Hawke's Bay

Hawke's Bay, a provincial district of New Zealand, on the east coast, between Auckland and Wellington. Area, 4765 sq. m.; pop. (1886) 24,568. It presents rich alluvial plains and undulating hills, with enormous forests. The bay known as Hawke's Bay was first entered by Captain Cook on 8th October 1769, and was so named after Sir Edward Hawke, then First Lord of the Admiralty. It is almost all suitable for farming, and the forests are of enormous extent. Napier (q.v.) is the port and chief city.