NELSON. NEW ZEALAND ESTMATES.

New Zealand Gazette and Wellington Spectator, Volume IV, Issue 323, 10 February 1844, Page 3

NELSON. NEW ZEALAND ESTMATES.

The subjoined is taken from a long artfele in the Nelson Examiner, of the 27 th January, on the subject : —

" On the 13th March, 1843, Lord Stanley addressed his first despatch to Mr. Shortland. His lordship, after stating that her Majesty's Government had delayed to the latest period to which they conveniently cou d the consideration of the question what estimate, if any, should be submitted to the House of Commons for the service of the colony, in the hope that they might have been put in possession of fuller explanations respecting its finances than any which had yet reached them, and that no official notice of Captain Hobson's death had been received, proceeds to recapitulate the correspondence which had taken place on the finances of the colony. This is very cleverly done. The various statements are analyzed — the attempts to mystify are exposed. It is clearly shown that the excess of expenditure over income for the first eight months, instead of being £4,182, as stated by Captain Hobson in his dispatch of March 29, 1842, is in fact £16,857, the bona fide revenue for that period being but £18,027, whilst the actual expenditure was £34,884 ! The bolstering' system exposed — the difference between loans and legitimate revenue shown — his lordship remarks :

'Such, then, being the outline of the information of which I am in possession respecting the financial condition of the colony now under your government, and such information, although neither full nor explicit, making it, unfortunately, impossible to arrive at any other conclusion than that the present resource of the colony is not sufficient even to provide for its expenditure on the scale upon which Captain Hobson had calculated it, much less to discharge the heavy liabilities incurred (inevitably no doubt) in its first foundation. — I have, in concert with the Lords Commissioners of the Treasury, most carefully considered what reduction it seemed possible to effecr, with a view to equalizing the revenue and expenditure ; and also what assistance, if any, ought to be asked of Parliament towards either the current or the past expenditure of the colony. • The results at which her Majesty's Government have arrived on both these heads, are detailed v in the minute of the Board of Treasury, dated March 10th, of which a copy is enclosed.

'It is right that I should add, with reference to the debt of' £l2,ooo stated to be due to the Emigration Fund, that it has not been taken into account in providing from the from the funds of this country for the existing liabilities of the colony ; because emigration to the amount of nearly £12,000 has been sanctioned and carried into effect on the presumption that this fund would be available for the purpose of defraying the charge.

* If you shall have been able to have provided the funds necessary to meet it, the debt will have been cancelled ; if not, her Majesty's Government still cannot undertake to provide ultimately from the funds of this country for its repayment, but the expense of the emigration which has been effected must be considered a first charge upon the proceeds of land sold under the recent act of Parliament.

* I must also observe that the sura of £10,000 proposed to be provided for the drafts now outstanding will, I am aware, cover part only of the amount of £25,000 which the late Goverraent was advised by the Executive Council to draw for ; but I treat the amount of the drafts on this account as limited to the £10,000, because I cannot but hope that further consideration would have led that officer not to adopt in full jhe very'ill-

judged recommendations of his advisers. You will, I trust, by the assistance of the Treasury minute, be able to make yourself completely master of the views of her Majesty's Government as to the reductions which it will be necessary to effect, and the aid it is proposed to grant to the colony now under your charge.' •It is not, however, my wish that you should, in the interval before the arrival of Captain Hobson's successor, do more than make known the principles on which reductions will take place ; but with respect to the pecuniary assistance proposed to be afforded from this country, it is right that I should make you aware that it is the only aid which you must expect to receive, and that you must consider yourself as prohibited most expressly from, on any account, resorting to .Imperial funds for any further assistance in addition to the precise sura allotted. Her Majesty's Government cannot admit that, under the plea of emergency, you are to consider yourself justified in drawing bills upon the Lords of the Treasury ; and should bills be drawn by you for any other service than those particularly specified in the minute of the Lords Commissioners of the Treasury, without previous permission being obtained, I must caution you, that such bills will be inevitably dishonored : a caution which it will be my duty to render further effective by giving as much publicity to it as I conveniently can.'

