To the Editor of the New-Zealander.

New Zealander, Volume XVIII, Issue 1641, 8 January 1862, Page 2

To the Editor of the New-Zealander.

Sik, —Having had occasion of late lovisit the greater part of the country of Mongonui, but more especially its settled districts, I have conceived tie result of my observations might be interesting to you and yoar readers who are naturally watching |he progress of colonization, and think they might iossibly benefit those who are strangers in the country desirous of establishing homes for themselves and fanilies, and whose ideas of the outlying districts are geierally speaking vague and undefined. The brief limitsof a newspaper communication preclude my entering itto the minutiae of a subject so inviting, and if I cannotiow add so important, yet there is no question the daj is not far distant when it will bs considered one d more moment than it is at present. _ I may premise my remarks by statinghat the county of Mongonui comprises that section d country from the North Cape to Palse Hokianga oathe West, and a few miles South of Wangaroa on tie East Coast, making a seaboard of between two and three hundred miles. i . . The chief centre of the inhabitants s to be found in the town of Mongonui, eligibly sitnted on fine harbour of the same name, which mt- be termed the neck of Doubtless Bay, a pictaesque sheet ol water bordered by a hilly county that conveys an impression not the most pleasiig to the mind of the practical new-comer, who j ever on the alert for available land, but which j dispelled when some of the inland country is exanifed. , lhe town was surveyed about two years ago, ind in Pebruary, 1860, seventy-two allotments of it wfe disposed of iti Auckland, realising the sum ofseve«en hundred and seventy-six pounds. Since that p«od it has been gradually increasing. A very place of worship has been for some time creftd; Divine service is conducted in it every Sunday 1 it icrves for a sf’h'jbl«hbusG dnritflr the wablc. I fry mention, in

passing, that there is a regularly qualified medical practitioner stationed in the town.* Previous to the influx of .immigration all business with the 'GoVernpleut was transacted in the Court Hbuse ; hufit has been found necessary to construct it Custom House and Land Office to meet with the rising wants of the place Some must have been of opinion that the “ Donnybrook” was not sufficient for the requirements of travellers commodious as it certainly is, for the substantially built “Mongonui hotel” has recently been opened to the public. The more useful tradesmen for a township surrounded by country settlers are now well established, and comprise a no insignificant class of the population. Lor a long period it has been well known that coal beds exist, in the neighbourhood, and an active party is now engaged in an undertaking to asCertain if they will yield coal of such a quality, and to Such art extent, ns to make them a profitable branch of fidnitriercc. If he sufcceed, as all hope he may, a jjreiit boon will be conferred on Mongonui, and those interested in its welfare. The schooner “ Kiwi” is the tegular trader to and from Auckland,' and the time of [fr arrival is ip variably .looked forward to with interest . rtm inhabitants, aijd it wonderfully dispels the monotony that all rising towns fire subject id in thenoutset ; but Mongonui enjoys what few ti'thdr towns in this country can boast of, a whaling season of about three months in the year, when there is a considerable bustle in the harbour. Some twenty or thirty American whalers are in the habit of annually resorting to it for the purpose of procuring fresh provisions and supplies, which have vastly contributed to its support, find i.t is to be hoped they may long continue to make it a port of call. Mbrigonui herself is sufficiently enterprising to engage in the whale fisheries; as manifested by the fitting out of the brig “ Prince Edward.-”’ Which is now on her second voyage, and which bids fair to be remunerative. ,

