products.. to Auckland, where they are loaded on ships to be sent overseas, the ships having brought in the first place goods for the people of Auckland and its districts. Such imports and exports are valued as late as the nineteen twenties at over £30,000,000 in one year.