Chap, XIU. COMET OF 1843. 331 
Surveyor, returned from an excursion to the Tf^aira- 
rapa lake and Ruamahanga plain ; and soon afterwards 
a party of settlers, chiefly those lately arrived in the 
Fyfe, also made a trip to that district. The very graphic 
account of Mr. Fox, who was the journalist of the 
party, confirmed to their full extent the former accounts 
of Mr. Kettle and other travellers. Sketches, too, re- 
presented an almost boundless expanse of varied land ; 
the richest natural pasture, the most luxuriant forest, 
watered by numerous streams and rivulets. Colonel 
Wakefield now directed the principal exertions of the 
labourers under the Company to be devoted to the com- 
pletion of the road into the valley of the Upper Hutt, 
with a view to its continuation over the Rimutaka range, 
so as to give access to the plains of the Ruamahanga.* 
At this time, the first windmill in the colony was 
advancing towards completion at Te Aro ; and several 
tanneries were busily at work near the town. The 
tanners found both the bark of the hinau, from which 
the natives get their dye, and the bark of the towai, or 
" black birch," highly suited to their purposes. 
I was at Otak'i on the 4th March, when the splendid 
comet of 1843 was first seen in the S.W. The first 
night some natives rushed into the house to ask for 
explanation of the extraordinary sight. After watching 
it for some hours, I foretold that it would be seen 
again for many nights ; which they would not believe, 
telling me that I was porangi, or " foolish," to think 
that the atua, or " spirit," would appear when I liked. 
And I was much laughed at till the next night, when 
there it was still ! It was seen for nearly a month ; 
and the clearness of the atmosphere added to its beau- 
tiful appearance. The nucleus was distinctly visible, 
* A view of the Plain of Ruamahanga forms one of the Illustra- 
tions published by Smith and Elder. 
