Report on the Lower Waitangi Country, from Cape Wanhou (Makotukutuku) to Pukewhinau, December and January, 1852-53.
1. | Pasture. |
2. | Fuel. |
3. | Timber. |
4. | Inland Transport. |
5. | Shipment. |
6. | Miscellaneous. |
1. | The pasture is good throughout; and a large extent, especially inland to Fire Beacon (Rakaikuruwheo), indeed wherever the porous tertiary limestone occurs, bears natural growth at least equal to any which I have seen on unstocked land in New Zealand. Messrs. Suisted, Nairn, D. Scott, and Cormack will (so far as they have seen) corroborate this opinion. The only drawback is tumatakuru, of which there is a great deal in some parts of the plains; but this, I believe, disappears before stock and burning. |
2. | Fuel.—In the eastern portion very scarce; but probably, or rather almost certainly, lignite will be discovered in the Waiareka or Kakaunui country. |
Acres Scrub. | Acres Copse. | Acres Forest. | |
1. Wanhou Cliff | 0 | 1 | 0 |
2. Cliff Wood | 0 | 2 | 0 |
3. Copse on the Hemans (Oamaru) | 0 | 1 | 0 |
4. On the Landon (Awakokomuka) | 1 | 0 | 0 |
5. Papakaio | 0 | 4 | 0 |
6. Crusoe Copse, &c. | 0 | 0¼ | 0 |
7. Keatsbourne (Waikoura) half belonging to Natives | 0 | 3 | 0 |
8. The Chatterton (Awaamoko) | 0 | 8 | 0 |
9. Maerewhenua (near the Source) | 0 | 8 | 0 |
10. Blackwood, and foot of Domett | 0 | 0 | 50,100 |
11 and 12. Otekaikeke, Oteaki, Kohurau, Awawakamau | 25 | 0 | 0 |
26 | 27¼ | 50,100 |
Peat is found on the hills between Kakaunui and Maerewenua.
Wood being so scarce, I deemed Te Warekorari's assertion that there was coal one day's journey inland of his kaika, although contradicted by the other Natives, worthy of investigation. I therefore went up the South Bank through the gorge to Te Awawakamau, where we crossed the river on mokis, and found the lignite on the Pukewhinau Stream, made a large fire with it, and brought away about 3 cwt of specimens, which I left at Punaomaui and Tauhimi. I also arranged with Warekorari for the delivery of it at stations along the river, which he will effect by means of large mokis carrying upwards of a ton; the price per ton to be fixed by me. To aid me in fixing the price, it was necessary to have a more distinct idea of the difficulties of the moki-navigation of the Waitangi. I therefore came down in a moki, the voyage or "rere" from Pukewhinau to Te Hakaturamea occupying one hour, and that thence to Te Punacmaru four hours. I propose to fix rates, varying according to the distance, from £1 to £3 per ton, for the lignite delivered at the river's side at places which drays can reach. As the lignite is perhaps not in my district, I would request the sanction of the Governor for this arrangement, and that His Excellency would also be pleased to confirm my direction that no Native but Warekorari be privileged to work at the lignite in question; should it ever be thought worth working by Europeans, this arrangement would not be an obstacle to their obtaining the necessary license. Lignite also occurs high up the Hakataramea; and I may further mention, that from an intelligent Native who accompanied me down the coast in 1848, I learn the existence of beds of lignite, some of good quality, commencing near the Elephant (Pohowaikawa), and running thence about N.N.W. to the upper Waihau country. I have the honor to forward small specimens from Pukewhinau which you will perceive is not of first-rate quality.
Crown Land Commissioner.
P.S.—I should have mentioned that Wanganui Natives, with such canoes as they use on that river, would I think not hesitate to navigate the Waitangi. The canoes could be poled or tracked up the side channels. There is not now a canoe on the river.