258 BAY OF ISLANDS. [PART II. 



and has, moreover, the disadvantage of having no 

 water-carriage. 



Besides this flat district, there is a valley with a 

 considerable extent of excellent land up the Kaua- 

 kaua, an arm of the bay, stretching to the south, 

 into which runs a small fresh -water stream. This 

 valley is in the hands of a large native tribe, who 

 cultivate it very extensively. 



The number of whaling and other vessels in the 

 Bay of Islands has much decreased during the last 

 twelve months. This is chiefly owing to the in- 

 crease of Europeans, who consumed the scanty pro- 

 duce of the region. If the necessaries of life ever 

 come down to reasonable prices in New Zealand, 

 and if at the same time liberal measures be adopted 

 towards foreign whalers, there can be no doubt but 

 they will all again resort to that country, situated 

 as it is nearer to the whaling-ground than any 

 other. 



There exists already a little town at Kororarika, 

 a small cove in the bay, which offers great facilities 

 for shipping, but is difficult of access from the 

 mainland. The same is the case with Russell, the 

 proposed Government town, at the mouth of the 

 Kaua-kaua ; whilst Victoria, the embryo capital of 

 Mr. Bushby, possessing the finest and most level 

 site for a town, and commanding the Waimate 

 table-land, and therefore the best communication 

 with the interior and Hokianga, as well as with 



