New-York daily tribune., 1844-08-28
New Zealand

with the following account OF New Zealand, by
the politencss of the American Consul at the Bay
of Islands:
New Zealand is one of the finest Islands in the
Pacific Ocean. When viewed from the sea, il
presents rather an unfavorab!e appearance, and
resembles more mass Of rocks, dlvested OF all
vegetation, than fruitful and abundant
Island. On approaching nearer you behold the
central emincnce, distinguished by softer out
line and clothed in verdure, towering TO the
clouds. think it would be difficult, in any
country, to meet with more pleasing prospect
than at the Bay of Islands In viewing the town
from the harbor, the prospect is delightful.
New Zealand is an extensive mineral country
The mountains and hills abound in copper, coal
iron, lead, manganese sulphur. and evensilver has
been found Flax, the Indigenous Phormun tc-
max, is in It's primitive stale A valuable article
of commerce, Flax is to the colony what the tim
Der Of Canada has been to that country, though
the colony is AT present confined To agricultural
produce in small variety such a. wheat, oats,
barley, and leguminous produce, together with
spars, timber, boards, etc. Flax grows spontanc.
ously on the highest mountains, and IN the val
Ieys. Grazing to great extent might be propa-
gated, Us no climate can be more favorable TO-
cattle. Nearly all tropical and temperate vcgeta
ton, together with grapes, thrlves remarkably
Va
ford qualification to the human family. Tho
temperature and salubrity Of New Zealand are,
believe not exceeded in any part ot the world
The thermometer at Russell, III the Bay u
Islands, seldom rises above IS Or sinks below a.
degrees and the place IS always famed by
breeze.
The centra! District of the North Island which
extends from tho llapara 10 the lake Of iaupo.
presents a more eligible field for agricultural ope
rations than any other part of the colony; and II
offers facilities for internal Communication b.
means of the harbors, estuaries and rivers which ra
diate from Auckland, the capitol, as Il center, anc
all OF which may be navigated either by boats or
canoes to near their sources, aud between most
Of them very short pollages intervene, over which
from time immcmora!, the Natives have dragged
their canoes without difficulty. The RIVER Waiho
or Thames, about forty miles distant. commun
Gates with it by means ofhc Gulf OF iiourakl, or
Firth of the Thames. Ii is navigab!c for good
sized :boats for seventy miles, as IL convoiveS
through the great PLAIN, nearly to another native
settlement. Waikaho bounds the south side OF
the peninsula on which Auckland stands. This
can be reached through the medium o! two short
portagcs on either side Of the ha,brr or estuary OF
Manukau, the extreme navigablc points travcrs
ing succession oi plains of very rich soil, about
one hundred and fifty miles from Auclialnd.-
The Wairoa is navigabe for vessels of 30O tons
for sixty or seventy miles, and boats fifty or one
hundred miles farther, so that water cofnlnunca
ton is extensive by which produce can be trans
mtted to Auckland. The spirit of energy and
capital will soon cover the short and almost level
portages with Railroads. The country IN The
district OF Auckland is of an undu!a,ing charac,
ter, covered with fern and shrubs, and OF a rich
soil. The hills and mountains in the vicinity arc
in form of truncated cones, elevated one above
another the highest abou, 500 #. doubtless the
maus of extinct svolcanoes, theie bases covered
with masses of compact lava, the nterstices permit,
ting the growth of shrubs and trees The climate,
never SUBJECT u any changes ottcmperaturc, per-
mits the growth of European grain and grass,
which, exempted from scorching winds and chill
iDC lrosts, flourish i'll most luxurlsnt manner. No
climate can be more conducive TO the health o.
its nhabitanls;thc heat never enervates, nor does
the cold chill so as to affect the human frame;
and, notwithstanding the humidity OF the atmos
phere, yet 1t is unaccompanled b. cold, and IN no
country can persons OF temperate habits, using
common precan,ion enjoy greater bodily vgor
Diseases common to Europe occur there but they
are of mild type, and readily yield to appropriate
remedies.
New Zealand is surrounded by q great variety
of beautiful fish-7S different species 1t gifted
with attractions both local and natural. For the
first mile or two the traveller observes little else
than sterlity but his curiosity is soon gratl'ied by
the prospects oiverdure, thousands OF aces being
covered with excellent soil Of unusual depth.
Two crops can always be obtained from the same
soil, and some times ihrcc.-lhc beautiful and
romantic scenery which is here presented from
almost every mountain and hill, throws !. 2ecula:
wildncss all over the Island--thc scenery SUI
passing any thing that have ever witnessed be.
fore. An the surrounding hills and precipiccs are
strangely fashioned and Enthusiastically mixed ana
blended together, resembling moTetho siShapeS
which We see among the clouds, than any thing
composed of denScr material.
New Zealand has excited much attention, and
many superficial op,nlons have arisen conccrnng
its present form. We have daily proofs that ;hc
mountains were clcva'edby the agency of vol
canoes. New Zealand has undergone and is CON
tnually undergoing changes. The influence oi
the atmospheric heat acts decidedly upon the sur.
face and renders II more accesslo.cto 10 moisture.
it enters into Its texture. The &cuoa OF rams
contributes largely 10 depreSS The mountains, but
the material which compose Them resist IT III pre-
nortion TO their hsronesS; ard hence nave not
been surprised at meeting with peaks and lofty
columns which have stood i.in au;id the dccom.
position of their surrounding particles. and sill
remain to attest the original lcvc, OF the rroun-
tains which have disappeared IN many parts oil the
COLONY. The traveller is often delighcS with The
torrcuts of water that flow down ;aa sides OF Inc
mountains, following oct channels II proportion
to the rapidi,y of the current and tho hardness OF
the sol which it passes over. Ihsve many times
been struck with admiration on viewing the tor
rents running in silent grandeur through ggrc-
gate composition OF rock and lime storc.
New Zealand has assumed u new aspect within
a few years; an obdura,c and androphagus peo.
pie emerging from cannibslisni and savage desPo..
ism to a practical state OF liberty and freedom.
Some years ago. the traveller, landing on The
shores of New Zealand, would continually have
been subject to danger and death. y renovation
has chiefly been effected through the persevcring
efforts of the missionaries, and am des!rous ol
recording the value of their abors III cIrilizng The
natives, as beyond calculation; II cannot be estl'
mated. Only those who have visited .hem can
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