A DRIVE ON THE NORTH ROAD.

New Zealander, Volume XVII, Issue 1568, 27 April 1861, Page 3

A DRIVE ON THE NORTH ROAD.

WATKRVIEW. To the Editor of the New-Zbalandke. Snt,—Upon a lovely morning we started from Queenstreet in the North lioad Van, hound for Henderson s Mill. It was a glorious New Zealand morning, and we enjoyed it. Our only companions at first were a heartv young settler, and a veteran Imsliman returning to the scene of his felling exploits. Once at Newton, we rattled along at a rapid rate, hut soon to pull up lor additional passengers, whose knowledge of the localities we were fast passing through contributed much to the pleasure of the drive. Leaving behind us Newton and Ponsouby Road, With its magnificent prospect over city and ocean, islands and headlands, we speedily arrived opposite Richmond, and the pretty suburb of Glengarry, laying between it and the City, numerous cottages and snug paddocks were interspersed in the space seaward,— while toward the west the picture terminated in the house and cultivated grounds on Halstcad's Poiut. Having under iu a capital road, we were soon at ' Arch Hill, ground which our ancient friend Mr. Joseph

Young has planted a belt of native forest and blue gum trees. _ While expressing our strongest approbation of this tree-planting practice, a sharp descent —easily to be mitigated by a small outlay—brought us to the enclosed peddocks and farm-house of Mr. Edgcombc, where a deeper verdure and richer luxuriance gladdened our eyes. After a few minutes' run along the well-fenced fields on either hand, our horses made a voluntary stop at the Northern Hotel, where, taking the hint, we duly entered. Our stay, however, was but short, for we had sighted the pennons of Waterview, and were anxious to press on to the site of the new village. The extensive mills and buildings of Messrs. Low & Motion, almost concealed in the valley of the neighbouring creek, presented to our notice only their roofs and higher points,—while the thriving cultivations that surround them were wholly concealed from our view. The handsome gardens of Mr. Cameron, more immediate and at hand, afforded us much gratification—all around teeming with a luxuriant vegetation, strangely at variance with the crabbed scoria which it covers.

We crossed the bridge, and speedily found ourselves at Oakley's Creek,—and fronting us the entire village site of Waterview. The position of the village has been chosen with much judgment, having a slight declination towards both the harbour and the creek, but otherwise smooth and level.

Directly opposite, encircled by the sea, is the residence oi'D. Pollen, Esq., which, with its tasteful plantations and clumps of forest trees, imparts to the picture quite an old country look. We now pass over Oakley's Creek, with its sparkling waters high on either bank, and Thomas' mill—for whose especial use its aqueous treasures have been hoarded up; and drawing along to the western end of Waterview we come upon the farm of Mr. McEwan, where considerable improvements arc fast being carried on.

