428 



CHATHAM ISLANDS. 



CHELMSFORD. 



430 



CHATHAM ISLANDS are a group of islands situated in the 

 Pacific, east of New Zealand, between 43 40 and 45 20' S. lat., 176 

 and 177 20' W. long. They connist of one large island, two of 

 moderate extent, and several smaller islands. The largest is called 

 Warekauri, and is in the form of a hammer with a short handle, the 

 bead of the hammer towards the north being 48 miles long from east 

 to west, and the handle, or southern peninsula, about 36 miles in 

 length. Dieffenbach, by a rough computation, gives the area at 477 

 nautical miles, or 305,280 acres, of which however 57,600 acres at 

 least are water, being lakes, lagoons, &c., so that the land is not more 

 than 247,680 acres. The southern shores of the southern peninsula 

 are lined with rocky cliffs, but the remainder terminates in a low 

 sandy beach, with the exception of a few headlands along the northern 

 coast, which are formed by low rocky masses. The country rises 

 gradually from the beach for one or two miles, when it extends on an 

 undulating level, ^he central part of the island is occupied by a 

 large lake called Te Wanga, which is about 25 miles long and between 

 6 and 7 miles broad. It is surrounded by hills, either wooded or 



he surface of the tract which lies weet of the northern part of 

 the Te Wanga Lake is diversified by a considerable number of hills 

 of a pyramidal shape, and consisting of basalt. Of these hills there 

 is none above 800 feet in height. In their vicinity the soil is very 

 fertile, being in its natural state covered with a vegetation of fern and 

 trees, mixed together and appearing like oases in the surrounding 

 bog. The intervening tracts are covered with bog. Wherever the 

 superfluous water has been carried off by a natural outlet a rich vege- 

 tation of fern and New Zealand flax (Phormitm /enoor) has sprung up, 

 which gives additional firmness to the soil by the decayed leaves, and 

 yield* * rich harvest to the native planter. This is particularly the 

 case on the low hills above the sea-shore. In this part several lakes 

 occur at the back of the low hills which run parallel to the coast. 

 They are surrounded by gently sloping hills, but have generally an 

 outlet for their waters into the sea. The best portion of the island 

 in that couth of the lake, which has an undulating surface, is not so 

 boggy as the rent, and is either covered with an open forest of mode- 

 rate sized trees or with high fern, in which case the land can be 

 I rouL'ht under cultivation with little labour. The soil is very fertile 

 and the vegetation is vigorous. 



On the western side of the island is a large bay, called Waitanga 

 Bay, in which there are five harbours behind some projecting headlands. 

 On the southern shore of the bay is Waitanga harbour, which has 

 excellent anchorage in between 5 and 12 fathoms water. This harbour 

 receives the largest river in the island, the Mangatu, which comes 

 from some hills on the south ; though its whole course does not 

 exceed 1 2 miles, it is navigable for boats for about three miles from 

 iU mouth, but it has a bar across it* mouth, which is passable for 

 boats only at high-water. On the northern side of Waitanga Bay 

 are four harbours, one of which, Wangaroa, is frequently visited by 

 Teasels, and affords complete protection against all winds. The 

 northern shore of the island is much exposed, but contains a sheltered 

 bay called Kaingaroa, which is stated to have good anchorage, in 

 from 10 to 12 fathoms water. Whalers frequently visit Olnga, the 

 south-eastern headland of the island, where the hills offer some pro- 

 tection against wind and sea. 



The climate is very mild. In winter (from May to July) the 

 thermometer never rises above 60, nor descends below 45, after 

 eight o'clock in the morning. The air is always moist and cool, but 

 never misty, the vapour being carried off by the constant breezes. 

 In winter there are showers of rain for a few hours every week. The 

 prevailing winds are north-east and south-west. The climate appears 

 very favourable to Europeans. 



The natives cultivate potatoes, different kinds of turnips, cabbages, 

 taro (Arum etcvlmtum), some tobacco, and abundance of pumpkins, 

 which form a great part of their food. There are several kinds of 

 trees, which are of the species found in New Zealand : the karaka- 

 tree (Corynocarput lavigatiu) forms the largest part of the forest. 

 No kind of quadruped occurs, except the Norwegian rat. Birds are 

 numerous : in the lakes and on the sea-shores are ducks, snipes, 

 plovers, curlews, and redbills ; in the forests the mocking-bird, a 

 little green parroquet, the mako-mako, a singing-bird, and the large 

 New Zealand pigeon. Fish are abundant. Both the spermaceti and 

 black whales are seen in great numbers off the shore. 



These islands were discovered in 1791 by Broughton, of his 

 Majesty's ship Chatham, who took possession of them in the name of 

 the king. They were afterwards frequently visited by whalers, and 

 in 1840 a whaling station was established at O'insra. Broughton found 

 them inhabited by a people belonging to the Malay race. They are 

 not so tall, muscular, and well proportioned as the New Zealanders ; 

 and their complexion is darker. The natives, of whom a compara- 

 tively small number remain, have been reduced to a state of slavery 

 and degradation by two tribe* of New Zealr.nders. The number of 

 the New Zralanders who settled in the Chatham Islands is stated to 

 have been 800 : and, by means of the labour of their slaves, a portion 

 of Warekauri was soon brought into cultivation, so that they could 

 furnivh supplies for the few vessels which annually resort to the island. 



