June 14, 1858.] 
SOUTH DISTRICT OF OTAGO. 
357 
the purchase of the country from the aborigines opened it out to 
civilization. But Jacob River was an exception : it had been kept 
from the fate of the other settlements, mainly owing to the energy 
of Mr. Hanwell, who imported stock from Australia, sent whaling 
and sealing expeditions to the almost unknown West coast of New 
Zealand, and encouraged such branches of industry as were avail- 
able. The inhabitants are now remarkably thriving. Mr. Thomson 
draws a close parallel between the present condition of Jacob 
settlement and that of the Shetlands many years since, as described 
by Sir Walter Scott ; there is the same seclusion from a more 
stirring world, the same pursuits and the same social condition. 
The west of New Zealand is the scene of their whaling and sealing 
enterprise ; its coast is remarkably stormy, bat sounds and promon- 
tories alternate in such close succession that harbours of refuge are 
everywhere to be found. The water is exceedingly deep close in to 
shore, and vessels frequently moor to the trees, where they are 
securely protected from wind by the steep cliffs. The natives of 
Jacob’s Town profess Christianity ; they dress and build cottages in 
European fashion, and these, by the way, are remarkably tormented 
with fleas. 
Finally, Mr. Thomson draws a humorous comparison between 
the occupations and way of living of an officer on the Indian survey 
(in which he formerly served) and those of his present employment. 
Notwithstanding the rude work of the latter, he considers the health 
and hearty enjoyment of life to more than compensate for the 
absence of luxuries, from which the languor of an Indian climate 
had removed the zest. 
5. On the Fine Regions of the Trade Winds. By Thomas Hopkins, 
m.b.m.s., v.p. of the Manchester Literary and Philosophical Society. 
Mr. Hopkins’ paper is a sequel to other writings,* in which he has 
proposed a new theory upon the causes of trade winds and monsoons. 
It is not specially explained in the present communication, but as 
it is alluded to, throughout its pages, a concise description of it 
becomes necessary. Mr. Hopkins denies many of the facts usually 
quoted in support of the commonly received Hadleian theory ; he 
adduces others, which he considers to be at variance with it, and 
maintains that the prime mover of these atmospheric phenomena 
* See Journal of the Royal Geographical Society, vols. 26 and 27 ; and Trans- 
actions of the Royal Society. 
