Wellington Hills.

Mr. G. F. Angas, the artist, writes thus about the hills surrounding Wellington in 1845:—

“The country for some miles round Port Nicholson is little else than a succession of steep irregular hills, clothed with dense forests; the nearest available land, of any extent, is the valley of the Hutt.… By an enormous and almost incredible expenditure of labour and money, they (the colonists) have cut down the lofty trees and cleared patches here and there amongst the forest, on the mountain sides to sow their wheat; but owing to the steepness of the hills the heavy rains wash down much of the seed sown, and the unfortunate settlers have not been able to raise sufficient for their own consumption. The view from the hills at the back of the town (Kelburn) was a scene of exceeding beauty. The harbour looks like a large blue lake embosomed deep in hills. The green and umbrageous forest displays foliage equal in magnificence to that of the tropics.”