NELSON AND COOK'S STRAITS.

New Zealander, Volume 1, Issue 20, 18 October 1845, Page 3

NELSON AND COOK'S STRAITS.

By the Lively, cutter, which arrived from Nelson on the evening of the 10th instant, we have received papers to the 27th September. The settlements in Cook's Straits are diligently endeavouring to advance in agriculture, as well as commerce. From Nelson they are exporting timber to Hobart Town ; and to Auckland the Lively has brought a cargo of ale, brewed at Nelson, which finds immediate sale at very remunerating price, as well as creating a demand for Barley grown in the Waitemata district. Another brewery is about being established at Nelson. In the district of Nelson there have been about six hundred acres sown with wheat, and of barley there will be very considerable quantity under cultivation, as the celebrated Nelson brewery has contracted with some of the largest culti vators for the whole of their crops. The Public Roads and Works Ordinance had occasioned a public meeting, inasmuch it was doubted whether the ordinance was not inoperative around Nelson — for it enacted that freeholders, alone, could elect commissioners ;

and, no person there being in possession of a good title, in the absence of Crown grants, it was agreed to petition the Colonial Legislature to amend the ordinance. There have been considerable importation of sheep to Nelson. The Comet, from Two-fold Bay, landed 380 ewes, having lost only two on the voyage. The lambing was going on very favourably, and great increase of flocks was anticipated. Seventy-eight persons left Nelson, in the Palmyra, for Adelaide, at the latter end of the month of August. A meteor, of unusual brilliancy, was seen on the evening of the 24 th August. It had the appearance of the comet which appeared here in 1843, but larger and more luminous; and much disappointment was occasioned by its not appearing on the following evening. There had been no English news at Nelson of later date than the 29th March ; but the Royal William, cutter, which left Wellington on the 14th September, saw a brig, with white ports, beating into Port Nicholson, supposed to be the brig Nelson that was to leave London for that port on the I Oth June. The Government brig Victoria was daily expected also at Wellington, and as she is now due in Auckland, it may be anticipated that she will bring here the English mail of the Nelson. The Wellington Spectator, of the 13th Sept., states, we know not on what authority, that the Vesuvius, war-steamer, is expected at Auckland with troops from England. She is 544 tons burthen, and carries 4 guns. Rauparaha is said to be dangerously ill, at his pa at Otaki, and is not expected to recover. The members of the New Plymouth Agricultural Society meet monthly to discuss subjects relating to agriculture. On the 18th of August, the question for discussion was — " What is the best food to grow for cattle?" The preference was given to Swede turnips, carrots, and parsnips. It was believed that Swedes would average 40 tons to the acre ; — and one settler stated that he had grown, on bush land, 30 tons to the acre. Swedes were considered best adapted for bullocks — carrots and parsnips for cows. The next subject for discussion was—" The best remedy for cattle that have eaten Tupahi ?" The agricultural prospects of New Plymouth are most cheering. Cultivation is being rapidly extended, both by farmers and labourers ; and the natives have also sown wheat to some extent. Sixteen tons of potatoes to the acre were grown last year, by the Rev. H. Groube, from English seed. A tan-yard was established, and the population of New Plymouth was increasing.