TRANSACTIONS OF SECTION E. 267 



184:2 for the Port Cooper plains, where he and his brother were 

 the pioneer settlers, founding there their home, and calling it 

 Eiccarton. 



A well-equipped party under charge of Mr. Stokes started 

 towards the end of August to examine the country between 

 the Hutt and Taranaki, as it was desirable to connect these 

 extremes by road. The expedition completed the journey to 

 the Sugarloaves in exactly a month, making the return 

 journey in less than three weeks. Mr. Stokes gave a glowing 

 description of the land of promise through which he had tra- 

 velled, the numberless acres of rich soil, and well-watered 

 country so fitted for settlement. He discovered and described 

 many new or barely-known rivers, — amongst them the Mana- 

 watu, Eangitikei, and the Wanganui, — proved that three large 

 bays marked on the map had no existence, connected the sup- 

 posed position of Mount Egmont, and laid down the coast-line 

 for the first time with much approach to accuracy. The Natives 

 were very numerous along the line of route, and everywhere wel- 

 comed and assisted the travellers. 



The result was in every way satisfactory'. Shortly after- 

 wards Mr. Bell, a Scotchman, and his stalwart sons, started 

 overland for Wanganui, becoming the pioneer settlers. Their 

 departure with a team of bullocks, yoked to the heavily-loaded 

 dray, created quite a sensation as they started from the infant 

 settlement on their long and perilous journey. Every one 

 came out to wish them farewell and good luck, and watched 

 the cavalcade upon its solitary journey until it at last disap- 

 peared beyond the overhanging hills. 



Mr. Stokes next turned his attention to the Wairarapa 

 plains, the lov;er portion of which he traversed' and described. 

 But by far the most complete and interesting exploration of 

 these plains was that of Mr. Kettle and party, who returned by 

 them, having previously made the ascent of the Manawatu 

 Eiver for ninety miles beyond the limit of any previous explora- 

 tion, and through the gorge or cliffs as they called it. He must, 

 indeed, have reached the position of the present Woodville and 

 then made his way southward by the Mangatainoko Eiver, 

 striking the upper plains by Mauriceville. Mr. Kettle was 

 accompanied by Mr. Wills, then a surveying cadet, and seven 

 Maoris on this expedition, which extended over thirty-three 

 days and was marked by the utmost privation and suffering. 

 The weather was wet and tempestuous ; they were more than 

 once a whole day without food, and often under these circum- 

 stances without shelter. To add to their misfortunes they 

 were obliged to yield to the extortionate demands of certain 

 Natives who, taking advantage of their necessity, refused to 

 canoe them up a dangerous stretch of water until they had 

 despoiled them of the whole of their spare clothing, and, in- 



