IMPRESSIONS OF NEW ZEALAND.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 177, 21 November 1874, Page 19

IMPRESSIONS OF NEW ZEALAND.

Mr. Hollo why has now completed his examination of New Zealand, and his views are summed up in the Southern Cross with a highly complimentary notice of the farm laborers’ delegate personally. The Cross says : COMPARATIVE VIEW. With the land in Southland he was very favorably impressed, and he speaks in equally eulogistic terms of Otago and Canterbury. The land in the last-mentioned province is patchy, a large quantity being shingly and tussocky, but that bears a very small proportion to the vast area of clear soil ready for immediate settlement, and capable of providing homesteads for thousands of settlei-s. Otago land comes in also for a large share of Mr. Holloway’s approval, as well as Nelson and Marlborough. Nelson he l-egards as the future Cornwall of New Zealand, from the variety and richness of of its mineral resources. The drawback to the settlement of the land in Mai-lboroxxgh he considers to be the monopoly of capitalists, who absorb vast tracts of country for grazing purposes, to exclusion of the agricultural settlei’. He instances two runs in the hands of squatters, one numbering 40,000 acres, and the other 100,000 acres. This land, if open for cultivation, would support a large population. The want of convenient harbors he deplores. THE PROVINCE OF TARANAKI. . Tai’anaki, above all the provinces he has visited, seems to have excited the admiration of Mr. Hollaway, and he evidently regards it as one of the choicest districts in New Zealand. He speaks in glowing terms both of the soil and climate, and - considei's the province would be capable of receiving a large population, but the influx must not be too rapid. Quoting Mr. Holloway’s diary, he writes as follows : “ In closing my notes on this province it woxxld only be just to say that this little pi-ovince has suffei'ed more than any other portion of the colony by the late long protracted war with the natives, the settlers having been di’iven from their homes to seek refuge in the town, their homesteads have been bux-nt, their cattle have been driven away by the natives, and the counti-y for many miles around New Plymouth has been one scene of war, bloodshed, and desolation ; yet amid all this the courage of the settlers did not fail them ; they held up like heroes amidst their misfoi*tunes, and now that confidence has been restored, peace and prosperity reign around, and I am thinking that, from its beautiful climate, its salubrious air, and the general fertility of its soil, it is destined at no distant day to become one of the most populous and prosperous districts in New Zealand.” THE THAMES AND COROMANDEL. The Thames valley, he considei's, presents a fine field for settlement, not alone from the richness of its soil, but also from its close proximity to a ready market for the produce of the settlers, an important item to be taken into consideration. THE NORTH OF AUCKLAND. Leaving Coromandel, Mr. Holloway proceeded to the north of Auckland, where his observations appear to have been very close, and of then' accuracy .many of our readers who have been there will be capable of judging. He states that he travelled over thousands of acres of land which consisted of a cold clayey soil, most unfavorable for cultivation, but as a set-off to this there was also a very large tract of excellent country in various localities. Some of these we shall specify as we proceed. This good land is principally volcanic and limestone. ALBERT LAND. In this district Mr. Holloway particularly noticed the Kaikohi block, lying between Ohanawai and the Paheka l-iver, 20,000 acres of which ax - e timbered and a similar quantity untimbered. This is a supeiior volcanic soil, and is owned by the Maoris, who perfectly appreciate its value and evince no disposition to part with it, at least at present. They have refused £2 per acre for it, and Mr. Holloway regards it without exception as the finest block of land he has seen north of Auckland. After giving a description of the early settlement of Albertland, Mr. Holloway proceeds thus : —“ I visited this district whose early history I have described. The greatest part of the land is of average quality, while a large area of it is covered with mixed bush. As I rode along, I found it a relief to the eye, wearied with gazing upon the interminable kauri gum hills of the Mangawai and Te Arai blocks, to survey from an eminence the green spots marking the homesteads of the successful settlers. We visited Mr. Dibble’s and Mr. Worker’s farms, and were highly gratified both with what we saw and what we heard. Fine fenced paddocks growing luxuriant crops of gx-ass, com, and potatoes ; while Mr. Worker has four acres of orchard, most of the trees being in full bearing, besides great numbers of young trees in the nursery. The soil here is rich, resting upon limestone rock. These paddocks are foxmed upon land which a few years ago was covered with dense bush, and now the grass is growing splendidly. We spent a couple of hours here, and in the course of a long conversation with Mr. Worker (who is a very intelligent gentleman) xipon the qualities of the different soils, lie gave it as his opinion that the principal portion of the clayey barren country that I had passed through and described as being worthless, except for the gum it produced, would eventually be cultivated, and produce good crops of corn and grass. He argued that it was not exactly what was termed clay soil; but that where it contained more than 13 per cent, of sand, it was regarded as loam capable of being cultivated and yielding a good return. In a conversation with Dr. Hector, I found that he entertained the same view, and fully corroborated Mr. Worker’s statement. One important item in connection with this theory must not be lost sight of—both gentlemen were agreed upon this point, that it would require an outlay of some five pounds per acre to make this land pi-oductive.”

