EXPLORATORY TOURS. 207 
middle of the stream ; in which are always a con- 
siderable number of people : further up, will be 
found large cultivations of potatoes and corn ; 
and, scattered here and there, native villages. 
Down the river, and in the frith, as far as Waka- 
tiwai, the great body of people reside : and from 
the Puriri they can be visited only by boat ; 
which, by taking advantage of the tide, can be 
easily effected. Three individuals, one a Clergy- 
man, have been appointed to reside at the Puriri, 
to conduct the business of the Mission there. Two 
arrived there in January 1834, and two others 
joined them in the April following ; one of which 
number, however, holds himself in readiness to 
proceed to any new Station which may be formed. 
With respect to this object — the formation of 
other and more-distant Mission Stations- — every 
effort is making, and our most anxious thoughts 
are occupied in devising the best means of ad- 
vantageously disposing of our present strength. 
In Fetruary 1834, the Rev. A. N. Brown, from 
Paihia, and Mr. Hamlin from the Waimate, were 
deputed, by the Local Committee, to go over-land 
to Waikato, the most populous district that we 
know of in the island. The natives there have, 
in various ways, made application to us for in- 
structors, and have again and again expressed 
their willingness to do any thing in their power 
to make those persons secure and comfortable, 
who may go to live with them. The Deputation 
