SETTLEMENT ON STEWART'S ISLAND.

15

D.—No 7a

to 150 tons, vessels of which size might lie here well sheltered from all winds. There are five fathoms of water for some distance inside the entrance. The Land is precipitous and poor, the rock protruding through the scant covering. It is principally covered with scrub : there is, however, a small quantity of red and black pine. Reserve. —l would recommend a reserve of 80 acres on the east side of the small river running into the Cove, at its eastern extremity. Half-a-mile to the north of Yankee River is a small boat harbor, the Maori name of which is Paritoti, frequented by the Maoris while mutton-birding on the islands—to the southward and westward of Yankee River. There should be a reserve here for their protection, if it has not already been made by Mr. Commissioner Clarke, of which I can obtain no evidence. Easy Cove.—Nine miles to the northward of South-west Cape is a convenient harbor of refuge in south-west gales for small craft. The land, though improving, is still inferior, and covered with scrub, interspersed with a little timber. I would recommend a village reserve of 80 acres on the east side of the Cove, as per sketch. Mason Bay is more an open roadstead than a harbor, though at its southern extremity there is a tolerable anchorage. A heavy sea rolls in on the greater part of the sandy beach—some five miles in length—fronting a belt of low flat land lying between the hills and the sea. Land. —There is a tolerably extensive belt of flat land round the bay, principally wooded, with occasional patches of open, covered with grass, the most considerable and valuable of which is at the south-east end. The soil is a sandy loam. The bush land on the sides of the hills at the south end of the bay is good, as is also that on the North Island. The timber on the ranges consists of black, white, and red pines, with clumps of manuka scattered about. Wild fowl are plentiful, particularly Paradise ducks ; as are fish, including the groper. At the back of a low range of hills, at the north-east end of the bay, commences a long valley, or, rather, series of valleys, of open land, connecting the west with the east coast, terminating at the head of Paterson Inlet. This bay is the only place on the island where a settler could have a run for his cattle. Reserve. —I would recommend a township reserve of 200 acres at the south end of the harbor, on the fiat fronting the beach, commencing at the passage between South Island and the main, and running northerly along the foot of the ranges to the south-west branch (or Eel Creek) of the Pleasant Creek, as per sketch. Ruggedy River runs into the south-east end of Rugged Bay, which is exposed to the north-west winds. The shores are sand, and arid looking. There is a snug boat harbor inside the entrance of the river. Long Beach has a boat harbour at the south end of it, and a fresh-water creek running into it through a nice valley of some extent. The land is good and level, and, with the slopes of the hills at the south end, which face the north-east, is heavily timbered. This will, I think, form a desirable place for settlement. Yankee River, three miles further to the eastward, is a boat harbor, not far from Saddle Point. The land is good; the gully sheltered-—having a northerly aspect —and is covered with very fine timber. There is sufficient water-power to turn a saw-mill, which could be worked to advantage —the quantity of the timber ensuring a durable supply. This bight lies at the foot of Mount Anglem, the gullies running down from which invite the search of gold. Murray River, about four miles to the westward of Port William, was at one time the seat of a Maori settlement, called Otahu, but is now deserted. The land in its vicinity is good, and has an eastern exposure. The gentle slopes of the hills are well adapted for cultivation, and are clothed with good timber. This fresh-water river is of some size, flowing into the sea at the south end of a nice beach. The coast line from the Murray River to Port William is indented with little nooks well adapted for settlement, having an eastern aspect, and thoroughly sheltered from the westerly winds. The Coast from Cave Point to Wilson Bay is full of indentations which can afford shelter in all cases to small craft; in many to vessels of any size. Thus every facility is afforded for communication along the shores, which, when settlements are formed, will make the inhabitants independent of roads. On the south and west side of the Island, navigation is dangerous. The harbors are few and far apart, and a continual heavy swell from the westward breaks on an iron-bound, precipitous, inhospitable shore. That portion of it from Easy Cove to Rugged Point is remarkably broken and rugged in appearance. The bare stony hills, rising abruptly from the sea, presenting in some places a singularly castellated appearance. The color of the rocks is peculiar, more particularly about Red Head. The Climate. —From all I could gather, and from my own observation, I would imagine that all along the east coast of the Island, from Port Pegasus northward, the climate is fully equal, if not superior, to that of Invercargill. I had a good oportunity of testing it in every part of the coast during the five weeks I spent in exploring the Island. Judging from the accounts I heard on my return to Invercargill, the weather on the mainland must have been less fine than that I had experienced ; nor do I imagine that a larger quantity of rain falls there than on the main. That drizzling rain is frequent is not surprising, seeing that the high range of hills running down the centre of the Island naturally attracts and holds the cloudy vapors floating about, which are in some measure again discharged before being dissipated on the rising of the sun; but it is generally only an early shower,