AGRICULTURAL, COMMERCIAL, AND MARITIME REPORT.

Maori Messenger : Te Karere Maori, Volume VI, Issue 18, 31 August 1859, Page 7

AGRICULTURAL, COMMERCIAL, AND MARITIME REPORT.

From the 15th to the 31st August. Since our last number appeared, there has been a slight rise in the Sydney Markets where flour is now selling at £2B per ton for fine, i2G for second quality. Wheat 10s. 6d. to Us. Bran Is. 9d. to 2s. Biscuit from 20s. to 30s. Potatoes £4 to 16. Onions £l2 to £-18. The season, in Australia, is reported as having been highly favourable to the operations of the husbandman; the eariv crops were looking well and healthy, and an extensive breadth had been planted. The growing demand for agricultural producekeeps full pace with its supply ; but it must not be forgotten how many vicissitudes the Australian farmers are subject to—and that no crop can be counted secure until it has been reaped and housed. We trust our New Zealand growers have fikon full advantage of the splendid season - -li which we have been favoured. There '-. already, and there must continue to be, a •cat demand for every description of food. Vopulaiion is flocking hither from Europe in numbers to which we have hitherto been unused ; and although the energy and industry of li at population must largely assist in developing the resources, and advancing the prosperity of the country, still, for a season, these people will be dependent upon the older residents for food ; consequently there will be a ready and remunerative market, for a long time to come for every sort of supplies. Hour readers will only glance at our shipping returns, they cannot fail to be struck with the number of arrivals; these, from foreign ports, during the past fortnight, i amount to 528 souls, whilst the departures

the largest proportion of whom were for other ports of New Zealand—numbered but 57 souls in all. Large as this influx is, the numbers that are looked for, during the ensuing fortnight are yet larger; and according to the advices received from Europe, this influx, is not only likely to continue but even to increase;—now, therefore, is the time for the farmers to plant and become rich. The arrivals, of which we have thus spo. ken, were the steamship Prince Alfred, 703 tons, Captain Bowden, from Sydney, with 19 horses, 29 cattle, 100 sheep, a general cargo of merchandise, and 27 passengers;— the ship Joseph Fletcher, 672 ions. Captain Pook, from London, with a general cargo of merchandise, and 170 passengers; the brig Moa, 257 tons, Captain Anderson, from Sydney, with goods, arid 19 passengers ;—the brigaiuine Comet, 92 tons, Captain Cork, from Newcastle, with 13 horses, 300 sheep, 34 tons coals, and 3 passengers ;—the steam ship Lord Worsley, 291 tons. Captain Johnson, from Nelson and New Plymouth, with sundries, 9 passengers; —the barqne British Queen, 569 tons, Captain Nolt, from London, with merchandise, 124 passengers; the ship Spray of the Ocean, 805 tons, Captain Slaughter, from London with a general cargo, 176 passengers, The departures have been the steam ship White Swan, 198 tons, Captain Cellem, for Napier and the Southern ports, with 260 bags flour, 20 casks bran, 9000 feet sawn timber, sundry merchandise, 17 passengers; —the ketch Pegasus, 45 tons, Captain Brier, for Napier, with 15,000 fuet sawn timber. 6000 shingles, 500 posts and rails, 17 tons, firewood;—the ship Whirlwind, 977 tons, Captain Eigell, for Guam, in ballast;—the schooner Effort, 52 tons, Captain Forester, for Napier, with 10,000 feet sawn timber, 40,000 shingles, 8000 palings; the ketch Traveller's Bride, 50 tons, Captain Richards, for Otago, with 27,726 feet sawn timber, 3 passengers;—the barque City of Melbourne, 476 tons, Captain McLean, for Sydney, with 45 tons potatoes, 11,000 feel sawn timber, 6 passengers;—the steam ship Prince Alfred, 703 tons, Captain Bowden, for Sydney, with 40 tons potatoes, 25 casks oil, 25 fassengers;—the siearn ship Lord Worsley, 291 tons, Captain Johnson, for Nelson and the S oulh, with sundry merchandise, 6 passengers ;—the barque Traveller, 462 ions, Captain Ellis, for New Plymouth, with part of her London cargo, and sundry merchandise from Auckland.