POVERTY BAY. (from our own correspondent.)

Otago Witness, Issue 1155, 17 January 1874, Page 2

POVERTY BAY. (from our own correspondent.)

Gisborne, the chief town in Poverty Bay district, is situate on the Waimeta River at its junction with the sea. The entrance to the river is interrupted by a bar, which can only be crossed with safety at high water by coasting craft drawing seven or eight feet. Afterwards, the channel is deep enough for about half a mile to Reader's wharf, where most of the small vessels discharge and take in cargo, but those of large tonnage and steamers lie out in the bay, and are lightered or tendered by a steam launch belonging to Messrs Kinross and Graham. The town of Gisborne consists of about 200 buildings, amongst which are a court-house, music hall, two banks, post office, four hotels, and a dozen or more really good stores and shops. The learned professions are represented by one Presbyterian clergyman, three lawyers, and one medical man. As yet, there is no church (except one where where the Church of England service is conducted in Maori by an ordained Native) ; but a bazaar has lately been j held for the purpose of raising funds for the erection of a Presbyterian place of worship. The total population of the town may be estimated at about 600 or 700, but if the petroleum springs prove a juccess (of which there seems every probability), this will rapidly increase. The land in the Poverty Bay district is of excellent character, capable of producing, under proper culture, anything required for the sustenance of man. One of the chief products of the district is rye grass seed, which grows spontaneously over large tracts of land, which, if subjected to a proper system of cultivation, would double the yield, or even more. Wool is also becoming a staple article of export, and it is estimated that between 2000 and 3000 bales will leave the Bay this season. One of the great drawbacks to the cultivation of the land ia the sweet-briar, which in some parts has spread, and is gradually spreading, over a large area. It is the bane of the country. With respect to the Natives, there does not appear to be any cause for fear ; they are nearly all friendly, and but few Hauhaus are in the vicinity. Even with Te Kooti at their head, they could scarcely now make a successful raid here. A great deal of the land is now fenced for 12 miles distance from the town, which would prove a great barrier to any Native attempt on the town or suburbs. In fact, I believe there is as little to be dreaded from them here as in Wellington or many other parts of the Colony. What is most required here is European population, especially female labour. Fifty single girls would be engaged in a day at high wages. The climate is -very warm in summer, well adapted for the growth of the grape, peaches, lemons, melons, moat English fruits, and maize. Peaches and apples grow wild all over the district. In winter it is never very cold. It is not so hot as Auckland in summer, nor so cold as Wellington in winter. Yesterday was the quarterly inspection of Militia and Volunteers, and a very respectable turn-out was effected, the cavalry mustering about 60 and the infantry about 150 men under arms,

We have been shown a sample, of coal obtained from Messrs Waugh, Todd, and Co.'s pit, Green Island. Some ticoe ago we received a specimen from the same locality, but the one before us now appears to contain a larger percentage of carbon. The shaft from which this sample was obtained is 150 feet deep, and has a seam running through it averaging 18ft in thickness.

Strangers paying a visit to Dunedin are often at a loss to know what is the beat establishment to visit for the purcahse of drapery and clothing. Herbert, Hayn.es, and Co. offer special advantages to the public that can be met with nowhere else in the city. They keep at all times the largest and best assorted stock of every class of gooda, imported direct from the ieadiug manufaoturers and warehousemen at home, which, being bought entirely upon cash terms, they are enabled to offer goods of such sterling value as cannot be equalled by any other house in the trade. Every article in stock is marked at a fixed price for ready money, from, which no abatement is over made, so that the most inexperienced buy thoir goods at the samo prices as the best judges, Their terms are— net cash, without discount or reductions of any kind. A fuller description of their stock will be found in an advertisemeat on tye last page of this paper. [Apvr, J