472 
being deposited on the existing line is, that in all probability a 
submarine reef underlies them, of which the Arrow Koch, in the 
entrance of the harbour may be regarded as the southern termina- 
tion. The boulder-bank in front of Nelson is a rich field for the 
zoologist. At neap-tide the sea-side teems with all sorts of fishes, 
sea -pads, sea-urchins, muscles and snails, while upon the bank 
itself beautiful spongias are found, which are cast out by the surf. 
An excellent road leads from Nelson in a S. E. direction, through 
the agricultural districts of the Waimea and Waiiti plains covered 
with the most luxuriant meadows and fields. Upon the most fer- 
tile alluvial soil there is here farm joining farm, and smaller and 
larger boroughs are springing up. There is a Richmond with a 
‘‘Star and Garter Hotel,” the proprietor of which is striving to 
establish the well-earned reputation of that title, so renowned on 
the banks of the Thames, also among the Antipodes; furthermore 
Stoke, Hope, Spring-Grove, Wakefield, and what more names there 
are of villages and boroughs. We also find two German villages : 
Eanzau, not far from Richmond, and Sarau situated farther East 
on the Moutere hills. As far as I know, these two are the only 
German settlements upon New Zealand. At Sarau I was hailed by 
a merry crowd of flaxen-haired, blue -eyed children; the old folks 
on the other hand , plain , simple peasants from Mecklcnbourg and 
Hannover, had a great deal to relate about the rascality of the 
agents , that had decoyed them thither ; of the sad disappointments, 
the bitter want and privations suffered in the first years, until later 
they T had wrought out a tolerable existence by" the sweat of their 
brows. Farther West, at the foot of the Western ranges are the 
fertile plains of Eiwaka and Motueka , which , but fifteen years ago 
a perfect wilderness, now present the most charming sight: luxu- 
riant meadows with magnificent cattle grazing upon them; thriv- 
ing fields and orchards, interspersed with the dwellings of the sett- 
lers. The white glistening snow-peaks in the back-ground remind 
us of the most charming valley-s of our Alps. In order to conceive 
a correct idea of the amount of labour required to transform those 
plains into smiling fields and meadows, let the traveller proceed up 
