✨ Government and Medical Report
NEW ZEALAND
GOVERNMENT GAZETTE.
(PROVINCE OF NEW MUNSTER.)
Published by Authority.
All Public Notifications which appear in this Gazette, with any Official Signatures thereto annexed, are to be considered as Official Communications made to those Persons to whom they may relate, and are to be obeyed accordingly.
By His Excellency’s Command,
ALFRED DOMETT, Colonial Secretary.
VOL. IV. WELLINGTON, THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 27, 1851. [No. 29.]
Colonial Secretary’s Office,
Wellington, 22nd November, 1851.
HIS EXCELLENCY THE GOVERNOR NOR-IN-CHIEF has been pleased to direct the publication of the following Report by the Colonial Surgeon at Whanganui, for general information.
By His Excellency’s command,
(For the Colonial Secretary)
S. B. GRINSTONE.
REPORT
ON THE
MEDICAL TOPOGRAPHY OF THE
WHANGANUI DISTRICT.
The river Whanganui, called in some of the old maps, Knowsley, is a fine stream of water, running through a district of the same name, on the northern shore of Cook’s Straits. It has its origin in Tongariro, a mountain lying about 60 miles from the sea, and embouches in Lat. 39. 57. 10. South, and in 175. 2. E. East Longitude. Stretching at first considerably to the north-west, and pursuing a very tortuous course, its whole length is estimated at 240 miles.
The name is derived from the native Whanga, expanse, or occurring to another authority, fissure, and nui, great, both are applicable, the former, probably more so ages ago at the present time, much of the land in the lower part of the district now dry bearing evidence of having been covered with fresh water.
A bar of shifting sand extends across the mouth, cut by a north and a south channel, the greatest depth is commonly in the latter, and may be stated at seven feet low water, spring tides, with a rise of nine feet; the average depth at half flood, is eleven feet. A third channel sometimes makes its appearance sufficient for the passage of boats.
Inside the bar a sheet of smooth water presents itself, which having been crossed, the river is entered by a narrow gut. Immediately within the entrance is a low sandy swamp forms the north shore, the opposite margin being bounded by a narrow strip of beach, along which are ranged hills, not sufficiently numerous to prevent occasional floods covering the low ground behind. A little higher up the sand flats cease, and banks of from twelve to several hundred feet high effectively confine the waters.
The distance to which the tide flows is about twenty miles, the average rate of current three knots and a half, along the tideway the depth varies from nine to twenty-four feet, low water.
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New Munster Gazette 1851, No 29
✨ LLM interpretation of page content
🏥 Publication of Colonial Surgeon's Report
🏥 Health & Social Welfare22 November 1851
Medical Topography, Whanganui District, Report Publication
- ALFRED DOMETT, Colonial Secretary
- S. B. GRINSTONE, (For the Colonial Secretary)
🏥 Report on Medical Topography of Whanganui District
🏥 Health & Social WelfareWhanganui River, Medical Topography, District Report