THE MAORI MESSENGER. Auckland, August 26, 1852.

Maori Messenger : Te Karere Maori, Volume IV, Issue 96, 26 August 1852, Page 2

THE MAORI MESSENGER. Auckland, August 26, 1852.

By the brig "Spencer,"—the property of Messsrs Henderson & Maefarlane of Auckland—which arrived from, Melbourne, after a rapid passage of ten days, on Friday last, wo have learnt several particulars relative lo the produce of New Zealand which wo hasten to lay before our native readers, they being among the parties most interested in pushing forward in the great race of colonial prosperity which is so rapidly being opened up. Within the last'fiew months, the (Jlcncoe, Zillnh, Cicely, and Marmora have been dispatched lo Melbourne, laden with various articles of New Zealand produce. The William Hyde, the Spencer, and the Marmora, are now laid on for the same port. If it be asked with what those ships arc likely to be laden, the reply must be with timber, wheal, barley, oals, maize, bran, potatoes, onions, pork, bacon, butter, cheese, &0., The only competitor New Zealand has to encounter in this traffic is Van Dicmcn's Land; and although a greater degree of contiguity is advantageous to thai country, sill a finer, climate and an infinitely larger extent of soil cannot fail to tell in favour of New Zealand, if her native people will only bend their energies lo improve, the occasion thus favourably presented. The prodigious influx, of population from every quarter, all bent upon making their fortunes at the gold diggings of Victoria, has already created, and will continue to' create, an enormous demand for every description of provisions. Theamoiint of population expected to arrive, at'Mclbouruc alone, within ihe next twelve months exceeds that which a year or so since was contained in the whole of Australia. The passages of nine thousand persons were iiflirinal lo :

have been paid for in London in Uic month of May; and, as vast numbers were Hocking also to Sydney and Adelaide, a vast supply of food to support such an influx must he ol)laiued. It is supposed that not less than 230,000 persons will arrive at Melbourne within the next twelve months; and in that very city, where, a year or two since, a fine leg of mutton could be purchased for sixpence, meat now costs three pence halfpenny a poMiid,nnd with an early prospect of fetching double that price. These are mailers of grave consideration for a wise, industrious, food-producing people. Providence has blessed New Zealand with a genial climate and a fruitful soil. Her husbandmen labour under no apprehension of beins burnt out in summer and washed out in winter—droughts and Hoods are atlogelherunkiiowii. If the farmer sows he is sure to reap; and now a vast, increasing, and an easily accessible market has been opened to repay bis toils. If the fruits of New Zealand do not command a liberal share of the gold of Australia, it will be the fault of our farmers who will be 100 indolent to profit by it, or 100 covetous to obtain extravagant prices to bring their produce to market. There is an old and wise saying,—Greed brings grief. We hope that those natives who, we understand, are still keeping back their grain, may not have occasion to prove the force of the axiom. Most articles of Now Zealand produce are in high estimation in Melbourne ; but there arc; some against which the prejudice is so strong that these commodities arc almost unsaleable :—these are sail pork and bacon. The origin of this prejudice is because of the abominable practice or permitting pigs on the coast to feed on fish and oilier salt water garbage. The flesh of such animals become disgustingly fishy, and no European can be tempted to eat of such abhorrent fare. Some of the finest cured hams and bacon have been sent to Melbourne; but the mere fact of Iheir being of New Zealand growth was an niter preventive to their finding a purchaser. This is a matter of much moment to our native pig keepers, inasmuch as the rearing of swine may he rendered a source of great commercial wealth. Hut, lo insure Ibis, especial care must, be taken to prevent the porkers from gelling at any food of a fishy character. Care and circumspection may remove the cause of this prejudice, and a large and successful trade may, ere long, be established in the salt pork and bacon of New Zealand. Every diligence, however, must be used lo obtain a character for the article and to preserve that character when obtained. One fishy barrel or pork would lie sufficient to destroy the sale of an entire cargo. Of this the impossibility of selling a side of the most excellent bacon, or a cask of the most unexceptionable pork, merely because it has been cured in New Zealand, is sufiicient proor, and should incite every native feeder that wishes to prosper lo be particularly careful" in the management of their hogs. Thedairy produce of New Zealand—butter and cheese—are in the highest possible estimation and in great demand, for these arliclus of consumption a very extensive market is open. It is a thousand pities that to this sourccor prosperity the native energy has never been directed. "What should be more attractive to ihc native land owners than to lay down their beautiful fields in meadow grass,—to stock Ihoni with cows for the dairy, and oxen mr the butcher? llutter and cheese would be a certain means of coining money; and the rearing of calves and the fattening of pigs would be easy branches or the same light and remunerative occupation.

No country in the world can possibly surpass New Zealand for Hie successful prosecution or Dairy Farming; it is therefore deeply to he regretted that the native yeomanry, so alert in other industrial pursuits, should he blind to the immense advantages,— to the groat and varied sources of prospcriiy—to be drawn from the easy prosecution of this. Let us hope that every lVieml of the native race will inculcate the benefit to he derived from Dairy Fanning, and encourage them to the pursuit of a trade which will equally stock their pastures and their purse.