Chap, X. NEGLECT OF NELSON. 24^ 
On the 9th, a rather smart shock of an earthquake 
was felt. 
A schooner of 10 tons was launched this month, 
which had been built to the order of Richard Davis, 
the native teacher. He invited several of the settlers 
to a well-managed fete which he gave on the occa- 
sion. 
Next to the building, yard whence this vessel had 
glided into the water, a man from Deal was driving a 
very profitable trade in the construction of whale- 
boats. The competition at the stations was now so 
great that speed became an indispensable quality; 
and six-oared and seven-oared boats were fast adopted. 
This man's boats got a reputation all over the 
coast ; and I have often been told by the most expe- 
rienced headsmen that they were far superior to any 
which they got from Sydney or from the whaling- 
ships. 
The Nelson people were complaining sadly of the 
neglect of the local Government. It was only nine 
months since the first foundation of the settlement : but 
their population amounted to about 1900 ; 67 vessels, 
of the aggregate tonnage of 16,030 tons, had entered 
their harbour ; and they were still without any poli- 
tical institutions beyond a Police Court and a Custom- 
house Officer. It was 92 days since they had last 
heard from the capital. 
On the 3rd of August, a brig arrived at Wellington 
from Auckland, bringing news that Wellington had 
been proclaimed as a borough under the Municipal 
Ordinance ; and that the Bishop, who had arrived at 
Auckland, might be soon expected to pay us a visit. 
Of the capital itself, nothing was said to show that its 
stagnation had ceased ; for the papers were filled with 
complaints of the quaggy state of the streets, and of 