" The Treasury Minute above referred to is a document expressing the views which the Home Government entertain of the financial condition of the colony, and likewise states the amount in aid of its revenue which the Lords of the Treasury propose to grant. We have therefore printed it in another column, with the exception of the following abstract of deductions to be made from the estimates for 1842 :—: — Deductions from the £ *• <*• Governor's Establishment 928 5 0 Colonial Secretary's do 310 0 0 Treasurer's do 280 0 0 Audit do 160 0 0 Customs at Russell 630 0 0 Gaol establishments at Auckland and Wellington 301 2 6 Printing expenses 500 0 0 Disallowed — Registrar to Supreme Court 125 0 0 Medical establishments 781 5 0 Harbour Master's establishment at Auckland •/ 934 4 3 Storekeepers establishment ...... 480 15 0 Superintendent ofstock and domain 341 5> Total £5,751 16 9 " Two other despatches from Captain Hobsou yet remain to be noticed, one dated the 28th the other the 30th of June, 1842. The former announces the purchase of the Auckland Printing Company's materials for £1,425, which, in a brief despatch, is somewhat grudgingly allowed. The latter contains a ' Schedule of all the appointments to public offices and all alterations made in the salaries and allowances of public officers in

New Zealand,' up to the date of the despatch. These ' alterations,' however, are invariably ' additions ; ' and Lord Stanley, in his reply, thus remarks on the subject : — 1 Adverting to the admitted disappointments of the expectations which had ' been entertained in regard to the amount of revenue that would be available for defraying the expenses of the public establishments, I do not consider that the emergency of the case was such as to warrant the issue of increased rates of salary to any public officer ; and even in the instaace of the Colonial Chaplain the increase should have awaited the confirmation of the Ordinance by which it is stated to be authorized,

' I must also point out the great irregula-

rity of increasing, from .the o Ist of January 1842, in the cases of the magistrates of Wellington and Russell, and of the Colonial Surgeon, the salaries which had been reported in the estimate of the 2nd July, 1841. Her Majesty's Government cannot sanction those increases, and on the explanation which you

may be enabled to offer of the circumstances under which they had been permitted to take effect, must depend the" course which may be ultimately taken for the recovery of any payments that may have taken place in respect of them before notification of their disallowance can reach the colony.'

In the foregoing sketch we have endeavoured to furnish our readers with such information respecting the financial condition of the colony as can be gleaned from the only source on which reliance can be placed. And this is meagre enough. Beyond the gross expenditure down to the 30 th April, 1842, and the receipts on account of land to the same period, nothing relating to the subject was known to the authorities at home. At this rate we may expect ta learn, at the end of another two years, some of the results of Mr. Shortland's financial career." "

[The Treasury minute will be given on another occasion.-— Ed, N.Z.G, and W.S.]

• We are happy to find that among the passengers of the Himalaya there are some gentlemen who are likely to prove highly valuable settlers. One of these, Mr. Martin, has brought with him a first-rate entire draught horse, and a very superior ram. The latter was shorn on board, and the clip weighed 9 lbs.

Notes of an expedition from MOTUAKA OVERLAND TO MASSACRE BAY.— From the apparent approximation of the Rewaka valley at the Motuaka to the Takaka of Massacre Bay, according to the charts, and also from a report that a native slave woman had formerly made her escape from one valley to the other, over the mountains, I was induced to undertake an expedition, for the purpose of ascertaining the nature of the country between the two bays. December 18. — Left the Motuaka, with two men, carrying ten days' provisions, &c. ; and ascended the Rewaka valley to the limit of the survey. 19th. — After an unsuccessful attempt to ascend the ranges by the southern branch of the stream, the mountains being too precipitous, returned down .the valley to the first fern ridge to the north, by ascending which we got on to the chief dividing wooded range between the two valleys. There is here a considerable plateau of uneven land, densely wooded, and possessing a most remarkable geological feature ; each depression of the surface, instead of communicating with gulleys or streams running to the coast, leads to immense crate-like hollows, terminating in dark cavernous wells, by which the country is drained.