We have now before us the noble ranges of Titirangi, with their numerous sawing-stations and homesteads betrayed to us by the curling smoke, that tells of coming dinner, —and soon arrive at the Whan. The cottage and grounds of Mr. Elliott at the Bridge-end pleasingly present themselves,—while around and far towards theWaitcmata is studded with smiling homesteads and cultivated enclosures. The residence and property of Dr. Aicen likewise here become visible, —and a few hundred yards brings to view, conveniently situated on the roadside, the Presbyterian School-house Church, lately erected by the zealous efforts of the Rev. 1). Bruce. Here, on the afternoon of every Sunday, divine service is held by the Rev. George Brown, the pastor of the district. " Now at length we enter upon the tcnantless fern plains, through which we pass until our journey's end, save where the roads leading up to the neighbouring bush cross our path, or the tempting waters of the Rewa Rewa Creek invite us, as many before, to stop and liquor. Denying ourselves this pleasure, we hasten along, and soon from an adjacent height Henderson's mills and busy station burst upon our view. The lovely valley and glistening stream, the rolling wheel and "snorting engine, the parent mill, with the little town of hearths and homes that it has given birth to and nursed into comfortable condition, the pleasing hnm of active industry—all strongly recalled to mind the manufacturing homes and valleys of our native Yorkshire. Here we witnessed the monarch of the forest, after being treated to a ride on a rail, and a float on the river, dragged with a bulldog grape up to the inevitable saw, and there halved and quartered, like traitors on Tower-hill, at the rapid pace of about five thousand yards per hour. After enjoying ourselves heartily, and partaking of the hospitality of the respected owner, we returned to our van, and speedily found ourselves repassing the site of Waterview, and soon in Auckland, more impressed with the permanent progress of our city on the western side than had it been shown to us in a blue-book. J. C. Loch. A LIFE IN THE BUSH. There is very considerable misapprehension in the general mind .**s to what " A Life in the Bush" means and who are suitable parties for it. It is very generally looked upon as a life of toil, hardship, and privation, and doubtless in many cases it is so; but it is by no means necessarily so in all cases. Call it simply n country life and perhaps it might be better understood. To the man with very small means and little but his own labour to depend upon for present existence, it is, there can be no doubt, for a time at all events, a life of toil and hardship. But to the man with capital a life in the bush may be as happy and comfortable a state of existence, and as free from hardships and harassraents as any man could wish for. I cannot conceive a more delightful life for a man with, say three thousand pounds, thau a bush or countrv life in New Zealand. To a man so situated I should say put out £2OOO of your capital at interest to give you a permanent income of £250 to £3OO per annum. Select a good bush farm of 100 acres in a nice district ; do not be over particular whether it cost you 205., 305., or 40s. per acre. It is frequently worth while paying the higher price for land in a good locality which vour grand object is to convert into a happv home. Clear a sufficient quantity for a good homestead, surrounded by a few grass paddocks, and this with all the requisite'fencing, a comfortable cot tage, the necessary stock may certainly be obtained for your other thousand pounds. Thus you would be in possession of as beautiful a place as many an old park in England. Your cattle, horses, sheep, pigs and poultry, your productive garden and orchard, and with a certain income from the interest of your capital upon which you could live not only with ease and comfort, but with considerable luxury, and without reckoning any profit from your farm, and this with the capital I have named might be obtainable within three years of your setting vour foot in the Colony. Of course with a'lesser capital say £IOOO, the same thing might be done in a lesser degree. What is there, even of luxuries, that the most fastidious could not obtain, if he possessed the means. The ordinary expenses of a bush life are so moderate that much is left to obtain comforts which many persons suppose not obtainable in the bush. Be it remembered that £2OO in the bush would be fully equal to £6OO in or near Auckland. The various socialities of life arc kept up, and perhaps with greater sincerity and certainly less nonsensical etiquette than near town. Newspapers and letters now reach you 40 or 50 miles up the country twice a week. The various periodicals and publications of the day monthly from England, the store room well stocked with various commodities for creature comfort, and thus all that a rational man could wish for even in an old and fully civilized country. But the grand secret is secure by investment a permanent and safe income. It vou arc a practical farmer, grazier, or possessed of a thorough knowledge of agricultural pursuits, perhaps your capital might bo more profitably invested that by merely putting it out at interest. But lam no»v writing for those whom I suppose to possess no such knowledge, and who would prefer a life free from the struggle and anxiety attendant upon scraping up an income. Thus a man with but £3OOO may live in the midst of his own property, and possess all the enjoyments and comforts of a country gentleman in England worth £20,00;). " A Bush Life" is therefore not necessarily a life of toil, hardship and privation. Old Practical.

