✨ Report on Stewart Island
NEW ZEALAND
Government Gazette.
PROVINCE OF SOUTHLAND.
Published by Authority.
All Public Notifications which appear in this Gazette, with any Official Signatures, are to be considered as Official Communications made to those Persons to whom they may relate, and are to be obeyed accordingly.
By His Honor’s Command,
W. H. AYLMER,
Clerk to Superintendent.
VOL. 5.] MONDAY, JANUARY 21, 1867. [No. 1.
REPORT
ON
STEWART ISLAND.
PORT WILLIAM,
From its position, will probably be the most important harbor in Stewart Island. It is easy of ingress and egress with any wind, presenting in this particular a marked contrast to most of the other harbors in the Island; and is the most convenient port of call for vessels wind-bound in Foveaux Straits, or harbor of refuge for those disabled.
THE LAND is of superior quality, as evidenced by the crops obtained from the small patches which have been cultivated. Though, as a rule, hilly, it is not too steep for cultivation, and is so situated that the greater portion of the slopes have a north-eastern aspect. That at the north-west end of the Bay, running across the neck at the west head, is tolerably level; and the luxuriant growth of the fern tree attests to the superior quality of the soil. About Water Beach, the hills are not so steep, and there are some gentle slopes in other parts of the harbor.
TIMBER.—The shores of this bay, like most of the others on the Island, are covered with timber of size—principally black and red pine; but the under-growth does not offer any serious impediment to clearing—the exuberant growth of creepers being the chief difficulty to contend with. There are two or three creeks (of sufficient size to admit of boating up them for a short distance) running into the Bay.
RESERVES.—A reserve of 200 acres for a township should be made at the north-west side of the Harbor—the frontage including part of West Head, Snug Cove, Cave Head, and part of Magnetic Beach, as per attached sketch. This land is, I believe, claimed under the “Land Claims
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Southland Provincial Gazette 1867, No 1
✨ LLM interpretation of page content
🗺️ Report on Stewart Island
🗺️ Lands, Settlement & SurveyStewart Island, Port William, Land Quality, Timber, Reserves