68 PORT NICHOLSON. [PART I 



anticipated in the description of this place, I must 

 beg leave to give a few remarks which I gleaned 

 during this and subsequent visits. 



Port Nicholson is situated in a foreland which, 

 in its longest extent, has a north-east to south-west 

 direction, and which is formed to the south-east by 

 the deep indentation of Wairarapa, or Palliser Bay, 

 and to the north-west by the bight of the coast in 

 which Mana, or Table Island, is situated. The 

 outermost point of this foreland is Cape Te-ra-witi. 

 This is the narrowest point of Cook's Straits, the 

 distance to the nearest land in the middle island 

 being only thirty miles. In its geological formation 

 this foreland is a continuation of the hills which I 

 have described as forming the chief part of the land 

 at the other side of Cook's Straits, and it can scarcely 

 be doubted that formerly both islands were here 

 connected. The sea having once broken this con- 

 nection, a rush of the tide, which comes from the 

 southward, and runs at the rate of five knots an 

 hour during the spring-tides, took place through 

 the opening. The winds prevailing in this part of 

 Cook's Straits the greater part of the year are from 

 the south and south-east, and often increase to heavy 

 gales, augmenting the rush of water through the 

 straits, and making considerable inroads on the coast. 

 Port Nicholson was doubtless thus formed, and the 

 general aspect of the foreland, in which the harboijr 

 is situated, bears decided proof of the wear and tear 

 of the coasts. At the head of the harbour the hills 



