THE MAORI MESSENGER. Auckland, January 13, 1853.

Maori Messenger : Te Karere Maori, Volume V, Issue 106, 13 January 1853, Page 2

THE MAORI MESSENGER. Auckland, January 13, 1853.

We promised, in our last number, to propare a few tabular statements for the purpose of exhibiting the large profits to be derived from a judicious system of Sheep Farming. Our readers will, we, trust, excuse us for having deferred those statements until our next; in order that, like the generality of Journalists, we may devote the first article for a new year to a reconsideration of that which has fled, and to a speculative inquiry concerning the best way in which to take advantage of the commercial prosperity which is now being placed at tlje disposal ol the people of New Zealand. No country can rise in the scale of nations without some available internal resources adapted to sustain a Commercial intercourse with other nations. The want of exports lias been painfully felt by the Commercial public of New Zealand. To discover some means whereby a profitable exchange of commodities might he effected with England, or Australia, and other countries; by which ships might be induced to trade to our ports, and encouragement, be given to the building of ships of our own,—these have been the earnest and anxious aims of the mercantile and agricultural community of New Zealand.

The liinilci] sources to wliirli Trade has hitherto been confined, have.becn principally by exportation of Flax, Timber, Whale Oil, Copper Ore, Kami Gum, find :i few other trifling mailers. In the Southern portion of the Northern Island, and much more extensively in tlie Middle Island, the attention of the colonists has been long and peiseveringly directed to Ihu breeding of sheep; because, (as we have again and again shown,) that valuable animal not only affords, an ample supply of the most nutritious food to the inhabitants, but places a rich, an annually increasing, and a most desirable export at their command,—the wool from this quarter or the globe being ;in article of commerce in the very greatest demand in almost every country of I'uropc. Without enlarging upon a subject which we hope shortly lo behold engrossing a large share of native attention, let us direct our readers to a few facts connected with the trade of Auckland during the year 1832. Until the discovery of gold in Australia had changed the aspect of affairs, instead of an export of the agricultural produce of New Zealand, there used lo be a ruinous importation of the agricultural poductions of Australia. Flour, beef, bacon, butter, cheese, maize, oalSj potatoes, and the like were being continually shipped from Hobart Town and Sydney, lo whose merchants the cash of New Zealand was remitted in payment. All this has fortunately been changed. The temporary demand for produce to Cali-

fornia, altliougli it entailed a heavy loss upon the shippers, aroused the energies of I the New Zealand farmers; and that demand | lieing so speedily followed by greater demands I from much nearer and less uncertain markets, an impetus has been given to Speed the Plough, and to exhibit New Zealand as one of the finest producing countries of the. Southern Hemisphere. Hence her relative position towards Australia is altering rapidly, and indeed is already very materially •altered. The importation of llonr and other food has ceased ; and, what is oT iiilinilely groater consequence, its exportation to several of the Australian pons is being actively carried on. Intercourse with Van IMemcn's Land has long been at an end; because New Zealand requires no supplies from Felice, and, with the cxccplion of Kauri Spars and pine limber, Van Women's Land lacks nothing from us. At a moment like this, when New Zealand is just entering upon an active, and wo trust a flourishing, career of productive industry it is important lo the native producer lo compare the stops by which his country is likely lo ascend in the rank of commercial nations. The first movement to moot iho necessities of Australia took place in 1851 ; and since then strenuous efforts have boon made to extend the trade in every possible shape. According to a comparative Holurn of provisions brought coastwise to Auckland during the years 1851 and 1852—w0 find that in the latter year there was a groat increase in the number and'tonnage of the vessels employed; and a considerable increase in the generality of the supplies brought to market. In Flax, the falling off is worth notice, because it shows that the native attention is evidently being directed lo a other and more profitable branches of industry. In 1«5I, J 10.1 tons of flax were brought to Auckland, whilst in 1832, only 551 tons,—less than half the previous years supply,—were iin-

