A SETTLER'S OPINIOIN OF AUCKLAND.

New Zealand Herald, Volume VII, Issue 1900, 17 February 1870, Page 4

A SETTLER'S OPINIOIN OF AUCKLAND.

[after a ten teaks' RESIDENCE IK A COFfiTBZ UISTHICT.]

Havixo- cleared Wangarei Heads early oil Wednesday morning, tire 2nd of Febr*uary # 1870, and after having beat down as far as Mangawai in consequence of the head .'wind and heavy sea running, the Kate Grant had to put back into Uiquit Bay for shelter, and lay there at anchor until Saturday aftecnbon at 3 o'clock; when she again made sail and we reached Auckland early on Sunday morning, the 6th. Having fruit for sale, which had been on board six days, my first business was to dispose of it ; but" as most of the frditexerß prefer the fruit from Sydney, on account of its cheapness, in preference to that wliiclils grown in the province, I tried to introduce it amongst some of the largest consumers,'and succeeded, in disposing of it' in a short tithe,', at satisfactory prices. And here I would observe that whilst the money paid for Sydney fruit is sent out of the country, that which is paid for fruit grown in the province, will be sp.-nt and circulated in Auckland. Having to remain in town and-wait for the return of boat with a second consignment, I have had leisure to look around me, and see what alterations harp been made during the 10 years which has passed since I w.is last in Auckland, and which I have spent in the laborious w rk of a piorje -i settler in the bush The towu althougfcconsiderably extended; hat not increased in size quite so -mtlcltas I had been led to expect, but the new buildings of brick ana stone which have superseded several of the old woolen ones, are a.credit to tue place, and large number of trees and shrubs in the upper part of the town not only give it a cheerful appearance, but tend to make those localities more cool and healthful. Enjoying as we do, in the country districts, a pure atmosphere and line scenery,: the above-named trees, &c., which have nearly all grown since I was here last, at once attracted my attention. As to the sanitary condition of th« town, and more especially that of Lower Queen-street, it is to me surprising that it should be allowed to remain in its present state for a single. week. 'The sewer running from the site of the old Court-house towards the wharf sends out a stench, almost unbearable, into the houses on the West side of Queen-street. Hiving occasion to go to the wharf, last Friday, at low water, and the wind blowing from the east, the nuisance seemed to me to be intolerable. It is a standing disgrace to the town, and I cannot help thinking that if the dress and appearance of the ladies and gentl.-men I see about are'a fair indication of their position in life,' the few thousands of pounds required for the abating or removal of such a nuisance .will not be wanting when the health and character of the town are at stake.- How long will the wealthy inhabitants hero allow themselves and their families to inhale the poisonous effluvia, which may not 6nly produce sickness and but also fevers and cholera. Such -a nuishxfee, I feel sure, would not be toleraied - for a /single week in a -malt village in the old c juntry.and if it remain as it is, I shall be glad to ( remain (if spared) other ten years before I come, here again. '

In taking a walk up to and : around Mount i'ldcn (for tlie first time), where sueli a delightful view of the fine fertile c .untry around can bo liad, I observed that the soil appears to bo well adapted for the growth of the Scotch thistle, as they appear very luxuriant, ripening see J, and spreading it very plentifully all arouud. Were it confined to Mount Eden, it woui dbe of very little consequence to the outsjttlers; but as the seed will travel in the air to a great distance, those who are in charge of this land are providing for levying a.heavy tax on all the out-districts, where the thistle-seed falls (in the shape-ofr their destruction), by allowing them thus-to grow and seed. I observed a few of them-also growing oa the barrack green. What ure the authorities about ? Is it nobody's business to see that they are destroyed ere they infest other districts ? .

From reports in the papers I was led to believe that pigs, &c., would not be allowed to roain at large in the streets ; but I saw four or five large ones dire c ly opposite the Government house, two of them on the footpath : t'iey are possibly the property of some favoured individual.

Having been an nmnteur florist, I veiy much enjoyed a visit to the Acclimatisation Society's g rJen, and taking into consideration the short time they have been established, are very creditable to the mongers, viewing them as a pleasure garden, and as such are well worth seeing. CL'iie dahlias, fuiohias, and,roses are well grown and of good varieties. At the same time I cannot help thinking that the society has fallen short of the object for which it was formed, viz., of introducing into the province and distributing about useful plants birds, <£c. I Whilst I am aware that some useful birds have I bean brought here, several of very doubtful utility have arrived also. Instead of those several very useful plants might have been I secured, which would have bem fitted the pro- [ vinee. For instance, the American cranberry would bo a great boon, also the locust bean, tho sugar maple, au I in places wnere timber is scarce, the banyan tree would be both ornamental and xisetut for shelter if it would grow. I think the part-ridge mueli preferable to the pheasant, as it devours t lie insect tribe without d. iiig any perceptible injury to the crops. The hare, a Is >,'might be mure largely! introduced. It was, in my opinion, a great mistake to introduce game laws into ' a new country like this, and especially to compel landowners to pay for a license to kill «ame on their own land be the amount ever so small —tor allow me to say that, notwithstanding any restrictions imposed, it.depends almost entirely on landowners and occupiers whether game is preserved or not. In our district, long before the formation of the present society, the settlers bought pheasants at .ti each, and from these have the present large numbers around us been reared, and now wo caunot legally kill o o of those we have bought and reared without a license. I am aware that about Auckland several unprincipled men did recklessly destroy thein for gain, but as those persons were neither occupiers nor owners of land, why not iinpcs > a fan 3 of, say £10 lor irespnss, one-half 10 go to the informer. This would have been a sufficient check, and would have left the landowneis free to exercise their discretion ill tho manner of preserving the game. Should tho owners of property bo driven by an unwisj policy to decide not't o preserve any g.itne, I ruako bald to say tnat in spite of any fines or penalties imposed, the resident owners of property can nearly, if not quite, prevent any game from increasing ou his estate, in ,in easy and simplo war, and quite beyond tlie reach of the law. In my opinion i» is the interest of every lover of sport 10 aid in the removal of all restrictions from the resident occupiers, for »»

. long as I am, a resident landowner, and a . penalty is hanging over my hea l, will I refuse .permission to aportimen on my property. »h» would, otherwise ba welcome to it. And I believe this to be the sentiment of a large number of out-settlers. ~ I also observe, that in Aucklan 1 the accommodation for public worship has been - considerably extended during my absence;, several fine buildings have beeu erected ; at the same time the _very . large increase in hotels and public-houses <. cannot ' be . overlooked, and although I do not observe much drunkenness, taking Into consideration the number of the population, yet from the lint of drunkards punished (they are j chiefly the same set over and over again, E l.) and the very large amount of sprits and V strong drinks imported, i ara led to think, r there are many of. the inhabitants here more . . frequent attenders at the hotels than at pla -es of worship, more especially, as I observe the very thin. attendance at some of the latter places. Some other , remarks I intended to t>; make, must stand over, lest I should occupy .j". toOmuch space.