POVERTY BAY.

Grey River Argus, Volume XIV, Issue 1712, 29 January 1874, Page 4

POVERTY BAY.

The following is a description of Poverty Bay, a district in which European settlement is rapidly ex'ending : — Gisbbrne, the chief town in Poverty Bay district, ia situate on the Waimeta River at its junction with the sea. The entrance to the river is interrupted by a bar, which can only be crossed with safety at high water by coasting crafts drawing seven or eight feet. Afterwards, the channel is deep enough for about half a mile to Reader's wharf, where most of the small vessels discharge and take in cargo, but those of large tonnage and steamers lie out in the bay, and are lightered or tendered by a steam launch belonging to Messrs Kinross and Graham. The town of Gisborne consists of about 200 buildings, amorgsfc which are a court-house, music hall, two banks, post-office, four hotels, and a dozen or more really good stores and shops. The learned professions are represented by one Presbyterian clergymen, three lawyers, and one medical man. As yet, there is no church (except one where the Church of England service is conducted in Maori by an ordained Native) ; but a bazaar has lately been held for the purpose of rasing funds for the erection of a Presbyterian place of worship. The total population of the town may be estimated at about 600 or 700, but if the petroleum springs prove a success (of which there seems every probability), this will rapidly increase. The land in Poverty Bay district is of excellent character, capable of producing, under proper culture, anything required for the subsistance of man. One of the chief products of the district is rye grass seed, which grows spontaneously over large tracts of land, which if subjected to a proper system of cultivation, would double the yield, or even more. Wool is also becoming a staj>le article of export, and it is estimated that between 2000 and 3000 bales will leave the Bay this season. One of the great drawbacks to the cultivation of the land is the sweetbriar, which in some parts has spread, and is gradually spreading, over a large area. It is the bane of the country. With repect to the Natives, there does not appear to be any cause for fear ; they are nearly all friendly, and but few Hauhaiis are in the vicinity. Even with Te Kooti at their head, they could scarcely now make a successful raid here. A great deal of the land is now fenced for 12 miles distance ■ from the town, which would prove a great barrier to any Native attempt on the town or suburbs. In fact, I believe there is as little to be dreaded from them here as in Wellington or many other parts of the Colony. What is most required here is European population, especially female laboiir. Fifty single girls would be engaged in a day at high wages. The climate is very warm in summer, well adapted for the growth of the grape, peaches, lemons, melons, most English fruits and maize. Peaches and apples grow wild all over the district. In winter it is never very cold. It is not so hot as Auckland in summer, nor so cold as Wellington in winter.