ported.. Pigs, iilso, seem tobcljccnniing scarcer; the number in ISTiI wiis 893, in 1852 Iml 673. It is lo lie rcgrcliccl that Hie unlives do nol direct their attention to u judicious .system of breeding and feeding of hogs; for they may rest assured Ural well fed and well cured salt pork, together with bacon and hams, will always he articles in great demand. Lard, 100, will, likewise, bo nnnli ■wanted. The, increase in the quantity of "Whale and Sperm Oil in 1852, compared with 1881, is also remarkable. In 1831 the returns of sperm oil arc estimated at about 30 tuns. In 1832 at about -125 tuns. The Whale Oil of 1832 was about !)•*> tuns, of 1831 C 3 tuns. The great increase in the last year may, we believe, be attributed lo the American Whaling Ships which visited the ports of New Zealand to refit and refresh, and which exchanged their oil in payment of the agricultural and other product; of New Zealand. Four of these ship- at'-' now in Auckland Harbour. Others arc in the Northern ports,—and many more are immediately expected on their annual visit to refit aud refresh; so thai here again is another encouragement lo agricultural diligence, and a great and growing source of Commercial prosperity. U is | arlictilarly gratifying to know that these industrious and indefatigable whalemen express themselves well pleased with tlio facilities they experience in Auckland ; and that the port is likely to be more and more visited by these hardy and intelligent strangers. There is another circumstance which will' in all likelihood, exercise a speedy and beneficial influence in favour of Auckland. A Company of English Merchants arc building large and fast sailing Steam Ships to hasten

the moans of communication between Eng- I land and Australia, by it is expected that instead of 100 or 120 days being consumed, the passage from London to Sydney will be performed in from •!;"> to 50 days. These steam ships arc to call, both going and coming, at a port in New Zealand, and as there is every reason to suppose that Auckland will be the port, it must be clear \lial they will exercise the most immediate influence in advancing the prosperity of all elasses. There can be no question that the present and future prospects both of the native anil European inhabitants of New Zealand never were so favourable as now- Scarcely a week has, for some'time, passed without the | departure from the port of Auckland of one or more vessels laden with produce for the Australian mar.Uet. 1 As we write, there are' two vesssls loading, i and others immediately expected to load. The High! of passengers to Australia has ceased; anil the commencement of a considerable immigration hither is anticipated. Twenty-one ships of I2.'ii tons sailed for Sydney during the year jiinl ended, convey- | iug I, OS 1,000 feet of sawn timber, 142 rick- I ers, and ."iSUI j iece.s limber ; about 2.*> tons ] of flax; about 13 tons onions; about 120! tons potatoes; 1810 bushels of wheal ; I lOi'i bushels of maize; ."i!) bales of wool; l»0 tons I'opper regu'.ns; Hi. 1 , tons ami 000 j packages bacon; 5 i casks pork ; about 22 tuns sperm and 20 Inns whale oil; about .'io tons Hour ; together with a quantity of cheese, butler, kauri gum, rope, wool lashing, and other sundries.

During the same year, the commencement ol' tin intercourse vvilh Melbourne lias been set on fiml :—Twelve ships of 2180 ions have already sailed lor that port: earning s?>U,tiT>f feel sawn limber; 55 tickers; iBOB pieces limber; -Jfi wooden houses; 11,000 shingles; ahonl I2IS lons potatoes; 020 boxes onions ; ."i.'i tons of Hour ; about 8 lons of bacon; I lon and Til casks pork; a ipianlily of Imllcr, cheese, and lard; 22 (tins hump-bark oil; 818 bags ol'oals; 787 bags of bran; ;>2l bushels mai/e; 2 tons and 57 coils rope, I ion and 70 coils woo lashing; ami other sundries. There has also been supplied for London in lour vessels of 205!) lons 00.7 loads of spars and navy limber ; 70 navy spars; 20 pieces baulk timber; '.lO lons copper ore; lo tons copper rcgulus; 182 bales flax; t!> bales 17 bags wool; tMAlons and 581 boxes kauri gum; 17 bundles 1 rase whalebone; 28-2 casks sperm and I casks black nil; 2 cases ambergris; and 10.70 ox horns. Two ships of 10-28 lons have taken 802 pieces of limber and ISO spars to Katavia; ami one ship of 072 tons OU.o'.tH feet of timber to China. These are the prominent commercial facts of 1852 ; anil we desire to draw llu; attention of our native readers to them, not merely as a'mailer of bonesl congratulation that their industry is attaining its own reward, but in order thai by noting llie increase of each succeeding years production ihey may perceive from what small beginnings great results aris;N and be incited to persevere and acquire a further knowledge in the industrial acts of life. The means are al their command and we feel confident that Ihey will neither overlook or neglect ihein.