CHAP. XVI.] HOKIANGA HARBOUR. 



241 



tiers. The estuary is joined by several fresh-water 

 tributaries, which have a little cultivable land on 

 their banks ; this is especially the case at the prin- 

 cipal stream, and at the Waima near the entrance 

 into the harbour ; but the alluvial land bears a very 

 small proportion to that which is clayey and use- 

 less. The good land is in the hands of the natives, 

 who are branches of the Nga-pui and Rarewa 

 tribes. They have cultivated small patches, and 

 that portion of the land which they do not make 

 use of might advantageously be occupied by a small 

 number of European peasantry. But the nature of 

 the country forbids any other kind of settlement. 

 The harbour, however, although a bar harbour, can 

 be entered by large vessels, and as there is a pilot on 

 the heads there is no danger. There are already 

 200 Europeans settled on the Hokianga, traders and 

 sawyers, who found ample employment as long as 

 tine spars and cheap labour were to be obtained. 

 But all this is now greatly changed. 



The first Wesleyan mission-station was esta- 

 blished at the Hokianga, and has been so effective 

 that nearly all the natives are Christians. There is 

 a printing-press at Mangungu, from which a few 

 prayer-books have been issued A Roman Catholic 

 missionary also resides here during a period of the 

 year. The hills in the neighbourhood of Hokianga 

 consist of argillaceous slate, covered with a white 

 stiff clay, characteristic of the kauri-land. In 



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