THE MAORI MESSENGER. Auckland, July 1, 1852.

Maori Messenger : Te Karere Maori, Volume IV, Issue 92, 1 July 1852, Page 2

THE MAORI MESSENGER. Auckland, July 1, 1852.

A considerable portion of the previous number of the Maori Messenger was devoted to an inquiry into the brilliant prospects now opening to the Native Agriculture and

the Native Provision Trade of New Zealand. Wc have, throughout, been untiring in our efforts to incite our native husbandmen to the increased extension of the one and a vigorous pursuit of tins other—because they are the true and only means of enriching the •and owners and of improving this country. If the New Zealand farmer is unequal or indifferent to the demands made upon him for corn and provisions, he can never expect to advance in the scale of nations. Australia will look for other markets whence to derive her supplies, and the gold which may he abundantly drawn hither will he poured inlo other laps. Circumstances have recently led us to investigate the present actual condition of the Auckland Corn and Provision Trade; and, to ascertain that condition correctly, we have compiled a table of the imports coastwise during the three months of April, May, and June. We feel deeply grieved to observe not an increase in those commodities for the . last quarter of the present year, hut a seri- • ous decrease, as compared with the. three months ending the 30th of June 1851. j We shall state a few of the items. ! From the Ist of April to the 50th of June, -1831, there were imported into Auckland 15,078 bushels of wheat. During the , like period of 1852, there arrived but 1 11,218 bushels, being a delicicnry on the last • years import of wheat amounting to i 530 bushels. J In 1851, there were 5900 bushels of maize imported; in 1852, but 2125 bushels—deli--1 ciency for the quarter, 1475 bushels. In 1851, there were 27.J lons onions; in ' 1852, hut B.J tons —deficiency of 19 tons. j In 1851, there were 8 tons, 415 bags, and 110 sacks of llour imported; in 1852, there have been but 1 i tons and 50 bags - deficiency, Si tons, 305 bags, and 110 sacks llour.

In 1851, tlicrc were 21', ions of flax; in 1852, there have been Iml 11.[ —deficiency 10] tons llax. In 1851, llierc wore 108 tons of potatoes; in ISM, llmre were 177 tons—surplus 09 tons potatoes. Tliis, and !) pigs more than in 1851, arc (lie only articles or increase, against the serious anil general amount of decrease of much more valuable articles of consumption which we grieve we should thus be compelled to point out. We confess we had fondly looked forward to a very very different result. We need not assure our native farmers that such returns as these are little likely to elevate the agricultural character, or enrich • the native proprietary of New Zealand. For if the produce of the soil is to become less after a favourable harvest, and with a renumerativc market open to receive it, the attention of the Australian consumer must lie directed to other and more provident purveyors. There never was such an opportunity for establishing, upon a secure and permanen l basis, the Agriculture and Commercial prosperity of New Zealand, as now ; —blest by nature, with a superabundance of fertile soil, enjoying the greatest facilities, by means of navig able creeks and rivers, of convoking the produce of that soil to ports of shipment, the native, farmer can grow and ship his grain at a cost to himself which must defy all profitable competition on the part of the farmers of Van Dieinen's Laud or Australia. Ilul the natives inusl be on the alert if they mean to secure this trade. Such miserable importations of corn, as those to which wc

o now directing tlicir attention, will ruin eir reputation and destroy their prospects a producing people. AVe fear, rrom nil we bnve been able to arn of the large quantity of land under llage, and Ihe abundant return of last harvest, llial Ihe nalivcs arc l.oiml'nttj leir stores, in tin- hope <>f deriving an xorbitant price at some vague and iucfinitc period. If so, lliey are trilling villi tlieir own best interests, and driving mrchasers who would l>c willing lo give hem a handsome profit upon tlieir toil, lo itlier and more reasonable, dealers. In when wheat was at an enorinons price * the Van Diemeu's Land farmers ,cl.l back their corn to drive the price yet uglier. Ami what wis the upshot?— Why l|,is :—the Sydney merchants sent ships lo Valparaiso which returned with cargoes of cheap wheat, leaving that of Van Diemeu's Land unsaleable and in the hands of ils greedv owners, who were, in Ihe long run, compelled to feed their pigs ,wilh it. Let Ihe New Zealand farmers avoid the error which was then so ruinous to those of Vail Diunen's Land. The present price of wheal is a liberal one, and ilsscarcily in Australia, is inducing the merchants of America lo send out American (lour (twenty largo ships are reported as loading), which in quality is as far superior lo thai of Van Dienien's Land, as ihe latter is superior to that of New ylealand. • • Farmers and Merchants are incompatible trades; and Ihe man who endeavours lo combine bolh has generally biller cause to regret his inordinate cupidity. It requires ail immense amount of intelligence and a thorough knowledge of the various markets of ihe world lo be a successful corn dealer, —much more than our native corn growers can by any possibility possess. If they arc holding back their corn, they may live lo repc-iil it. A great deficiency in the prominent articles of last years supply has been clearly pointed out. A wise English proverb says that a nimble nine pence is more profitable than a slow shilling,—the meaning of which is that money makes money,—a truth of incontestible accuracy.

It is by her exports alone that New Zealand can become rich and prosperous; and if her native farmers will hold the fruits of the. earlli, which prudence poinls out lo Ihem to sell, they must not be surprized if when they wish to sell they find no customers inclined to buv.