Our course was west, by compass. From the great quantity of supplejack, vines, and other parasitical plants, very little progress could be made, and at the conclusion of the day's work, not more than three miles had been gained. Encamped this evening without water.

20th. — After making a fruitless search for water amongst several hollows (one of which had precipitous sides of about 400 feet in depth), continued to follow the same course as on the previous day. Having at length gained the greatest elevation, which we named Mount Poynter, we saw the white bluffs of Tasman's Gulf bearing 2° 31' south, and in the opposite direction a high snowy range, between which and the heights we stood on lay the Takaka valley. During the course of this day's progress I descended the most peculiar and conspicuous of the before-men-tioned wells, and found several leading to a greater depth than it was possible to follow. By the assistance of ropes and torches, 1 believe these wells might be traced to subterranean rivers. Encamped in a dry watercourse ; for the second night without water.

21st. — Descended to the valley, and at length found water in a beautiful stream running to the northward, and passing through some excellent tracts of level woodland. We followed the course of this stream, which I named the " Duffey," for about two miles, to its confluence with another stream of superior magnitude, flowing from the south-west. Below the junction of these rivers, the Takaka is for some distance too rapid to ford, aad assumes the character of a large mountain river. Having ascended a fern hill on the right of the valley, I discovered the sea of Massacre Bay,' distant to the northward about fifteen miles ; the valley gradually widening, ,and exhibiting a fine expanse of probably 30,000 acres of rich wooded land. Above the point at which I entered the valley it might extend seven or eight miles to the i south-west, along the banks of the " Parkin- , son" (the name given to the principal branch), with a width between the hills of from one tp two miles and a half. At the head of the valley and along its western side are high, rugged, and suowy mountain ranges. The Takaka, though a rapid torrent in the upper part of the valley, is soon altogether lost, by its entering subterranean channels, and we walked along the dry river-bed for several miles, without meeting with the slightest appaarance of moisture. Just as we were thinking- of making our encampment, subject to the inconvenience which had attended us or* the two preceeding nights, we discovered an old survey station, with a pond adjacent to it. The surveyor's lines now offered an easy path to the coast, and we halted, satisfied at having attained the object of the expedition. 22. — Descended the valley to the coast. On our suddenly entering a potato ground in which some natives were at work, their surprse was excessive, and they could in np way account for our appearance^ knowing that we had not arrived by water or by the coast. Although anxious to hear the particulars of the journey, their inquisitiveness was chiefly upon superstitious matters ; and I was repeatedly inquired of as to how often and in what shape I bad seen " Taipo " (the devil,) and assured me that the mountains which I had crossed were his particular and favourite abode. The fabulous and extinct birds, the raoa and

kakapo, also, in their belief, inhabit the same locality. From, the Takaka I proceeded to the Hauriri Valley, near to Cape Farewell, and which is fully as fertile but not more than half the extent of Takaka. Its snrvey is just completed by Mr. Budge, from whom I . met with a most hospitable reception. From the Hauriri I returned by the coast, and after nine days of the most difficult journeying which I have met with in New Zealand, arrived at the Motuaka on the 4th of January. In a dirsct line, the distance from the surveyed sectious in the Rewaka Valley to available land on the Takaka is not more than six miles. The height of the pass is about 2,000 feet ; but the ascents are easy, and with proper care and judgement a bridal path might be carried over the range at no great expense. In the road from Wellington to Porirua the ascents are steeper, and the distance as far again. The pass,' however, is not so much as half the elevation.

