Islands.

The Coromandel gold district extends from Cabbage Bay to Mc. Caskill's Creek on the Thames, and from the Waipauga stream at Coromandel to the Wamgamarow of Mercury Bay.

The Islands of the Thames Gulf, Waiheki, Ponui, Motutapu, Motuihi, and Rangitoto, stretching along its western shore, form a beautifully sheltered sound for about 20 miles page 32in length, from near the northern end of which Auckland harbour runs in to the westward with a smooth and sheltered entrance in all weathers. During the existence of the Auckland settlement, about twenty years, no wreck has occurred near the harbour, or if any small vessel has run ashore it has been got off again.

Waiheki Island with about 20,000 acres is chiefly useful on account of the timber with which it is covered, and which is brought up for fuel to Auckland. The more fertile parts of the Island become grass covered where cattle tread down the fern, but very little cultivation is carried on save by the natives, although there are good flats and valleys in it with fertile soil. The Government possesses about 11,000 acres of land on Waiheki, and private individuals hold about 5000 more. There are a few boat building establishments on this island, for which its timbered coast renders it a convenient locality.

Motutapu and Motuiki are fertile in hill and in hollow, with a surface enriched with volcanic scatterings from some adjacent crater, probably that of Rangitoto.

Ponui and Motutapu are respectively the property of two sheep farmers, who, especially in the case of the latter, are improving the pasture by surface sowing and systematic cultivation. Motutapu will soon become entirely grass covered. Mangitoto, the island that immediately shelters the entrance of Auckland harbour, is entirely of volcanic origin, with uniformly sloping sides inclining from the central crater to the sea.

The Islands, Terataroa and Pukatua, are of a character similar to Waiheki. Rakino is of a similar surface and fertility to Motutapu, and is being brought into cultivation. Brown's Island is an extinct crater, surrounded by scoria streams and volcanic soil, on the latter of which fine grass, surface sown, is taking the place of fern.