Canoes pass more than two hundred miles along the river, and have to encounter a succession of falls and rapids : the means of progression are long poles and occasionally a rope.

Three miles up, on the south bank, is the native village, Patukai-Waruwai, and a mile higher, on the opposite side, the town of Petre, inhabited by Europeans, the computed distances of which from Wellington (the principal settlement in New Munster,) is one hundred and ten miles and a half.

The water of the river, until it reaches Petre, may be considered as an article of diet, nearly pure, but in that vicinity a large quantity of sea water often becomes mixed with it, and several samples drawn from the beach at low tide in summer evolved sulphuretted hydrogen gas within twenty-four hours afterwards. During freshets it is turbid and deposits much mud and gravel on the low ground near the sea, but the numerous wild fowl of the locality and the action of wind and rain render them innocuous. Higher up such accumulations are prevented by the steepness of the banks.

For the purposes of this report and following the district of Whanganui is all that land immediately on either side of the river, and in the neighbourhood of its tributaries.

Lakes are numerous, the most important being Virginia Water, situated two miles from town, at an elevation of about two hundred feet, it is a perfect natural reservoir of excellent water, fed by springs, and must ultimately become the source whence the inhabitants below will receive their supply.

Streams are everywhere met with, some of considerable size and tributary to the river, from the drainage of fertile and extensive tracts of country. The principal on the left bank are the Wakaipapa, which rises near the main stream and falls into it about forty miles from its source. One hundred and twenty miles lower down, the Mangawhero is received also from Tongariro. On the right bank, the Ongarue, the Ohura and the Tongaporutu, are the most important. Many of the smaller streams are chalybeate and at Otumhure and Makokomiko, the former about one hundred, the latter one hundred and forty miles from the sea, salt springs issue from the river’s bank, but no information has been obtained regarding their origin.

Swamps occupy much of the level ground, but being formed of surface water admit of easy drainage, their chief produce is a large growth of coarse grass, rush, and flax. They are frequented by Europeans at all seasons and occupied by the natives, during the flax harvest, which is at that period of the summer, usually considered to be most favourable for the production of matshi; but they do not appear to possess any properties prejudicial to health, beyond cold and moisture; some severe cases of rheumatic fever originated in the water months, but as the locale of fevers, they are unknown.

From Tongariro to the sea there are no mountains, but innumerable hills cover the surface of the country, extending in every direction : they enclose close rich valleys where rich valuable timber is to be found. Medicinally, they are worth notice, on account of the immense quantity of pure water supplied by them, and the share they have in the production of land and sea breezes.

Climate.—I regret being unable to afford tabular information on this subject for an earlier period than the present year, but a somewhat correct opinion may be formed of it from the following observations :

STATE OF THE BAROMETER AND THERMOMETER UNDER SHELTER, FROM THE 1ST JANUARY TO THE 30TH JUNE, 1851.

The months of December, January and February, are the hottest; near the solstices the heat is very great, and natives engaged in field labour retire to some shady spot; headache, vertigo or apoplexy not unfrequently occurring when the precaution is neglected.

In winter, the temperature in the sun averages 90°, in the shade 49°, but much depends upon situation. On the side of a thick hedge-row exposed to a biting south-easter, the thermometer has been seen so low as 40°, while on the other side, summer heat has been indicated. Ice is sometimes deposited on standing water, during the winter nights, but disappears as the sun rises. Snow is rarely seen; hailstorms occur more frequently.

Within 60 miles to the south-east of Petre, are portions of the Tararua and Ruahinemountains, which during the colder months winds therefore are surmounted with snow, the south-easterly winds therefore are very severely felt in the lower part of the district occasionally, and from what has been stated regarding its influence on the temperature of exposed localities it will be readily seen that the character of the winter must be in a great measure governed by it. The north-west wind is milder, that from the north, warm and agreeable in winter, but in summer oppressive; during its presence very little dew is deposited, but a considerable quantity if from any other quarter. It is most abundant when the land breeze only exists, and in the driest season is the never-failing preservative of vegetation. In settled weather land and sea breezes blow with regularity, the former commences at sun-set, the latter about 10 a.m., the breeze for the day sometimes springing up soon afterwards. They are not uncommon in winter, but of course prevail most during summer. The usual winds near the Straits, are the north-westward the south-east, when from any other direction they seldom last long.

The following statement formed from observations made during the last six months will show their relative frequency.

The wettest months are usually those of May, June and July. The number of rainy days during the past half year, were, in

| January | ............ | 5 |
| February | .......... | 2 |
| March | ............ | 11 |
| April | ............ | 12 |
| May | ............ | 13 |
| June | ............ | 15 |

The quantity of rain in January and March was beyond the par of those months, that in February, April, May and June, may be considered the average.