WELLINGTON.

New Zealander, Volume 4, Issue 211, 7 June 1848, Page 3

WELLINGTON.

The increasing number of mills for grinding corn belonging to the natives in this Province, may be regarded as a feature of great importance in estimating our future prospects. Four mills have either been built or are in progress of erection, and preparations are making for building two more. These mills not only ensure a greater extent of cultivation in the districts which surround them than under the old system, and habits of continuous labjur among the natives, but they do more. The reasons which have decided the Ngatitoas to erect a mill we have no doubt operate more or less with the other tiibes whose example they are about to imitate. They find that wheat is the most marketable commodity they can produce, and flour the most marketable state in which they can dispose of it, in exchange for those manufactures and article! of consumption which are daily becoming more necessary to them. The deiire to turn their labour to the best account will thus lead the natives by degrees to become an agricultural people; and as the influence of this feeling extends among them, the strongest guarantee will be afforded for the future tranquillity of the country, It is not our present intention to follow out this subject, we allude to it for the purpose of showing the greut increase of native grown wheat: in the different settlements in Cook's Strait there has also been an incieasc in the amount of whest grown by the settlers last year, and in the ensuing season tho amount will bo still greater. The increased amount of wheat and wool, the growth of this Province, ought to have a mateiial effect on the product on of nn article which, on the colonization of New Zealand was counted on as a staple produce, and looked forward to as a principal export. vVith the increased amount of wheat and wool there must be an increased consumption of sacks and woolpackp. why should these articles continue to be imported, when we have the raw material in such, abundance in our hands, indigenous to the country, when its preparation would afford continued employment to the natives, and when there exists an unlimited demand for it in the home market? It is objected that the present supply of flax by the natives is small and uncertain : but this may be owing in a great measure to the fluctuating demand for it as an article of trade. A good deal has been taid and written at various times about flax, but nothing has yet been done on a scale of sufficient importance to create a constant demand for it in quantities likely to have a permanent effect on the native labour market. If a manufactory of sacks and woolpacks from New Zealand flax by machinery were once established, so as to produce these articles at such a price as to compete with those imported into the colony, a constant demand would be created for considerable quantities of flax, which would stimulate the natives to increased production ; new methods of preparing it would be discovered by which the quality would be improved and the cost lessened; the natives, who keenly obseive everything affecting their interests, would learn to weave, would perhaps, by joint subscription, establish a manufactory lor making sacks, as they have already established mills for grinding flour, and under Euiopean superintendence in this case their labour would be still more available. When arrived at this point, the preparation of flax as an article of export would increase rapidly, and at a lew but remunerating market price the natives would as confidently prepara continually increasing quantities to keep pare with the demand, as they will continue to grow wheat in the full expectation of ob - taining a ready sale for it.—Spectator. On Saturday last, Ist April, the sum of jgllOO, being the second instalment of the purchase money for the Porirua and Wairau districts, was paid to the Ngatitoa tribe in presence of his Excellency the Lieutenant Governor and Lieut. Col. M'Cleverty, the tives named in the deed, who would distribute it among special Commissioner. The money was paid to the nathe diffirent members of the tribe entitled to receive payment.—Spectator. H.M.S. Fly, we believe, proceeds to-day, on a voyage to the Auckland Islands. Mr, Kemp embarks in her as Commissioner for acquiring if possible the whole of the land between Akaroa and Otakou, where she will "call on her way. We understand it is in contemplation to make a continuation of the Nelson Block 10 that it is pn.bable the whole line of coast from Nelson to Otakau, will become the property of the New Zealand Company. If Mr. Kemp is successful, and the Native right to the whole of that country be extinguished, what is tiere to prevent any immedia te influx of settlers, who may, with their flocks and herds, sit down undisturbed among the grassy plains and downs which abound there. The Company seems to be making very vigorous movements, and we certainly approve of the plan about to be adopted of making the Government the medium in their dealings with the natives. On the whole we look foiward with great satisfaction on the changes that are taking place in the Southern Settlements. —Wellington Independent. Akaroa..—We understand that the settlers of Akaroa complain greatly that there is no chnstian minister of asy denomination in that settlement. Some of them are anxious to be married, and others who are parents, are very desirous to bave thtir children christened : we sincerely hope they will not suffer much longer from tins state of spiritual destitution.—