Ngā Rauropi Whakaoranga

"The whole of the plains appear very unsuitable for purposes of agriculture; the ground appears of a gravelly and clayey nature, without any appearance of good mould, and the natives themselves do not cultivate but very small portions of it, preferring to burn off the forest land for their potatoes, which, from the quantiity of vegetable matter that has accumulated on the top for so many centuries, makes the ground particularly rich, and the potatoes in consequence grow to a large size, and are very productive"

Around Matamata: "Flax is abundant in this part of the country, and is remarkable for the length and strength of its fibre. "