THE FAR NORTH. (FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDINT.) Ahepara, April 22.

Daily Southern Cross, Volume XXIII, Issue 3057, 14 May 1867, Page 5

THE FAR NORTH. (FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDINT.) Ahepara, April 22.

This settlement ia situate at the commencement of the Ninety-mile Beach, which here forma » bay of great extent, in some parts of which vessels frequently anchor for shelter, and successfully ride out the heaviest gales. Captain Sawyer, of the United States Navy, formerly a resident here, considered it resembled the celebrated Bay of Naples, and that the climate was even more delighful and exhilarating, especially for thoie who are in search of health and recreation. An hour after the tide recedes, » beach nearly level and several hundred yards wide ia formed of hard sand, and a pedestrian or equestrian tour may be prolonged to any satisfactory extent. The care-worn resident of Auckland, the invalid, or sea-side tourist, can reach this charming bay by a trip to Mongonui in the • Ivanhoe,* and a day's rid* across the island j and he may either rough it as a pakeha-Maori, amongst natives, or enjoy at the Ahipara Hotel the attention, civility, good living, and moderate charges which, have established for mine host the highest reputation in the North. The fine aoil and climate are already attracting settlers, and the sleek appearance and fiae condition of all the quadrupeds presage a rapid progress towards a great success in prosperity to the Bay of Abipara. Already small vessels discharge or receive cargo, and, as settlers increase in number, the established commercial firms will contribute largely to assist ia developing the resources, and prove a great public benefit. Permanent injury bas been caused to the province of Auckland by the forty-acre system, which appear* to have been specially devised for the benefit of the town of Auckland, by iuducing immigrants who arrived there to expend as much of their means as possible while occupied in the tortuous process of obtaining a location. It was often necessary to incur the expenses of travelling one to three hundred miles, and, after deciding on a site, to return to Auckland, in order to complete the complex arrangements required at the Waste Lands Office. Many have thus made selections, but found their means so exhausted by unnecessary delays that they have abandoned the intention of occupying the land. The Maungataniwha and Maunqatate blocks, in the district of Mongonui, are illustrations of this popular delusion ; most of the sections belong to non-residents, which causes the exclusion of many who would occupy and improve if they could obtain them. This iqcreases the difficulties of those who are residiog on their property, as they aie to a great extent debarred from the benefits of mutual assistance through the unstatesmanlike nature of an erroneous system. Many of these settler* were assured by Meurt. Ridgway that roads yrere mtcle to *U the lunte-a process which w*s

intended at the. creation of the^ mll \°» lo £ 0 ' *£ that has been squandered in or near the town ot Auckland on unproductive, but frequently ornamental, operationa, » l«d tax for £• PWJjJ forming £ad,i« an inevitable «^to£ ke Tgg those now Settled are anxidus to resort to «?»«» *** homes rooreaccessible-while those at » J^^JJJ deluded and deceived ; by tons of the iathep^incill aystem of AS* l^ «•""■ m JE dicing us to the humiliating position of those, who «asp at shadows ; while the just, liberal,.enhgb.tenea\ , i,d statesmanlike Jmeasures adopted in New SoAth. Wales are continually securing the substance.. I The provincial rural lands in the district of Mokianga are withheld from bona fide settlers, although there have been many applications made, and offers of payment in cash,Jbut no notice is taken of these ; and many are about leaving,, who wished to settle here, but do not' intend to submit to • delays and trouble for six or seven years, as experienced by Mr. Cocbrane (to obtain lands on which several pounds per acre must be expended to reap any permanent advantage) ; whil«t other provinces, colonies, and States offer advantages to those who have enterprise, energy, and capital for investment, which they are prevented from using here by a rotten provincial ■ystem, which especially blights all prospects of progress in this district. Our enly recourse appears to be by an appeal to the General^ssetnbly for a separate Northern province, with the B*y of Islands (as a natural geographical position) for a capital, or a system rot extended municipalities, whioh would give us tne control of our own affairs in the now-existing districts, and the management of the lands under a wellregulated colonial sy«tem, with a land office in each ' district ; as all confidence is at an end in any perpetuation of plans which always leave us powerless to progress. The die is cast, and we must be true to ourselves. There are enlightened statesmen in the colonial councils, and it is not likely that they will allow the continuation of negligence whioh prevents colonisation, settlement, andcivilisation in the North of New Zealand, which can boast of first-rate harbours, large navigable rivers, fertile lands, and a climate unsurpassed in any other part of , the world for those who desire health, competence, and longevity. ' <