AGRICULTURAL, COMMERCIAL AND MARITIME REPORT.

Maori Messenger : Te Karere Maori, Volume IV, Issue 4, 30 May 1857, Page 7

AGRICULTURAL, COMMERCIAL AND MARITIME REPORT.

For May. The commercial intelligence from Australia, whether as we receive it from the public newspapers, or through private channels, is of a nature which if not, for the .moment, the most cheering to New Zealand farmers is nevertheless such as should induce them, at this important season of the year, to turn a large share of attention to the growing of those crops which are in the greatest request and are likely to increase 'in demand in the Australian markets. The crops to which we thus aMude are Uhose eff oais, maize, and barley. These are in very great demand, particularly in Melbourne where oats are so scarce that they sell readily for ten and eleven shillings a bushel, maize at nine shillings, barley at a proportionate price, whilst wheat is dull and difficult of sale at less than seven shillings. A very lengthened acquaintance with the Australian colonies enables us in the most positive manner to state that, taking one season with another, oats and barley have been much the more advantageous grains for the grower. Wheal is less prolific, where soils and climate are favourable, and the fluctuations ttre much greater. In Australia the cultivation of oats is difficult and uncertain. The aridity of the climate—the hot winds—are adverse to their growth. In Tasmania, they arc more successfully grown ; but even that country is unequal to

the production of ihe oats and barley with which, with a lilile skilful industry, New Zealand may be made to teem. Any quantity of oats would meet at this moment with a prompt and profitable sale at Melbourne, The wants of this year will, in all probability be as great, if not greater, in the following - ; and, as seed lime is at hand we would earnestly advise our Native husbandmen to turn their immediate attention to the culture of oats and barley which cannot fail lo yield them a rich return. It would be well, too, were they to direct their attention to the growing of horse beans. Horse provender of all sorts is of enormous consumption in the Australian Colonies, which are altogether unequal to New Zealand in the capability of producing it. The price of potatoes has receded at Melbourne from Ml. and iZI. to 8J. f at which sales are not easily effected. Wheat is dull, at 6s. 9d. to 7s. per bushel. Flour hard to be got rid of at 46L to 17L"per ton, and no immediate prospect of improvement. We are under the necessity of omitting our usual shipping report for want of space, but it shall be furnished in full in our following number.

Bread Stuffs. Flour, fine, \ SJ. per ton. Flour, second quality, . . \Q>l. per ton. Biscuit {prices unsteady) at from 205.10235.per cwt. Bread per loaf of 21bs. . . sd. Bran Is. 3d. per bh Butchers Meat. Beef and Mutton from . . sd. to 6d. per lh. Pork (fresh ajid salt) . . sd. iioGd.ditto Farm Produce. Wheat, (scarce) ss. Od. per bushel Maize, . . . 4s. lo 4s. 3d. per bushel. Oats, . . . 4s. lo 4s. 6d. per bushel Potatoes, . 01. 10s. to 4J. per ton Onions . . . . Hd. to 2d. per lb. Hay (plentiful) . . SZ. to 61. per ton. Live Stock. Sheep from . . 17s. to 255. a head. Dairy Cows . . iU. to 12/. each. Calves from . . 255. to 40s. each.