By making a' road over the Poynter. range, the whole of the upper part of the Takaka Valley would become available for addition to surveyed lands of the settlement, and about 7,000 or 8,000 acres would be added to the 27,000 acres already laid out in that valley. In the Haiiriri, 14,850 acres have been surveyed, and there remain probable 4,000 or 5,000 acres to be surveyed in the Tomatia and Taupata valleys farther northward. The whole of the available land in Massacre *Bay will thus amount to about 55,000 acres, which extent of country would be connected with Nelson and the accommodation land around Tasman's Gulf, by the formation of a road from the Motuaka through the Rewaka Valley to Massacre Bay. Should a praticable line of communication be found (as doubtless it will) with the Wairau by the Kituna Pass, there will then be an uninterupted and easy route through all parts of the Nelson sett ement, and from the western to the eastern coast of this Island. Caarles Heaphy.

Expedition to the Wair.au through the Pelorus Valley. — Wednesday, Jan. 10, 1844. — At noon left Nelson, accompanied by Mr. Bishop, Watts, and one of the Rhangataui or bush natives as our guide, taking with us ten days' provisions and a plentiful supply of powder and shot. Followed up the Maitai valley, crossing the low range as in our former track, and at five p.m. reached the junction of the two streams, the Maitai and Waitaraki, where we were compelled to encamp in consequence of the rain, which fell fast, increasing the weight of our already heavy burdens, and putting us in dread for the safety of our provisions. January 11. — Fine morning. After drying our blankets, &c, commenced the ascent of the Moketap. Found the fire we made when last there of great use to us, much lessening the fatigue of the ascent. Took a sketch of the range, the peak of the hill bearing E.S.E. and the Maitai valley N.W. by W. At noon we reached the source of the Maitai, on the edge of tho wood, where we stopped to dine. At one we resumed our journey, keeping round the hill through the wood, and following our former track, which is now very distinct. After an hour and a half's scrambling, wereached our old spot on the ridge of the Moketap, from which there is a view of the Pelorus valley, Blind Bay, &c. Our guide's spirits, however, seemed rather damped at the sight of a large fire in the direction of the Kaituna. After a hasty sketch, continued our course winding down the hilj, until we came out of the wood on to the manuka range which leads to the river Pelorus. Evening. Reached the Pelorus, at the foot of the range, where we, encamped. January 12. — Followed the river bank over sharp pointed rocks for three miles, until we came to a stream running from the northward ; crossed it, and after following the river half a mile farther about S.S.Ei, struck into the wood, on to a kind of table land. At this point the hills recede from the river ; and, by keeping well from it, you not only avoid traversing its innumerable bends, but obtain level and clear walking. After travelling four or five hours in the wood, N.E. and E., following the Maori track, we came out a little above the junction of the Kiyou and Pelorus, near the spot reached in a former expedition by Mr, Tuckett. Crossed the Pelorusi followed the river bank E. for two miles more, occasionally plunging into the wood, and then

encamped for the night. January \3, — After leaving two days' provisions, we continued our joilrned. Walked half a mile E., when we took to the river, which is here wide and shallow, with large shingle beds. Observed the valley tp be greatly increasing in width, patches of fern here and there skirting the banks of the river. Having walked about a mile and a half N.N, !E., we came to a burnt fern patch, r where the river takes a sharp turn to the southward, to avoid which we struck due east through the