To the Editor of the New-Zealandeb.

g IU _i n your capacity of public censor, I address you to uplift my voice in behalf of our brave soldiers Htely returned from the seat of war on the Waitara aud Taranaki, and also in behalf of the daily expected 70th Regiment from India, whose health and comfort have been and are being so grossly neglected, as that no proper accommodation and shelter have been provided for those men on whose efficiency at this critical period the very existence of the Colony depends ; and who are now wallowing ancklc deep in mud and water, encamped in wre'xhed bell tents in this inclement weather in Albert Barrack square, and who will shortly fill the Hospital with cases of Dysentery if immediate measures are not resorted to house them and also the 70th ltegiment when they arrive. In the mean time what has been done ? tardy invitations for tenders to erect tenements for the Artillery have been published in the newspapers, whilst there are plenty of planks and timber in Auckland, and each Regiment contains in itself carpenters and skilled workmen of all sorts sufficient immediately to commence buildings for the protection of our (literally Life-guards). Have we not received a sufficient lesson from the miserably neglected state of our Army during the first winter of the Crimean Campaign ? and are there present now no Crimean officers who witnessed the misery and sickness of the troops there from want of shelter, and who will exert themselves a little more than to sit in their easy chairs and invite tenders for a very limited accommodation for part of our forces, when abundance of skilled labour at a much cheaper rate than can be met with in Auckland, is to be had amongst our own troops. There is also now to bo procured any quantity of galvanized iron sheeting, which would answer admirably for building purposes, and presents this advantage to penny wise and pound foolish persons, that if afterwards not required, it may be resold at a very slight depreciation. Let, then, those whose duty it is, put their shoulders to the wheel and not wait lor orders to come in whilst our troops are suffering, but take workmen from among the soldiers and put up the buildings themselves. Have wo no Engineer officers h-re, o? do ther rant a stoond Sir John alactyei

and a Military Commissioner to find out whose fault it is that ao proper shelter has been provided for our troops and Artillery horses. In conclusion, I would suggest that as the General Assembly are shortly about to meet, and in default of the necessary accommodation being provided for the troops present and expected, a Billetting Act should be passed and quarter the men on those for whose protection, as well as for the benefit of the Colony, they have been sent here. I am, Sir, yours faithfully, A CIIIEL AMAXG YE TAKIN NOTES. To the Editor of the New-Zealandeb. Sik,—Your readers have cause to be obliged to yon for reprinting Renata's answer to Mr. Fitzgerald, for it is one of the cleverest pieces of writing I ever saw in this Colony. Also, if the genuine product of the Maori mind, it is one of the most important, as giving the Native view of the Governor's new policy. I perceive, however, that its genuineness is called in question by the Southern Cro*s of this day. Now as that journal is superior to making reckless assertions for party purposes, or for the purpose of aiding a Ministry, we must presume the writer to be in possession of definite information on the subject. I have none myself, but, after a careful perusal, should say that the internal evidence in favour of its genuineness is so strong, as to overbear any but the most decisive proof to the contrary. It does appear, however, to have been not quite literally translated, containing a few expressions which could hardly be rendered back again literally into Maori, But this is mere surmise on my part; I am not acquainted with any one who has seen the original, and if the meaning be faithfully given, the translation is close enough. It is due to the public, both here and in England, that all doubt should be got rid of on either side, I therefore propose tbat the authorship should be inquired into without delay. If any European has had a hand in the letter, let us know who he is, if it be Renata's own letter (and I am not prepared to treat as a falsehood his assertion that it had taken him several months to compose it) it contains matter for serious thought. There can be no real difficulty in ascertaining facts, for every one knows that secrets are not kept among Natives. I propose that you should begin by forwarding to Renata a copy of your journal containing this letter, with any further remarks of yonr own you may please to make. There can be little doubt that the Southern Cross, for its own credit, will adopt a similar course and cordially join you in the endeavour to elicit the whole truth. I may perhaps be dull of perception, but must confess that I do not quite understand the whole of the Soutlurn Cross article on the subject; and am unable even to guess what Centralism or Provincialism have to do with the question of authorship. Trusting that you will not, for the credit of alj parties concerned, allow this matter to die a natura l death, An Impartial Observer. Auckland, April 26th, 1861.