j.As the traveller leaves Mongonui for Wangaroa Harbour, taking a southerly course, he crosses the Mongonui or inside bay, a useful body of water about three miles in circumference, into which the Oruaiti fttid Kohumam rivers mingling their waters are tittlptied. The Oruaiti river Is navigable by boats Six of- sgvtfn miles from its entrance } indeed, a moderately sized scljdonSr is cr(pal}](3 of landing her freight at the same distance. The block c’f cddiifry on these rivers is principally composed of fern laud of good quality, while the farms removed from the river's side contain a fair proportion of bush. It is upon this tract a party of special sellers located themselves some two years ago. I have had peculiarly favourable opportunities for observing the progress of this settlement, and my attention was the more effected to it inasmuch as it served to develop the working of one of the schemes of the Waste Land Act. Despite the evil predictions that were circulated regarding the issue of it, I am gratified on being able to record its growth and prosperity, and I may further add that from a continued personal intercourse with the party, I can testify that, conversant as they necessarily have been with the many difficulties attached to a settler’s early life, they arc contented with their prospects and satisfied with the colony. The road to Wangaroa, for the most part, runs over ft somewhat level, though undulating plain, of art ftverage quality of land, while the distant appearance On either side presents to the view ferii mid bush clothed Hills. After passing the Oruaiti valley, no settlement is met with until reaching Wangaroil, a distance of bight or ten miles. Wangaroa; like Mbngonul, possesses an expansive inner basin of water, which is the Receptacle of several fine rivers. The capabilities of |his fine harbour for the protection of a large fleet of 3{sssels, is questioned by none. To the mere tourist it ffill afford ample and varied scenery* not void of associations with the past, for it Wits oned the the scene of the massacre of the East Indiaman’s crew by thd natives, and at low water, in the neap tides, the sunken remains of the Boyd may yet be seen, while higher up on the right hand bank of the Kaloe creek, is still pointed out the clump of kahekateas where the actual massacre took place. “ A change has come o’er the spirit of the dream,” for not far distant from where the tragedy was enacted, is now standing the native court-house, where the circuit judge and Maori assessors adjudicate together. The mass of the natives, and there are many, is mainly on the Pupuki river, which in the distance appeared to extend through an available piece of territory. The white population is exceedingly sparco about the harbour ; in fact, the body of the people are settled several miles distant, upon the Kaio river, where there lire residents of many years’ standing. There is land df an excellent description iipdn it, and of a more level fiature than irt the vicinity Of the harbour, Bush, Comprising Various Sorts of timber. Is in abiiriddricC, and after the high freshets, the river’s side is strewn with ■Valuable logs of different kinds, that are lumbered Higher up, mostly by the natives, and which are chiefly purchased by the old European inhabitants, who dispose of them at some neighbouring marketable ports. Several families have here taken up their abode upon the land awarded them by the forty-acre system, and I was much pleased to observe the eligible places they are in possesion of, and the marked improvements that are going on. The privileges of education are not debarred from the younger members of this little community, for a day school is held in the most convenient position for attendance. The postmaster is the only representative of the Government in this place. The majority of the new-comers in this quarter are located on the Taraire, but I was not enabled to extend my trip so far. I was informed, however, that it is a very desirable block of land, of excellent quality; its greatest drawback to those of limited means is its being so far removed from water communication. There is, however, a good level cart road from thence to the Keri Keri river, which runs into the Bay of I'’lands.

Wangaroa may be considered as essentially the type of our old New Zealand timber trading harbor, and it retains to a considerable extent much of its pristine aspect, and many of its early characteristics. Like other parrs of the Colony, it stands in need of an increase of immigration, and I sincerely hope it may ere long meet with its own requirements. Wishing it every success, I Jeave it, to proceed to another portion of the country. Starting again, and taking a direction from the town of Mongonui, a ride of three or four miles over a rather uninteresting piece of country brings us into the flourishing valley of Oruru. The nearer end of this district is rendered accessible in boats, by a river flowing through it, which empties its contents into Doubtless Bay, at a distance of five or six miles. The valley mainly consists of a deep, rich, alluvial deposit, averaging perhaps better than half a mile in breadth, ard flanked on both sides with lofty ranges of hills. Its settlement commenced several years ago, and more land having been thrown into the market some two years since there has consequently been an increase of settlers. The more valuable portion of the valley is in the hands of the Europeans, and it everywhere presents the pleasing sight of a rising and prosperous farming district. It is on a slightly interrupted inland continuation of the Oruru that the far famed Tictoria Valley is situated. The Commissioner of Native lands has been negotiating with the owner for its purchase, which I understand will shortly be completed. The latter valley is of considerable extent, ratging an average width of about a couple of miles, wlile the adjoining lands on either side arc of such a quality as to render them serviceable to the actual settler, into whose hands it is to be hoped this desirable block may mainly fall. With an abundance of good hnd, wood, and water, for all the purposes of a, settlement, it gives promise to bear the same relation to the North as the Grana Pre formerly bore to Acadia in America.

