TAURANGA.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 670, 10 February 1864, Page 3

TAURANGA.

(From the "New Zealand Herald."). This valuable port—in which tlje British ensign now floats lord paramount, and which at this juncture, is a; place of very general interest—having been visited t by us a few years siuce, we think we canno do better than publish a few descriptive passages, which we extract from our note book. Tauranga was then the short and favorite route by which tourists made their way to the Taupo Lakes, and of these we had a good many on' board the craft in which we made its acquaintance.

It may be considered as quite a pic-mV affair, particularly in a steamer, to make •<> trip from Auckland to Tauranga; and i it be practicable to include a visit to White or Sulphur Island—one of the most remarkable in these seas —in the run, w cannot well imagine a more agreeable two or three days' cruise. The passage is round Cape Colville, between that promontory and the Grea' Mercury and other islands forming thi Mercury group, where the coast scener;. is extremely grand and picturesque. Standing along the coast, the vessel threads her way amorg a congeries of islets and islands, called severally Castle Island, the Aldermen, Shoe and Slipper, Mayor antl Karewa, a small outlying island, distant six miles from Mount Mongonui—a flat topped sugar loaf rising so abruptly from the adjacent low lands that, at a little distance seawards, it might very easily be supposed to be an island.. Mount Mongonui points the entrance to Tauranga harbor, the channel of which i? narrow and tortuous, but capable ofbeim» widened and straightened. Mongonui once rounded, there is secure, and sufficient anchorage for a large squadron of bur • thensome ships, under its lofty head. The harbour is capacious and tranquil^ and now that occupation has been so wisely and successfully taken, it will not be long before its deep and shallow waters! are clearly marked off. The aspect of the country is more than inviting—it isbeautiful, especially in the South - western board, where a charming basin lies open to the eye, girdled by a succession of swelling uplands, rising terrace upon terrace in-rich luxuriant array, and backed by a 5 lofty chain of hills. ","r. .

At the date of our visit, this magnificent belt of country was entirely in the occupation of its native owners, with the. exception of some 800 or 900 acres of fertile soil acquired by the Church Mission,"and called Te Papa. This for many years was the residence of Archdeacon Brown, who but recently was com pel'ed to abandon it in consequence of the warning proclamation of William Thompson, who. threatened an attack, intimating his resolve to spare neither the armed nor-unarmed. William Thompson has happily been forestalled in his beneficent intentions." Tauranga being in the occupation of/Cdlqnel Carey and 600 well . approved? .British bayonets, with the requisite contingent of Royal Artillery and Engineers. Draw a line from Raglan on the wesMoiTauranga on the east coast, bearingin mind that from the Thames to the Queen's'Re&bubt the country is under military, occupation, and the movements of General Cameron will easily be understood. ' At high water, the harbor of .Tauranga is perfectly lake-like; and, like most ]^ew Zealand estuaries it is pierced by various navigable arms and creeks. ..When we visited it there were two native pahs or villages within sight of each other,,but on opposite shores. The natives were m, frequent hostility with each other ; and peace was difficult to be maintained, however strenuous the efforts of the Pakeha. /At the date we speak of, culture was considerable, and crops looked rich and rife; fine fields of maize might be seen in many directions, and well thatched corn ricks told their agreeable tale of industrious

Such is the luxuriant country forfeited by native rebellion, and now occupied by British sovereignty. With an easy and commanding harbor-witlr a cquntry,of surpassing fertility, placed in the very centre of the fitly named Bay of Plenty —with a delightful climate—and witn ample scope for the industry of an intelligent population, the acquisition, of such a territory in advancing the prosperity of Auckland, and in promoting the best interests of New Zealand can scarcely be over estimated. Like .all the acquisitions we have already made and have yet to make, the progression the white will have no tendency to do injury to the coloured race; quite the contrary, inasmuch as by our conversion of; the wastes, which they neither can nor .care to employ, we shall elevate and enrich them and hasten their civilisation, and eventual absorption into the European faThe* distance between Auckland Vand Tuaranga is trifling. With, a .disabled and small powered steamer working at half speed for the greater part of the ; way, we made the run in: about twenty-one hours • and last week, at a moderate pace, aad at night, H.M.S.S. MiS^ and hired steamer_CpW r^e^bout twenty-two hours making the passage By a steamer of moderate power and speed, we imagine it may be readily accomplished within fifteen or sixteen °Under Native occupation, and when Native culture was observed, Tauranga was one of the ports of the East Coast from whence Auckland derived supplies of wheat, maize, potatoes, pork, onions, and other produce for home consumption, and exportation. Since the rebellion^ all these supplies have either dwindled into Nothing or have all but ceased-^nd the prediction that New Zealand would be the Britain of the South,-the granary of Australasia has been mightily sneered at, Nevertheless, the prophecy . may. still _be realised British hands will accomplish much that Native indolence could never hope to effect. : , ; ..