THE MAORI MESSENGER. Auckland, January 15, 1852.

Maori Messenger : Te Karere Maori, Volume 4, Issue 80, 15 January 1852, Page 2

THE MAORI MESSENGER. Auckland, January 15, 1852.

Some short time since, we endeavoured to draw the attention of our native ship owners and traders to the great importance of entering their vessels at the Custom House;—stating the quantities, and qualities of their cargoes, the numbers of passengers conveyed to nnd fro, the tonnage of their respective vessels, and the ports from whence they loaded, nnd those to which they were about to return. We regret that our appeal has been neglected, and we again renew it, in the hope of convincing the native trader that by disregarding so simple a matter, he is placing a serious obstacle to the promotion of his own prosperity. "Knowledge is power;" says a great English wriltr. Knowledge, likewise Is wealth; and the want of it impotence and poverty. Now although it may be perfectly well known to the inhabitants of Auckland, that large supplies of wheat maize, potatoes, pork, llax, poultry and other nectssari'R tiro continually being brought to market by native shipping, still, as tin- owners will not take the trouble to report those supplies, neither the writers of the Maori Messenger, nor those of the English newspapers can make; fiiUy known to the Whale tdii,-s of the Pacific or the residents of remote countries the industry and the riches of thu native people "of New Zealand. This is a great and grievous mistake of the native traders anil farm' is : for New Zealand l.ns been so long and so largely accustomed to import the Hour, the potatoes, the sheep and the cattle of New South Wnles and Van Diemeii's Land tliat a strong impression has gone abroad that, instead of being able to supply the wants of others, she "is dependent upon other countries for the supply of her own. This mistake the unwise neglect of native traders to enter their vessels and cargoes nt the Custom House tends very materially to confirm. The shipmasters of Eui-.tpc and America are much tuo ambitious to proclaim to the wor'd the number and tonnage of the shipping they possess,—the quantity and character of the exports ami imports they carry on, —to overlook the necessity of entering their vessels at tho Custom Hous", the only means l>y which tlie extent of their commerce enn be made known, and its increasing prosperity assured. They know well that it is only by showing to the world the ample stores they have at tluir disposal that they can hope to have customers to come and buy, nnd shipping to swell the commerce and riches of their ports. Not to report their own ships would be to conceal their own progress, and to conceal their own progress would be to dri'c tra<le and commerce from their shores. Consider these thi'igs well. Remember that between tho 20th of De-

and the present time upwards of I ty sail of large whaling ships have died in at the Bay of Islands, Wangaroa, and Mongamii, to procure supplies, which sonic of these ports could not furnish, lit fleet, that liad Auckland, and the facility with which it could supply all the wants of these Whale ships been fully tinmen to them, that, in every probability a verv considerable portion of those ships would have come into this harbour and have become the purchasers of your goods, and you will then be able to discover some of the losses yon sustain by not repotting your ships and cargoes. It is never too late to remedy nn error; it cannot be too speidily or to ex;* lively known that, as a port of rer" sbment and refit, and at n moderate irsenient, there is not a belter or harbour than Auckland in ... Southern Pacilic. Do your part in promoting your own prosperity by entering your shipping at the Custom House, and "enabling the local newspapers to spread the extent of your means. Every assistance will be aflor<!ed by the Native Secretary; on application at whose cflk-e you will be furnished with the necessary printed forni9 free of charge, and instructed how to art in conformity with the rules of the Custom House. After ofrre or twice entering your vessels, the practice will become not only easy but familiar; and as a clear and distinct knowledge of your industry and your resources will be circulated throughout the world, you will lave done much "to benefit yoursel»es as ndividuals, and your Country as one .vortliy the attention of mankind.