THE MAORI MESSENGER. Auckland, September 26, 1850.

Maori Messenger : Te Karere Maori, Volume 2, Issue 46, 26 September 1850, Page 2

THE MAORI MESSENGER. Auckland, September 26, 1850.

Although we have repeatedly ineulcated increased diligence in the prosecution of Agricultural pursuits; and, although we have every reason to believe that many of our native readers have prolittcd liy our suggestions, yet, at this invaluable season, we should he wanting in duty to them and to ourselves did we not keep a watchful eye upon every passing transaction, in order to detect any means whereby the natural resources of the country may he rendered more subservient to the necessities of its indwelleis—more conducive to their progress in moral and material richesIn many of the papers which we have written wo urged increased cultivation, especially of our vegetable productions, in .order that our usbundineu and our

merchants might reap advantage from the market which California presented.. Some of those vegetables fetched enormous prices, ami were eagerly purchased. Of one or two sales accurate information has been received. Of the great majority of the Auckland cargoes no tidings I have as yet been had. in the meantime | there have been occasional arrivals from California, and by these there arc indirect : rumours that potatoes and other vege- | tables are greatly fallen in price. That they are of considerable less value wo readily believe, but even if this be true it should bo no cause of discouragement nor should you slack in the slightest degree in your industrial exertion?. You must bear in mind that the inhabitants of California are of a very dillerent description from those of any other country. They are the adventurers of ail nations attracted thither not to make that land their home, but lured by their thirst to ncquirc the gold with which its earth is incorporated. The search for riches is almost exclusively during the summer season, and at that period the town of San Francisco, to which our produce is shipped, is forsaken by the great body of its inhabitants, who flock in thousands agrcat way into the interior of the country to thoseparticuJnr spots where the gold is found. In winter, when the river 3 are swollen and the land over Hooded gold digging ceases, and tlicy who have occupied their summer in its pursuit return to the town to dissipate their gains, and to find the food and shelter which the severity of the season, and the exorbitant price of carrying supplies into the interior, prevents the generality of miners from purchasing at places so remote. We have given you this explanation that you may be able to understand why the markets of Sun Francisco should at one time be so extremely high, and at another so comparatively low. V on must perceive that the great ebb and How of its population must liavo a great influence over the inarki ts. That winter prices must bo extravagant, summer ones much more moderate. At the date of the departure of the last ships, it was the height of the summer in that country the mass of the inhabitants were at the gold di;?tf'"ss. ninl lipiii-.i'. in nil |ii-«iljalJllliy, one of the principal causes of diminished prices ; but with winter, which there is again approaching, who shall venture to assert that prices shall not ho as high as before ? It must be remembered that thousands of adventures continue to pour into California week after week—that its population increases in a maimer utterly unknown elsewhere, and that although ships and provisions nrrivc thither from the uttermost comers of the earth, that such an unprofitable traffic cannot last very long, mid that it will be left to the nearest and the cheapest purveyors to derive the real advantage which California, when she assumes a settled character, may afford. New Zealand i 3 the nearest, and, from the great inherent fertility of her soil, should bo the cheapest purveyor. We therefore, .again urge you at this, the husbandman's hour of opportunity, to plough, plant, and sow, for you may be assured that, even were California closed against your toil, your industry cannot fail of rich reward. You, who understand the English language, need only take up any of our English newspapers to assure yourselves that in this your native soil you have a market for Wheat, Oats, Barley, Maize, Hacoii, Pork, Butter, Cheese, and other j Agricultural produce far beyond your present power of supply. Look at the ' ndvertisments in the Auck'and, the Wellington, the Nelson, the Otago papers, and, at every stove, you will see Van Diemen's Laud (lour—Van Diemen's Land oa's—Van Diemen's Land butter offered for sale. Look, we intreat you, nt the Shipping Li3t in this day's " Messenger," and you will observe the arrival of two large schooners from Hobnrt Town and I.aunceston , and these principally laden with Hour, oa(s, butter, cheese, &c.! Why should this be ? Is New Zealand smaller or less productive than Van Diemen's Land? Far from it! We, who! now write to you, J know Van Diemen's j Land well. We have farmed some of its finest lands for many years —and we ltell you truly that its richest soils do not 'surpass the richness of yours, whilst its

more arid climate is immcnsnrcnb'y inferior to that with which Providence has blest these islands. Up and be doing, then. You have but to exert your industry to outstrip mid undersell Van Diemen's Land, not merely in the markets of New Zealand, but in every port of the Pacific Ocean !—lf potatoes will not pay in California, they will do well to fatten swine, and well led and well cured pork will vield a profitable return in any markef. " Oh, that we could induce our native readers to ponder all that we have written and urged on the subject of Dairy Farming. If they wou'd only devote their attention to that branch of rural economy they would speedily acquire great riches. It is deplorable to think tUfit in the finest gras3 anil meadow louutry*yn the world, a market should be found- for the dairy produce of an inferior fcoil. Study pastoral pursuits, oh Mnories. There is an old and a valunblo English maxim which snith "A penny saved is a penny gained." Save your pennies. Why should you permit Vim Diewen's Land, or New South Wales to extract them from you, for the supplies which you ran so readily and so abundantly raise ?