South-east of Warekauri lies Rangi-hante, or Pitt's Island, which 

 is about 12 miles long and 8 miles broad. It consists principally of 



a hill of moderate elevation, having a flat top, whose declivities 

 terminate neav the coast. It has no harbour, and is stated to be 

 inhabited by a small number of aboriginal natives. The other islands 

 are mere rocks, and only frequented by sea-birds. 



(Dieffenbach, 'Account of the Chatham Islands/ in London 

 Geographical Journal, vol. xi.) 



CHATILLON-DE-MICHAILLE. [Aiw] 



CHATILLON-LES-DOMBES. [Anr.1 " 



CHATRE, LA. [IKDBE.] 



CHATSWORTH. [DERBYSHIRE.] 



CHATTAHOOCHEE RIVER. [ALABAMA.] 



CHAUDIERE. [CANADA.] 



CHAUDPOOR. [BAREILLT.] 



CHAUMONT. [MARNE, HAUTE.] 



CHAUNY. [AISNE.] 



CHAUSSEY. [MANCHE, LA.] 



CHAUX-DE-FOND. [NEUFCHATEL.] 



CHAVANGES. [AtTBE.] 



CHEADLE, Staffordshire, a market-town and the sent of a Poor- 

 Law Union, in the parish of Cheadle and hundred of Totmonslow 

 South, is situated near the Tean Brook, which flows into the Churnet, 

 in 52 59' N. lat., 1 59' "W. long. ; 14 miles N.N.E. from Stafford, 

 and 146 miles N.W. by N. from London by road ; Alton station of 

 the North Staffordshire railway, which is 4 miles from Cheadle, is 

 144 miles distant from London. The population of the town of 

 Cheadle in 1851 was 2728. The town is governed by the county 

 magistrates. The living is a rectory in the archdeaconry of Stafford 

 and diocese of Lichfield. Cheadle Poor-Law Union contains 15 

 parishes and townships, with an area of 54,631 acres, and a popu- 

 lation in 1851 of 18,177. 



Cheadle is called Cedla in the Domesday Book. The town is 

 within the moorland district of North Staffordshire, and is situated 

 in the midst of hills formerly barren, but recently covered by planta- 

 tions of timber-trees. Cheadle is irregularly laid out, and consists of 

 indifferently-built houses. 



The old church had some fine examples of the decorated style in 

 its windows, arches, and tracery ; but in 1837 it was found necessary 

 to take it down, and a new one was built in its place. A splendid 

 Roman Catholic church built from designs by Mr. Pugin was opened 

 with great ceremony in 1846. The chief portion of the expense of 

 this building was borne by the Earl of Shrewsbury. There are 

 places of worship for Independents and Wesleyan, New Connexion, 

 and Primitive Methodists. 



In the town are a Free school, two National schools, and an Infant 

 school. The school-house belonging to the Roman Catholics is a 

 large and fine building. There are. a public parochial library and a 

 savings bank. A county court is held in the town. 



The chief manufactories of Cheadle are copper works, brass works, 

 and a tape manufactory ; a little coal-mining is also carried on. The 

 Caldon Canal passes along the valley of the Churnut two or three 

 miles from the town. 



(Communication from Cheadle.) 



CHEDDAR. [SOMERSETSHIRE.] 



CHEUUBA. [ARACAJJ.] 



CHELMSFORD, Essex, a county town, and the seat of a Poor- 

 Law Union, in the parish and hundred of Chelunsford, is situated on 

 the river Chelmer, in 51 44' N. lat., 28' E. long. ; 29 miles N.E, 

 by E. from London by road, and 29 j miles by the Eastern Counties 

 railway. The population of the town of Chelmsford was 6033 in 

 1851. The parish is under the management of a Local Board of 

 Health. The living is a rectory in the archdeaconry of Essex and 

 diocese of Rochester. Chelmsford Poor-Law Union contains 01 

 parishes and townships, with an area of 81,738 acres, and a popu- 

 lation in 1851 of 32,258. 



Chelmsford is situated nearly in the centre of Essex, on the high 

 road from London to Ipswich. The town derives its name from an 

 ancient ford over the river Chelmer, near its confluence with the river 

 Cann. The manor was formerly in possession of the bishops of 

 London. About the time of Henry I. it became a place of some 

 importance. Maurice, then bishop of London, built a stone bridge 

 over the Cann and diverted to it the public road which previously 

 passed through Writtle, by which means he made Chelmsford the 

 great thoroughfare to Suffolk and Norfolk. The present bridge over 

 the Cann, a handsome stone structure of one arch, was built in 1787. 

 The High-street, which is wide and commodious and contains many 

 good houses, extends from this bridge to the Shire Hall. There are 

 several other streets. The town is well lighted with gas. A tolerably 

 good supply of water has been furnished for a considerable period 

 from a conduit in the market-place, which is fed by pipes from 

 Burgess Wells, near the entrance of the town on the south-east. 

 The fountain was re-constructed in 1841, the expense being defrayed 

 by public subscription. The parish church, dedicated to ^t. Mary, is 

 a spacious gothic structure, rebuilt in 1424. In June 1800 the roof 

 and a portion of the walls fell in, but the church was afterwards 

 rebuilt. At the west end is a square embattled tower of the 13th 

 century surmounted with a lofty spire. The interior contains many 

 interesting monuments. There are a district church dedicated to 

 St. John, and chapels for Independents, Baptists, Quakers, Irvingites, 



