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and lahour in clearing the land; if, however, the natives were disposed to part with land from the entrance of the river, the whole might be immediately located with advantage to settlers. I proceeded up the, river until it became so choked with timber, that it was dangerous for the beat to go further.

From Woiroa, I proceeded to Orere, a place on the western side of the Thames, where I met with Kahukoki, one of the principal chiefs of the Nga Ti Pawa tribe. He said that since he saw the Governor at Tamaki, in July last, he had heard from Europeans that in

the course of a very few years all those chiefs who had signed the treaty would be no better than slaves; they would soon be driven from the sea coast into the interior; while those who have refused to sign it, will maintain their independence and keep their land. I reminded him of the pledge given, both in the treaty, and in the circular addressed to him and others, and of the general character of these who were disseminating such poison amongst them, and prejudicing them against the Goverment. At Orere there is an extensive tract of good land, but not so much as a boat harbour about the place, and cannot be approached when the wind is strong from the north-east or east; it is, however, well adapted for natives and native culture; the natives on landing immediately up their canoes.

Orere is a stony, pebbly beach, about 10 miles below Wakatewai. At this place I took in a guide for Piako, and proceeded towards Wakatewai. The wind setting in strong from the south, obliged us to go on shore at a place called Waihopuhopa, about four miles below Wakatewai, where we spent the night with a large party of natives, who engaged us in conversation until midnight. We found them hospitable, for they supplied us with abundance of fish, but were very apprehensive, they said, as to what the Governor was about to do with them and their land. They were told that a large house (a prison) was to be built, in which they were to be contined, and they would soon become as dependent and degraded as the natives of New South Wales, many of whom they had seen on their visit to that country.

I told them that it was correct that we built prisons for bad men, and probably their advisers were apprehensive of becoming inmates of such a place. It was evident (I said) that the conduct of the natives was generally so good that they had nothing to apprehend on that head, for, with the exception of one ease, all who had been sent there were Europeans, from which circumstance, they would see how necessary it was that they should have a governor to protect them from the influence of such men.

They were pleased to learn that prisons were only wanted for Europeans.

From Waihopuhopa, we started at four o'clock in the morning, crossing the Thames from Wakatewai to the month of Piako. The ebbing tide obliged us to land at Kaweranga, on the east side, where we waited for the flood to enter Piako.

Before I leave the western side of the Thames, I wish to remark, that the whole of the land from Pakiki to Piako, (the island by Waihiki,) a distance of 30 miles, is in possession of the natives. The back ground is high, well timbered, and watered, There is a large portion of good land for farms of any size; it is, however, better calculated for native culture than European. In general, the land is capable of hearing three large crops of wheat, and in many places level enough for plough culture.

There are, however, no   harbours, not even for a boat ; but as the westerly and south-westerly winds mostly vessels may he off, and until the produce can be taken off tothem. The natives of Wakatewai, and indeed all the places where we stopped, had much to say as to the probable intentions of Government towards them. They observed they were to be put down, but the Governor and Europeans were to be exalted.

I had to employ all my aided by William Hau, a young chief, who accompained me from Waimate, to persuade them that their advisers had misrepresented the object of Government, as it was so contrary to all the assurances given them by his Excellency, not only in the treaty and circular addressed to them, but at all public meetings.

One of the chiefs replied that the Governor's book was very good, likewise his talk (korero) ; but they should watch his actions with some jealousy.

Another chief objected to their present position, because he said, that however good our present Governor might be, he had heard that in a few years they might expect another, who, perhaps, would not be so well disposed towards them; and then quickly round to me, he said, " What has that other man on the other side of the water to do with us ?" (meaning his Excellency Sir George Gipps,) "they had never seen him, nor he them, neither had he visited their country, yet they had beem given to understand that he and his committee" (meaning members of council) "were about taking their land from them" (meaning probably legislating for them). I satisfied them before I left, that they must have been misinformed, and that all land transactions would be conducted as that at the Weitemata, where a fair equivalent was given for all the Government was supplied with.

At four in the evening we entered the Piako with the flood, proceeded a few miles, when we brought up for the right.

The following morning at four o'clock we commenced our course up the Piako with the flood which for eight hours carried as up at the rate of about four miles an hour, through one continued course of the last four miles the banks of the river were and the land more solid, when at length we opened upon an immense Hat, extending as far as the eye could reach. There is, however, a large proportion of swamp in with this plain, and I must confess, I was somewhat disappointed at finding the banks of the river so low as render the immense swamp, from the entrance of Piako to this place, a distance of nearly to miles in the circuitous route of the river,

unavailable

unavailable for agricultural purposes, with the exception of one small place, about 10 miles front the entrance.

On the east sole there are two small branches from die Piako river, running south-east, one takes you nearly into the Thames, the other goes through the plain to Mata Meta; the one about 10 miles from the entrance, the other about 30.

Every winter the swamp from the entrance of Piako to the interior, for about 30 miles, is an inland sea, in which nothing but water and the tope of a few kahikatea trees are to be seen, with sailing in all directions over the expanse of water. The only place secure from these immdations is the little elevated spot on the east side, about 10 miles from the entrance of the river, which, in winter season becomes an island, and if a small town was built thereon, it would remind you of those on the Nile, at the time it overflows its banks. I see no probability of redeeming a country lying so low, and receiving such an immense body of water from the interior, with a channel of little more upon an average than 10 yards wide ; at any rate it must be many years before it can in any part be made available, and only then with the outlay of immense capital, and a redundant population.

About 30 miles from the mouth of the river you commence a large extent of country available for agricultural purposes.

The principal wood in the neighbourhood in the white pine (kahikatea), and in some places it would have to be carried a considerable distance.

Upon the western side of this river is the extensive purchase of Mr. Webster, who claims upwards of 40 miles frontage, two-thirds of which is unavailable, being swamp; the upper part is good, The depth of the river for about an miles up is not less than eight feet. I left Piako at five o'clock in the morning to return to the Thames, and after six hours pull, landed on a little eminence in the Piako river, and found it more extensive than I had expected ; several farms might be laid out, and a communication opened between them and the Thames, either by land or water.

After waiting for the tide for about two hours we made Kaweranga soon after sunset, and the following day, being Christmas day, remained quietly at the mission station, and early the following morning sent the government boat and boat's crew on to Anckland, having succeeded in procuring a boat from Mr. Preece, church mission station, to take me up the Thames on Monday next. In the meantime I visited the chiefs at Kaweranga, to correct the information generally in circulation amongst them, that the plans of Government are inimical to the welfare of the natives, and will ultimately prove the means of their destruction.

This principle seems deeply rooted and widely disseminated around, and time only will eradicate the feeling, the New Zealanders being a people who will be better convinced by practical illustrations of the intentions of Government, than by lengthened discussions. I have the promise from most of the chiefs that they will visit his Excellency when he is finally settled at Auckland.

Monday, 28th, commenced my survey up the Thames, that part of it known by the name of Waihou, accompanied by the principal chief Hou, to whom the land belongs. We made about 15 miles with the flood, when we went on shore at a native fort named Kari, opposite the land purchased by Dr. Martin and Mr. MCaskel.

The bunks of the river about here are not more than two and-a-half feet above the top of spring tides, which rise to six or eight feet, and at low winter there are not more than five or six feet over the flats. The soil is rich, and daring heavy rains in the winter season has been known at times to be flooded.

There is one great drawback to the immediate cultivation of the land, namely, that it is heavily timbered with kahikatea; it will require great labour to clear it, but being on the banks of a river, the timber might be available, either sawn on the spot or floated down in logs to any market in the Thames.

In the evening we went on shore at a native village belonging to a powerful chief, whose name is Taraia ; here the banks of the river are much higher, and secure from all floods. We were well received by Taraia, who had heard that I was deputed by the Governor to visit them, and disposed to purchase any of their lands they might feel free to give up.

The old man and for an hour to his people and visitors, not very sparingly, on the rank his family held; and told his people to be very careful how they parted with their land, and the necessity of demanding a large payment, not omitting to assure them that the whole of the Thames was tapu, or sacred land.

The conversation lasted until after midnight, when the old chief consented for us to proceed up the river to look at the land, assuring us that the Waihon river (the Thames) had always been held sacred, and that no one had dared to profane it by passing his residence to sell land, although attempts had been made by some of the Thames chiefs to introduce Europeans ; but all feared the notice of his masket and the keen edge of his hatchet.

Again have we had to labour against disadvantageous reports carefully circulated, and to assure the natives that His Excellency had the interests of the Pew Zealanders much at heart. After these assurances, Taraia arose and said, such a Governor as described was welcome; his land was waiting to receive him, and his river, which had hitherto been held sacred, was now open to receive him, or any person he might like to send; but he urged that Europeans should be immediately sent to take possession; he did not, he said, want missionaries nor native Europeans, but he wanted gentlemen and soldiers.

A native standing by asked the old man if he would not be afraid to see so many Europeans settled about him. He replied, " If I was a thief or a murderer I might ; but as I

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