l<3a ADVENTimE IN NEW ZEALAND. Chap. V. 
110 miles, in two days and a half from hence ; and had 
reported so favourably of the road, that these gentle- 
men determined to make the excursion. They brought 
with them a led pack-horse, besides those which they 
rode. 
I accompanied them one day to the farm of Mr. 
Bell, who was at this time, in the beginning of Fe- 
bruary, reaping his first crop of wheat. 
He had about thirty acres of land under plough 
cultivation, but some part of this was in potatoes. 
Although he had not succeeded in eradicating the fern 
this first year, and a good deal of it was up among the 
corn, yet what wheat there was was of excellent qua- 
lity, and promised well for the next season. Mr. Moles- 
worth, who had just done gathering in a very luxuriant 
crop on his land in the valley of the Hutt, looked with 
some contempt on this more moderate production, and 
cried down the fern land ; but old Bell predicted, that in 
another year he would hardly fear comparison. After 
partaking of a acone, and a cup of milk in the farm- 
house, and admiring the excellent condition of the 
bullocks, who had been fattening on idleness among 
the rich natural pastures in the neighbourhood, we 
returned to the settlement. 
Bell had managed to locate himself here, notwith- 
standing considerable opposition from the natives, by 
an admirable mixture of firmness, good temper, and 
kindness. He had first paid the natives for putting up 
the frame of a house ; and had then filled up the walls 
with kareau and clay, and whitewashed them. A little 
garden had succeeded. He had then proceeded to clear 
off the flax, and fern, and other scrub, which was waist- 
high on the land which he meant to plough. When 
he began this operation, the interruption commenced. 
One perseveringly annoying and ill-tempered chief 
