Coasting Trade of the Wellington Settlement. [From the "Spectator," May 11.]

New Zealander, Volume 5, Issue 431, 1 June 1850, Page 3

Coasting Trade of the Wellington Settlement. [From the " