climates of the northern hemisphere, one, except Madeira, which will bear comparison with it in this respect.

In regard to Foveaux's Straits, while its climate is congenial to the constitutions of our countrymen, its position and other considerations point it out as an eligible site for colonization.

There is, on its northern shores, an extensive, open, and partially level district, stretching from east to west, a distance of more than forty miles, and from south to north, of from ten to twenty miles or more, accessible by means of the small harbour, Awarua, and the rivers Aparima, Koreti, and Mataura. There are also several very fine harbours near the western entrance of the Straits; viz., -Rakituma (Preservation), Taiari (Chalky Bay), Dusky Bay, and others; and, at the eastern entrance, the harbour Ohekia, already mentioned. These harbours are all safe and commodious; and the western entrance of the Straits has also, in the lofty rocky island Hautere or Solander's, a mark almost as valuable to the mariner as a light-house.

Vessels bound to England from Van Dieman's land or from New South Wales could make

this part of the coast without deviating much from their regular track; whereas Cook's Straits lie too far north. Besides, any one would, by choice, avoid the danger of being caught in the entrance of those Straits in stormy and foggy weather.

Foveaux's Straits and the neighbourhood being the most important whaling localities, the greater part of the oil made in New Zealand could be exported most conveniently from any settlements formed there; and thus ships, bringing out emigrants and cargo from England, would immediately have a return freight.

To the above remarks it may be added that the whole country has, for many ages, remained in possession of the same tribe. On this account, land could be purchased there with less risk of disputes arising hereafter, than in any other part of New Zealand. The natives resident in the neighbourhood are not very numerous; while they are sufficiently so to prove of great service to the first settlers. They have, for many years, been on terms of friendly intercourse with Europeans, and have acquired a greater knowledge of the English tongue than any of the

other tribes. Besides which, their chief of most influence is the young man Patuki; who, as I have before said, speaks English very tolerably, and has always shown a great desire to adopt English dress and habits.

The places where the greatest number of these natives now reside are the islands of Ruapuke and Rarotoka; which, of course, they would reserve for their exclusive occupation, in addition to whatever portions of the main-land they preferred. They would, therefore, generally only come in contact with the European population when they found it for their own interest to do so, and then as guests, and not as neighbours, - a mutual advantage- because, the natives being tillers of the soil, and the European farmers at first principally stock-keepers, their proximity to each other gives rise to frequent disputes about the trespass of cattle, and the remuneration to be paid for damage ne.

CHAPTER IX.

SAIL TO OTAKOU-JOURNEY TO THE RIVER TAIARI-EXPEDIENTS IN THE BUSH THE

KOTUKU-NATIVE

VILLAGE-DISINCLI

NATION OF NATIVES TO TRAVEL BY LAND-PROGRESS UP THE RIVER, AND RETURN

OVERLAND-DESCRIPTION OF COUNTRY

BETWEEN TAIARI AND OTAKOU THE SCOTCH SETTLEMENT DUNEDIN ITS PROSPECTS OF SUCCESS-NATIVE PIG-PRESERVES -CONCLUDING REMARKS ON THE WHALE FISHERIES.

As my instructions left me at liberty to visit all places in this part of the island where there were natives residing, I wished, before finally quitting Waikouaiti, to go as far south as Taiari and Molyneux Bay; at both of which I heard that small parties of natives were to be found; and this island's being then very generally considered a sort of terra incognita made me the ous to see as much of it as possible.

v, a few days after my return from its, I again hired Smith's boat, me two natives, with Mr. Earle

and his servant, as passengers, crossed over to Otakou.

We arrived at the heads of the harbour just as the flood tide began to make, and, with this and a light breeze in our favour, we reached its southern extremity in the afternoon. It here expands into a broad but shoal bay, separated from the sea by a low narrow neck of sand and earth, which alone prevents the land on the eastern side of the harbour from being an island. By hauling a boat across this neck

a matter

the voyage to Taiari

could be made, in favourable weather, with much greater ease than by the longer and rougher passage round Cape Saunders.

The next morning we left our tent standing, and our boat hauled up above high-water mark, with many things too heavy to carry with us, merely taking the precaution to leave a written notice in "maori," saying to whom we thus felt confident that, alt remain for several days with n than this paper sentinel, none o the only persons likely to come would meddle with our property. H