William The Fourth River.

In 1832 the author of the following, which is extracted from Hobart Town Courier of September 7, appears to have made his way to the head of the Pelorus, which he describes to be 50 miles long. Exercising the rights of discovery, he tells us he named it William the Fourth River:—"The page 13barque William IV., after visiting Entry Island, proceeded to that part of the coast of New Zealand which lies between Queen Charlotte Sound and Cloudy Bay. On entering the bay where the populous native settlement of Wickett is situated, Captain Steine found that a very large navigable river flowed into it, which he named William the Fourth River. He proceeded up a distance of 50 miles, when he entered a beautiful bay, surrounded with magnificent timber, interspersed with tracts of the richest soil. About 200 New Zealanders dwelt in a small village close to the beach, who seemed gradually to be acquiring industrious and civilised habits. By means of the traffic with the English they had obtained hoes from the people at Wickett, with winch they had broken up the soil, and were cultivating potatoes. Captain Steine found them of a very friendly and peaceable disposition, and easily prevailed on them to assist him in cutting the trees and loading his vessel. That part of the country never having been visited by any European, he named the bay Home's Bay, after the owner of his vessel. The resident chief, named Tamoe, a very handsome athletic youth, and two others named Ahuda and Chewack have come up in this vessel, on a visit to Hobart Town. Near the entrance of the River William Four, Captain Steine discovered another large river, which he named Queen Adelaide River. The whole of the country round those parts is under the domination of Kankatatoo."—Hobart Town Courier, 7th September, 1832.