THE MAORI MESSENGER. Auckland, October 7, 1852.

Maori Messenger : Te Karere Maori, Volume IV, Issue 99, 7 October 1852, Page 2

THE MAORI MESSENGER. Auckland, October 7, 1852.

It has afforded us infinite gratification to compare the amount of agricultural produce which arrived in Auckland during the quarter ended on the 30th of September, 1832, the produce conveyed to market during the same quarter of 1851. Although in some of the commodities there is a trifling decrease, still in the main there is not only no diminution, but in the very important article of wheat the supply of 1832 nearly doubles that of the previous year. In maize, it is to be regretted that a falling off of no less than 3189 bushels have taken place. We know not lo what this defalcation is to be attributed, but wo deem it incumbent to point it out; both because niai/.c has been dear in price and greatly required, and because we hope that the native industry which has already been so energetic in profiting by the Australian outcries for food will not slumber now, but make large provision for the increasing demand which will be largely and progressively extended. Wc have perused many letters from many parts of Australia. All of them dwell strongly upon the wealth to be derived by New Zealand from un enlarged culture of

its soil. Every day swells the numbers that Hock to ilie gold fields; and every day renders the prospects or Australian pastoral and agricultural toil more and more hopeless. Were it not that food can he purchased from oilier countries, there would he every reason to apprehend a famine; and even with all the masses of gold with which the country is teeming, it is to he reared that the less fortunate diggers will he scarcely able to pay the exorbitant prices that will be demanded, and that much privation and misery must necessarily ensue. The advice given by the Australian colonists anil urged upon the New Zealand is to plant potatoes to the very latest moment, and in every available spot. Plant, plant, plant, is iho cry of every letter; and, according to the latest intelligence, potatoes had been sold in Sydney at £l2 per ton. It is especially deserving the consideration of our native producers that potatoes will be certain to command a market when wheat may lie comparatively low in price, and dull of sale; and for this reason, that the ships of America can easily glut the. colonies with, an over supply of Hour. They cannot, however, do so with potatoes, onions, carrots, turnips, and the like; most or these viust be had from New Zealand, for Van Dicmcn's Land will not be able to supply anything like the quantities she has been used to do. Labour in Van Dictum's Land is exceedingly scarce, so much so thai a ship was sent from llobart Town to Norfolk Island to convey between three and lour hundred convicts to lighten the dilliciillies or (he farmer and the grazier.

11l nil emergency such :>s lliis, llio ques(ion which every New Zealnnil farmer should ask himself should be:—How much land can I plant, and how much produce can I raise? There is no fear of il hanging on hand ; for if I cannot dig ijold from my own fields, I can draw gold to my family through the sale of that food which now is, and will long continue to be so eagerly required. Will New Zealand he able to supply much of that food ? That, of course, must greatly depend upon the industry and activity of her farmers. The best way to judge of what we can accomplish in future, is by a reconsideration of what we have achieved during the past. To assist the judgment of our readers on that point we have made a rough calculation of the quantities of New Zealand produce shipped from Auckland to Sydney and Melbourne since April last. In summing up the several shipments that have taken place during that lime, we lind them to include IG3I bags, 1589 kits, and Ao tons of potatoes; 80G boxes, 8-2 bags, and 4 tons onions; 217 bags wheal; 755 bags of oats; 555 bags of bran; 550 bags and 25 tons (lour; 121 kits maize; 172 packages bacon; 05 cases cheese; 8 casks .butler; 101 bales and 4 tons flax.; 05 coils iiud 1 ton wool lashing; 111,15 i feet sawn timber; 8210 pieces timber, and 25 kauri rickers;—besides these, there have been various parcels of pork, lish, lard, oil, skins, rope, &e., &c. Now all ibis is trifling enough, and would scarcely be worth notice, were il nol that it isShc beginning of a lucrative trade which requires but diligent perseverance to prosecute to an almost unlimited extent. The trade is trifling as yet, notbecausothe market is dull or the demand for our produce languid ; but simply because we have not yet created the means of an ample and continuous supply. Let Native intelligence give heed to our words. New Zealand, by Native industry, may easily be made the

Egypt of the Southern Ocean. Let it once become known that iu New Zealand llicrc is abundance of corn, ami her harbours will twin willi ships, and her farms at once become the happy and prosperous homes of a rich and thriving people.

Since wriiing the above the '• Jloa" from Sydney has arrived, and in coiifirmalion of the immense opening that is being afforded to the produce of New Zealand, we copy a few facts from the " Commercial Intelligence" of the "Sydney Herald" of the 18lh ultimo:—They are as follows : Bmii.ky : we inusl look for a decreased supply under the inllucncc of gold digging. The New Zealanders would do well to turn their attention to this article, as we ulutlt of necessity draw a large portion of our ijrnin thence: if of line sample, « large quantity would annually meet a 10nuuieralive price in this market, rti'imt —A large quantity would meet a ready sale, with a prospect of very high rales siller December nest. I'i.oir—Arrivals from America arc now anxiously looked for, as stocks are inadequate to supply an increasing population —l'rice X2,'i per ton line, £2"> per ton seconds. Oats—.Market bare. On.—.Market bare; without prospect of whalers coming in to relit, being apprehensive, of desertion. I'ouk—Wanted. Potatoes—Wanted—9s. to 12s. per cwt. O.nions —21s. to 50s. per cwt. TiJiiiKii—Very high, and full prices will probably rule for imported to a considerable extent. WOOI. I.Asnixr, —-Limited Slock. Wnr.AT—l.idle or none arriving in the market —price Ss. id. to Bs. Gil. per bushel. All these articles are 011 the rise. They are all abundantly and easily to be produced in New Zealand. If, therefore, the New Zealand farmers do not speedily become opuleul, who will be to blame ?