NEW ZEALAND HERALD, AND AUCKLAND GAZETTE. WEDNESDAY, MARCH 16, 1842.

New Zealand Herald and Auckland Gazette, Volume I, Issue 60, 16 March 1842, Page 2

NEW ZEALAND HERALD, AND AUCKLAND GAZETTE. WEDNESDAY, MARCH 16, 1842.

*r 0 the Shareholders of the “ Auckland Newspaper and General PrintingCompany.” FISHHE Trustees of the “ Auckland Newspaper I and General Printing Company,’’ direct it to be notified, that a GENERAL MEETING of the Proprietors is hereby called £t Woods Hotel, on Monday, March the 21st, at!2o clock, to take into consideration the affairs of the Company, ai d the propriety of dissolving? it. By order of the Trustees, A. J. DOMBRAIN, Herald Office, Auckland, . sth March, 1842.

To the Editor of the Auckland Standard. Sir -In the present aspect of things, I maybe excused for touching upon subjects, where a -variety of opinions exist, and the interests of individuals are running in opposite channels; the 'knowledge 1 have of the country leads me to convey publicly such information as I have obtained ; it may he of utility, and at the same time relieve in some-measure the depression beginning to creep over, and damp the expectations of enterprising emigrants; from unforseen delays, from too high expectations,-which have arisen in many instances, from the extravagant representations, given in Europe, by those who were only partially acquainted, with the peculiarities, and resources, of this interesting island. Sufficient time has elapsed to shew the emigrant here, that this cannot to him be a land of idleness, hut that he must he up and stirring ; for a subsistence is only to be obtained at the outset by unremitting diligence and activity. I hear people constantly dwelling on the obstacles to success in agricultural pursuits, which I shall endeavor to point out as in a measure ideal, or at least, a way to surmount them ; a few perhaps have given up in despair, and doubtless land has been purchased in unfavorable situations, and there has been a constant expenditure, without any adequate return. Again the -simultaneous rush of speculation and jobbing in town allotments has weakened the resources of those who are here, and as a natural consequence given a severe blow to the immediate advancement of the Colony. But this misfortune we suffer in common, with the more recent colonies in Australia, we are checked in good time, the dangerous position of things must alter for the better, for 1 am proud to say we have those resources, which by the well directed measures of the government, may be soon brought into use, and an opening immediately made, for thousands, who will find a fine soil, and delightful climate, with superior advantages to those possessed by surrounding colonies.- But, to facts; varnished descriptions and deluding theories must he ban. ished, and I will trust the truth of mv assertions to the judgment of those who know the country and have had the longest experience in it. The results of the examination before the committees of the House of Commons, have been in many instances numerous absurdities, and delusions—the tales in fact of wonder-seeking travellers, Baron Munchausenites, and any one who has read them, and knows really the character of the colony, must feel convinced that fatality would attend emigrations formed in the spirit ot such extravagances ; they have even swayed the judgments of the more thinking part of the community at home, and given to the colony a character almost romantic, as a scite for emigration. Every one must regret circumstances, which have misled, and will-continue to mislead, til! the experience of those who have settled here shall reach their friends in Europe; that will act as a check to many an enterprising capitalist, but the depression will he hut momentary; for the determination of his Excellency the Governor, to proceed in a few days to the scmthern districts to purchase a fine tract of eountry, if successful in his arrangements with the natives, will, I am satisfied,

eventually prove few more eligible places could have been chosen tor a/capital, than Auckland , receiving as it does communication by water from Pah te teri, near the Rotorua lakes, from the fine plain of Matta Mata, by the Waiho, the banks of which river exhibit abundance of rich land, till it meets .the frith of the Thames. At Mata Mata the Waiho is only a day’s walk from the Waikatto river, from that to Waipa a single day’s journey, and one day’s good walking will take you the Waipa into Waingaroa. Here are three rivers") running through the heart of the countiy, at equal distances, watering available soils, and almost to emptying into Auckland.,.~Tl ° experience of years could not have fixed a me eligible site for the capital; a ready depot for th* timber from all parts of the Thames ; the produc of the natives supplied to the inhabitants at o very reasonable rate, from surrounding settle ments, and its immediate connection with Mai kau, sweeping the agricultural produce of f T •. —+* nn the Waikatto and Waipa, rigb' V\ afpa, will riuu it —j Auckland by that river,; but, fortunately, better connection with its vast plains and tl coast, may be made at Waingaroa. This harbour is situated between Kawia and Waikatto, with two fathom and half water on t!jj bar at low water; vessels of one hundred ar 1 fifty tons may go in, and be comfortably sheltt 1 ed. There is plenty of fine land all round tl I harbour, and at a distance of ten miles from tl I heads, the Waitetuna has fresh water ; this rivA i continues its course through a noble plain to th > back of Pirongia, and every inch of land I travelled over here, appeared highly productive. Twelve miles from Waingaroa you cross the above-named river, and there is a road called Kiwi-roa, by which you can reach the junction of the Pumhu with the Waipa, in one day; so good is the character of country, that with little labour carts could travel, and horses with the greatest facility could reach a place, which will eventually become the arcadia of New Zealand. As I am pressed for time, Mr. Editor, I must defer my description of this interesting and valuable part of the Colony to my next, if you think a continuation worthy of insertion; also my ideas on the subject of, at least, four valuable exports the Colonv undoubtedly will possess. CRAYON. March 14th, 1842.