Resuming a north-westerly course from the Oruru, a few minutes brings us to the Hikorangi River, which unites with the Oruru a short distance previous to its discharge into Doubtless Bay, and is navigable in boats. The land upoi it is owned by the Government, is of good quality, and studded with useful bush. From its eligible position, the ease with which it can be reached with water communication, and other natural advantages ii possesses, I would pronounce it to be a favorable location for a small settlement. The description of tountry upon the road thence to Paitaia, distant about twelve or thirteen miles, is upon the vholc of a rather indifferent quality. There are certainly small valleys, portions of which are cultivated hr the Natives, but they are generally of o limited extent. Kaitaia itself is an old mission station. As the traveller catches the first glimpse from the hills that exclude the view until within a very short distance of it, the green fields, the church, ind the houses encircled with trees, remind him forcibly of an old country village. Kaitaia is distant ualf a dozen miles from where the Awanui river caa be navigated with boats ; this river disburdens itself into the Awanui Harbor. There are here sevtral old resident European families. I believe there is some quantity of useful lands still in the hands of Government.

Passixg Kaitaia, and following a good road to the west cost, we enter the most northern settlement of New Zeiland, Ahipara, which has been opened about a couple <f years It contains much excellent land, and some valuable sections still remain unsold. Ahipara suffers nuch from the want of a harbor, as nearly all the setfements on. the western coast do. The settlers are sonewhat scattered, but these places all indicate the gratifying progress of early colonization. The thanks of the travelling public arc due to the proprietorof the house of entertainment, where all creature comfots are assiduously attended to. Mails are convoyed overland every fortnight from the Bay of Islands and Aongopui. Ahipara can boast of a magnificent sandybeqph, and if we could sufficiently exercise our imaginative pqwers, we might fancy g, at some future flfjjr lit isefcbhd Q? Fq'ighton, T|ie Natives

are numerous in this neighbourhood,- 'X,|l '«i they are in all parts of the North. The Nat. -a Cc t sits periodically at Ahipara. Justice deinaift I should state that the Maories in this section of tb Province are characterized'for their loyalty and goodfeeling towards our Government, and" for their anxieF for rule, order, and civilization ; a matter of no meal consideration to the intending colonist. o , ■] The country thence to the North Cape is tnoccupieu by Europeans, with the exception of a large tract that is leased from the Government by a party fer the purpose of a cattle run. In conclusion, I am sorry to say, Sir, I hive heard it affirmed by some individuals in Aucklanl, that it was a mockery in attempting to locate peojle in the North. I can only say it is a matter of dep regret that such erroneous opinions have been promulgated among those who have never visited the districts alluded to. I admit there is land of a poor dscription —and of what place may not the same admission be made, but Js that to imply that there is note of the most available quality ? Certainly not. Every unprejudiced practical man that has bad an opportunity of adequately inspecting this portion Of the Province* will unhesitatingly acknowledge that it possesses an extensive amount of desirable land, and that it affords a large and varied field /or those who are willing and able to enter upon the rough and the smooth of colonial life. Apologizing for having trespassed so much oa your time and space, 1 beg to subscribe myself, Your obedient servant, J. 0. 0. Mongonui, January Ist, 1862.