AGRICULTURAL, COMMERCIAL, AND MARITIME REPORT.

Maori Messenger : Te Karere Maori, Volume IV, Issue 9, 30 September 1857, Page 13

AGRICULTURAL, COMMERCIAL, AND MARITIME REPORT.

From the 15th to the 30th September. There have been no arrivals from any of the Australian Colonies since the date of our last report: and we have, therefore, no alteration in prices to note. In Auckland, wheat has, until lately, been purchased at a rate that would leave no return to the exporter, and it has, in consequence, been sought for at a lower figure. The tempestuous state of the weather, during the last two or three weeks, has prevented anything like arrivals either from the coast or the colonies; whilst the departures of Colonial traders with full cargoes, and of English ships to India an J elsewhere have lelt the harbour of Auckland nearly clean We have heard with regret that, in some of the low and rich lands near Auckland the long continued wet has been in some degree injurious to the early sown pototcrop, and that even the wheat has been partialiv affected. The season has been an unusually severe one in all the Australian Colonies, where not only the harvests of the last season have been swept, to a considerable extent, away, but where the crops of triis season have been irretrievably spoiled.

Under such circumstances, it is to be hoped that the crops of this countr\ may not be seriously damaged. We incline to think that we shall be apt to jump all at once from winter to summer, and we trust that, with a week or two of dry and genial weather, our crops may not only be put beyond the reach of danger but in a position to yield the sowers a rich return , In all human probability, there will be a larger demand made upon the productive industry of our farmers this season than ever; inasmuch as not only will Australia be apt to look to us for supplies, but a new and not inconsiderable demand is certain to arise from the increasing population flocking from various quartets to the Nelson gold fields. When California, and, afterwards, Australia, were attracting their thousands and tens of thousands to their shores, we urged our native Agriculturists to make sure of a share of their wealth by additional energy in growing and supplying tiie necessary food. They were not slow to approve and to profit by the advice we then gave them, and we trust t!toy will not be remiss in adding to their former industry by renewed and strenuous exertions now. !!nnt after gold who may, they that stick to the plough with diligent perseverance will not be the last or the least to gather a fair share of the glittering treasure. We are greatly pleased to learn that the information and instruction which wo seek, f.om time to time, lo convey in these pages is so justly appreciated by our native readers and correspondents. The information, which they turn communicate to us relative to the apportionment of their lands amongst themselves is highly satisfactory and interesting. If to this, thev would furnish us, occasionally, with a statement of ihequanlilv of land they have in cultivation, and in what manner it is cropped, the intelligence would be as satisfactory to shippers and exporters as it could not fail to prove beneficial to the growers. In all countries the prospects and probable returns of crops constitute an anxious and careful topic ol calculation; for, in a producing and exporting country, it is of all tilings desirable, for the guidance of merchants, shippers, and shipmasters, that the probable quantities that can be spared should be made known. Where cargoes can be had, ships will uaturailv iind their way. and where ships are easily to be found freights will be less high. The only arrival, since our last, has been

the schooner Emerald Isle, Captain Oakes, from Wellington and the South, wilh sundry merchandise and 10 passengers. The departures were, the ship Dinapore 790 tons, Capiain Loutit, for New Plymouth and the Eastern seas, with part of her original cargo frcm London and 21 passengers. The brig Gil Bias, 17-4 tons, Capiain Nicol, for Sydney, wilh 2091 bushels wheal, 921 bushels maize, 92 tons potatoes, 1 800 lbs. butter, 6 \ tons oil. and 8 passengers. The schooner Mariha, 99 tons, Capiain Hunt, for New Plymouth and Melbourne, with sundry merchandise, 20,000 feet sawn timber, and 1 passenger. The schooner Gazelle, 212 tons, Capiain Phillip Jones, for Sydney, wilh 1050 bushels wheat, 560 bushels bran, 20 tons flour, 20 tons potatoes, 12 kegs batter, 22 tons kauri gum, sundry merchandise, and 10 passengers. The flour exported by the Gazelle is fr.#m the new Steam Mill of Messrs. Thornton, Smith, and Firth; and we are led to notice this fact, because these gentlemen have erected their mill in the most complele and substantial manner, w T ith all the newest improvements that have become established in England, and becar.se we consider the export of the manufactured flour is calculated to be much more advantageous to the NewZealand farmer than the export of the unmanufactured wheat. Adelaide flour has, hitherto, been the most esteemed in the Australian Markets. New Zealand flour, on Ihe contrary, has been accounted the worst. If, by improved machinery and skill, the New Zealand flour can be made to compete with that of Adelaide, the New Zealand miller, and the New Zealand merchant will reap a large and merited profit. The arrivals from the coast have been exceedingly scanty, and the supplies, in consequence, are the smallest we. have had to record for a length of time 24 vessels of 666 tons with 158 passengers brought 4 792 bushels wheat, 1 25 bushels maize, 20 tons potatoes, 11 pigs, 10 cwt hams and bacon, i box eggs, 18 tons copper ore, 27 tons kauri gum, 212 tons firewood, 2325 posts and rails, 700 feet house blocks, 900 palings, 5000 shingles, 10,000 feet sawn limber, 12 cwt. salt pork, 40 tuns oil, and 10 cwt. whalebone. The departures, coastwise, have been 23 vessels of 672 tons, with 45 passengers and the usual assorted cargoes.

The following are ihe Market Prices current corrected to date:

Bread Stuffs. Flour, fine, 20J. per lon. Flour, second quality, . . ill. per ion. Biscuit (prices unsteady) at from 255.t0 2Ss.per cwt. Bread per loaf of 21bs. . . Gd. Bran is. od. per bl. Beef and Mutton from . . sd. to 6d. per lb. Pork (fresh and salt) . . sd. 6d.ditto Farm Produce. Wheal, (scarce) . . . 7s. Cd. to Bs. per bushel Maize ss. per bushel Oats . . . . 7s. to 7s. Gd. per bushel Potatoes ... G£. 10s. to 71, per ton Onions .... 2d. to per lb. Hay (plentiful) . . SJ„ per ton. Live Stock. Sheep from . . 4 7s. to 255. a head. Dairy Cows . . 91. to each. Calves from . . 255. lo 40s. each. Groceries. Tea .... 11. to 11. 10s. per cliest. Sugar .... 7d. to Bd. per lb. Coffee .... lOd. per lb. Bice .... 2d to 2i per lb. Soap .... 555. per cwt. Candles .... 40d. per lb. Tobacco .... 2s. Gd. to ss. per lb. Dairy Produce, Butter . . . . . 9d. lo 4s. Ib. Eggs .... 9d. to Is. per doz. Poultry . . . . ss. Gd. per couple Ducks . . . . ss. to Gs. per couple. Geese . , . . ss. to Gs. Gd. each. Turkeys. ... 7s. to Bs. Gd. each. Hams and Bacon . iOd. to lid. per Ib.