THE HOKIANGA RITEE. Several fine settlements might be secured in this locality. The land is very rich, and now lying fallow, although, as he was informed, years ago some splendid crops of wheat were grown by the natives. Mr. S. Campbell, a surveyor, residing in that district, informed Mr. Holloway that the Government had recently purchased several blocks of land in that neighborhood. First, the Tuhehae block, consisting of 25,000 acres of undulating land, some portion of it swelling into hills containing patches of fine, rich, alluvial soil, lightly timbered, and well watered. It is distant about eight miles from the Hokianga river, to which a good road might be made. No. 2 block, known as the Puliata Block, contains 10,000 aci-es, similar in quality to the last mentioned, but with the exception of its lying on the banks of the Hei'eldno river ; a good road could also be carried through to Ahipara or Hokianga. No. 3 block (the Whiroa) contains 12,000 acres, to which the same description of the two last-mentioned blocks applies. The Herekino l'iver runs through this land. Mi'. Holloway also speaks in laudatory tei'ms of the Victoria Valley, or Koiaka Block, comprising seven or eight thousand acres of firstclass, partly-timbered, land, and similarly of the Kaitaia Block, lying at the entrance to the Victoria Valley. This land, Mr. Holloway was informed, has recently been purchased by the Government, and it is expected will be shortly thrown open to purchase or settlement. These last-mentioned blocks contain lai’ge ti’acts of good land, covered until valuable timber in the shape of magnificent kauri trees, and abounds in mineral deposits, notably coal. REMARKABLE CAVE NEAR WAIPU. Leaving Wangarei at 10 a.m., crossing over the Otaika Bridge, our route took us through a portion of the Maungatapere Block. This portion, with the exception of Tikeirangi Hill, which is of limestone formation, and contains good pasturage, is kauri gum land, and of very inferior quality. Then we passed for some distance through Maungakaramea district, which contains "several thousand acres, partly bush, with a large area of kauri gum land covered with low fern, titree, and rushes, with a very thin layer of soil upon a cold clay subsoil, very poor. We rode through a portion of the Ti Mata Block, similar in quality to the last, w® then entered upon the Ruarangi Block, travelling through a very broken but wooded country, on a very rough road, till emerging from the bush we suddenly came upon a very pretty clearing situated in an extremely picturesque and beautiful valley, owned by Mr. K. Morrison and brother. This valley and surrounding hills is of limestone formation, the soil being well adapted for pastoral purposes. The land was already cleared, and well laid out in fine, well-stocked paddocks. This farm (generally called Cave Farm) is about twenty miles from Wangarei, and about nine miles from Waipu. There is situated about the centre of the property a magnificent cave. I visited this cave about 8 p.m. in company with Mr. Bedlington and the brothers Morrison, each carrying a lighted candle. The cave extends for a distance of thirty chains under a limestone hill some 300 feet high in its centre. It has two entrances and a small stream runs right through it. The entrance is low and narrow, but widens immediately after you enter. Its average width is about 60 feet, branching out into chambers of a variety of forms. The first chamber you enter the roof is almost as smooth as if it was paved; the next chamber is very beautiful, containing a vast number of splendid stalactites hanging pendant from the roof in every conceivable shape and form. In addition to the stalactites there are also several stalagmites rising from the ground in all manner of grotesque forms, the largest of which was about 35 feet in circumference at the base, and gradually tapering off to the summit, which is about 11 feet high and bell shaped. There is an opening, a short distance in, right up through the roof to the outer world, 120 feet high. Passing on to the farthest chamber the view which met the eye was magnificent. There we stood about fifteen chains from the entrance in a splendid chamber 50 feet high—the vaulted roof presenting almost every conceivable design which art could devise and characterised by the most elaborate and perfect finish, while the whole was completely covered by a countless number of glowworms. In order that our view might be complete I suggested that we should extinguish our candles. This was no sooner effected than one of the grandest and most magnificent sights that I ever beheld met my astonished gaze. The roof for a considerable distance resembled a grand miniature firmament, the glow-worms shining like an innumerable multitude of bright stars away in the distance overhead. I think I may say that I never beheld anything in nature so beautiful. The low murmur of the water running through, and the grand scenery presented by the interior of this cave made such an impression upon my mind that I think I shall never forget. The cave can be traversed for about fifteen chains dry, but by walking through the water it can be examined some four chains further. WAIKATO DISTRICT. Leaving the North, Mr. Holloway visited the Waikato. He considers the lower and middle Waikato rather inferior land, taken generally, but still containing some good patches. Leaving Ngaruawahia, Cambridge was the next place he visited, where he found the land of very excellent quality. Departing from Cambridge, Mr. Holloway traversed the Moanatuatua Swamp, 20,000acres of which have recently been purchased by Messrs. Walker and Co., and they have commenced the work of draining it, a task of some considerable magnitude, but in. our delegate’s opinion perfectly worthy of the cost and labor.' The block also contains 17,000 acres of rich and valuable land, but when the work of drainage is completed, the land thus reclaimed will equal it in value. Leaving the Moanatuatua Swamp, the Rangiaohia settlement was reached. This is a military settlement, and formed about eight years since. During the first three or four-

years of its existence its prosperity was very slow, owing to the want of capital on the part of the settlers, and partly to the frequent disturbances with the Maoris. With the termination of the native difficulty a course of prosperity was inaugurated, and the district is going ahead amazingly. Te Awamutu was likewise visited, and spoken of in the same glowing terms, as well as Kihikihi (the settlement of the renowned chief Rewi), and Orakau. All through this district the land is of rare quality, no better to be found in ISTew Zealand, and greatly resembling that of Taranaki. He concludes his remarks on the Waikato by stating as his conviction that when opened out by means of good roads or railway locomotion it will be one of the most populous and prosperous districts in the North Island.