I have said that the situation of Featherston is beautiful; but it presents more solid advantages than its beauty. The great North-eastern Road from Wellington to Ahuriri passes through the middle of the Town! this road is now so far complete, that carts drawn by horses, bullock drays, and pack animals, may be seen passing daily to and from Wellington and the neighbouring townships of Greytown and Masterton.

The Valley of Wairarapa is rapidly increasing its population, all of whom are producers; and Featherston will be found admirably situated for a market, to which all kinds of produce and live stock may be easily conveyed, and transported from thence to Wellington.

The Suburban Lands, amounting to about 10,000 acres, are situated on three sides of the Town, and are divided into sections varying from five acres to fifty acres each. The soil is of various qualities. That lying towards the north-east is stony, but the stones are mixed with good soil, and in many places we found there were few or no stones below the surface.

Towards the south and south-east, extending towards the Wairarapa Lake (distant from the Town about three miles), and the Tauherenikau River, the soil is more free from stones; in some parts, especially near the Lake, there is a good deal of swampy land; the greater part of this may be easily drained; and when that is done, I have no doubt that the soil will prove to be exceedingly rich, for the natural vegetation is most luxuriant.

There are times when the Lake rises and covers some of the land near its shores; but this could be easily prevented. The rising of the waters is caused by the closing of the channel through which they flow into Palliser Bay, after a series of strong southerly winds; but there would be no difficulty in opening the channel, as was lately done by the Natives, when the Lake was found to rise to an inconvenient height. This was easily accomplished by a few of them going down and opening a small channel through the sand bank: this soon became larger, and the waters in the lake subsided rapidly.

The Lake may, and will, no doubt, be found useful as a means of water communication between the present Township and other lands to the southward which may be thrown open for sale hereafter; but I do not think it will be used as a means of water communication with Port Nicholson, as the road to Wellington is so good and so short.

Before closing these remarks, I may mention that the Settlements of Greytown and Masterton are both to the north-east of Featherston, the first being distant from it about 8 miles, the last about 22 miles. These Settlements have been established by the small farmers; much of the land has been sold; but there still remains about 14,000 acres open for purchase: the great bulk of this is situated on the Taratahi Plains, which lie between the two towns; the remainder is principally round Masterton. The whole of this is open to purchase at ten shillings an acre.

I have the honor to be,
Sir,
Your most obedient servant,
W. M. SMITH.

His Honor
The Superintendent.

PROCLAMATION.

By His Honor, ISAAC EARL FEATHERSTON, Esquire, Superintendent of the Province of Wellington, in the Islands of New Zealand.

I, ISAAC EARL FEATHERSTON, Superintendent of the Province of Wellington, do hereby, in pursuance of the Regulations in this behalf, and notify that the several allotments of Land situate in the Town and Township of Featherston respectively, in the Wairarapa Valley and specified in the Schedule hereto annexed (except such as may be reserved under the provision hereafter mentioned) will be put up for sale by public auction at the Land Office in the Town of Wellington, on Tuesday, the twenty-seventh day of January, at noon.

If, at any time during the Sale, it may appear to the Land Commissioner beneficial or expedient for the public service, to reserve from sale any of the lots specified in the said Schedule, he will do so.

Given under my hand, and issued under the public seal of the Province of Wellington, at Wellington, this fifteenth day of October, one thousand eight hundred and fifty-six.

I. E. FEATHERSTON,
Superintendent.

By His Honor's command,
WILLIAM FITZHERBERT,
Provincial Secretary.