208 
NAPIER 
CHAP. IV 
about the Bay of Islands the land is in many instances 
very poor (though there are some rich parts), but the 
owners were naturally trying to dispose of it, and in 
one or two instances they used bone-dust with the 
grass seeds to show intending purchasers what the soil 
could produce, the unwary one not knowing that this 
fertiliser had had to be resorted to. Mr. W., who went 
up with us in the steamer to the Bay of Islands, was 
going, as an experiment, to sow gorse, then burn it off 
and feed the sheep on the young tender shoots as they 
came up. He had tried it in the South on a small 
scale with great success. The sheep had grown fat on 
it, and the wool was good. The result will be looked 
forward to with interest, as the land, which, as it is at 
present, is useless, can be bought cheaply. During 
Lord Onslow’s term of office as Governor in New 
Zealand, he took the keenest interest in all pastoral 
pursuits, and, setting aside his viceregal dignity, he 
rode amongst the farmers, talked with them, lived with 
them, and made himself thoroughly acquainted with the 
whole workings of farm life. 
