THE HUTT.

Maori Messenger : Te Karere Maori, Volume 4, Issue 58, 13 March 1851, Page 3

THE HUTT.

The hay season at the Hutt commenced generally about the 10th of December, and is now terminated. The weather at the first was somewhat changeable, but this was of so short n continuance as not seriously to interfere with the operations of the hay field. In some instances, where the land is not subject to be flooded and consequently notoverrun with docks, the produce is unusually heavy, calculated at exceeding two tons of good clean bay to the acre ; while in some lands, from their being chunked up with docks and other rubbish, the yield is very light, notwithstanding the average is considered to be very good. The quantity grown is estimated to be about the same as that of last year, arising probddy from the circumstance of a greater quantity of land.than in former seasons being now cropped with potatoes. The prospects of the approaching harvest are particularly good ; the gentle rains at the commencement of this month have greatly refreshed and brought on the grain. The wheat crops have generally a healthy appearance and promises a good return ; setting aside casualties we should suppose the yield to be about forty bushels to the acre; The quantity of land set apart this year to the growth of wheat in the valley of the lower Hutt is estimated at one hundred and eighty acres, but from the scattered nature of the cultivations, the difficulty of making a correct statement is greatly increased. Barley and oats, though not so extensively cultivated this year as wheat, form no unimportant items in the rur.il economy of the Hutt, the harvest of which, ehould this favourable weather continue, will speedly commence, and an ample result is anticipated. Of potatoes, the early sorts have proved a partial failure ; but the second, or latter crop, bids fair fully to make up the deficiency. Nor have the resident natives been behind their neighbours the settlers in their operations in rddition to cultivating some of the crops alijffady mentioned, they have extensive • patches of Indian corn and the kumera; the ,'gKte care and extreme neatness observed in .cultivating the latter may be. seen to much .advantage io the neighbourhood of Putoni. In .conclusion, it is to us a subject of much satisfaction to remark the progress made during the past year in the clearing and development of this iutcrestingdistrict; it being, jve understand, much greater than in any preceding year. Already, through the means of the woodman's axe, are the fair proportions of this part of the valley revealed ; and from

the road may now be caught many a glimpse of the winding Huetctonga, the beauty of its ever changing scenery adds an additional charm ; while the wakeful echoes, whose mournful task, at no distant period, was but to prolong the note of defiance, now gladly hears back the varied sounds of peaceful industry.— Wellington Spectator, Jim. 25.