than that near Port Nicholson. The landlord will be able to lease his land with the certainty that a moderately industrious tenant will be able from the first year to pay him rent. The tenant has at once the means at hand of forwarding his crops to the nearest market, and from Port Cooper to any part of the world. The plains are beautiful to look upon. The Deans Brothers purchased a farm at Otakao (O-Takaro?) near the Putarikamut, in 1843, from Dods and Davis. It is a little colony of itself.”
This letter, though somewhat too optimistic, is valuable as giving in a concise form the reasons which doubtless influenced Captain Thomas in his selection. In passing, it may be mentioned that Mr. Cridland was later engaged in the survey and laying out of the district, and several sketches made by him in 1840 are still extant. He died June 1, 1867, aged 44.