wood, following the track. After an hour and a half's walk, came out of the wood through flax and fern, near the river, when we found ourselves close to the point with the two white spots visible from the Moketap, which I called Table Point. Here we saw the burial place of some natives, said by our •guide to have been killed in a fight with Rauparaha. Crossed a river running from the 'southward, and continued our course N.N.E. about a mile through high fern. Here we saw a pole on the opposite side of the river, said to have heen placed there by the captain of the ship Pelorus. Followed the river N.E. and E., occasionally crossing it to obtain easy walking, and at three p.m. reached that part of the river where the influence of the tide is first apparent. Plere there are many brandies of the river, or rather inlets into which the tide flows, and which can be forded at low wat^r only. Waited three hours for the tide to ebb. At six p.m. continued our route, following the river, sometimes through mud and water, and at others on the' hank through woods completely overgrown with supplejack, which rendered our progress very difficult. At seven p.m. rounded Kaituna Point, Mokelap Peak bearing W.S.W., distant between fifteeu and twenty miles. We now saw the entrance to the Kaituna, which is an extensive mud flat overflowed by the tide, the valley itself running south. From this point the Pelorus may be called an arm of the sea, the anchorage the ship Pelorus being about three miles distant. I now recognised the place, having walked from the Sound with the late Mr. Patchett and several other gentlemen on a former occasion. Followed east round the flat a few miles, when we encamped for the night. January 14. — Followed still round the m-id flat south two miles, when we eutered the wood near a salt water creek, where we deposited nearly the whole of our provisions. Here we saw very recent tracks of four Maories. Started off at a good round pace through the wood, finding the native path very clear and the forest free from underwood, the valley apparently increasing in width as we proceeded. The land is finely timbered, chiefly pine, of the totara specie? . In many places where the natives had formerly grown potatoes, shrubs have sprung up in the most luxuriant manner, and will, I have no doubt, afford excellent pasturage for cattle in this part of the route. No appearance of the valley being flooded, the river lying in deep holes, and not rapid, like most of the New -Zealand streams, which may be accounted for by the level character of this district. At six, leaving the wood, we ascended a fern hill, from which the Wairau is seen bearing S.E., distant about five miles. Kept the range to avoid the swamp at the foot of the hill. Took a sketch from a point commanding a good view of the entrance into the Wairau. Mr. Bishop ascended the summit of the range, to ob■tain a better view of the plain. At half-past seven descended the range, crossed to the opposite side of the valley, an 1 encamped within two or three miles of the Wairau. January 15.— Leaving our blankets, &c, ■we walked down to the plain, and ascended a low fern hill, which I called Bottle Point. Took a sketch of the entrance to the Kaituna valley, looking N.W. from the Wairau, White Bluff bearing E., distant about twenty miles. After fixing a bottle on a pole, to mark the extent of our journey, we returned to our last night's sleeping place, and continued our route homewards. At two p.m., ascended a high fern hill which overlooked the Kaituna; called it Return Hill, and a remarkable peak hearing N. by W. we named Peak Wakefield • Wairau Plain bearing S.E. Found the valley to average, as far as we could see, from a mile to a mile and a half of perfectly level land, not including the valleys running from it. Took a sketch, descended, and continued our course through the wood, on our track of the preceeding day. Encamped in the wood. January 16.— Continued a northerly course through the Kaituna, and at noon reached our stock of provisions near the salt water creek. Kept on our old track as far as Kaituna I omt, when we were obliged by the state of the tide to alter our route, pushing through the wood round the face of a very high and steep hill, from- which I took a sketch of the'i Pelorus valley. Called this Difficulty Point. Night coming on, with heavy rain, we encamped at the first place we could find fresh water. January 17.— At daylight the. rain ceased. Waited for the tide till eleven, when we pushed,,down the hill through thick brushwood and fern. Here we struck on a path, which we followed, and soon reached our old route by the river, which was much swollen by last night's rain. Stopped for the night within three miles of the Kiyou xiver. January 18.— Keeping on cur old track, we reached the foot of Moketap. January 19.— Followed up the range of the Moketap, intending to ascend the bare peak

our Maori showing symptoms of great fatigue. At half-past tcn^ having kept .our track to the greatest height that it winds up the hill, climbed a tree, and found to my .surprise that we were close to the peak. Ascended it, much against the inclination of the native. Found at the summit an immense chasm, some hundred feet deep, and quite perpendicular; the two rocks which formed it evidently having been rent asunder by some great earthquake. Looking to the southward, saw a hill well known as one of the Wairau range, bearing S. by W. six miles, which I named the Crater, from its peculiar formation. To the S.S.E. saw what appeared to be an opening into the Wairau range from the Pelorus river. Could not see if the range divides, but I should it does not ; at all events, it could be readily ascertained from, the Dim Mountain, or by following up the Pelorus valley ; Kaituna Point bearing E.N.E., and a wooden ravine above Mr. Bishop's section in the Matai, W.N.W. At half-past one commenced decending the hill on our original track, an.-l reached Nelson, at seven p.m. James Charles Drake.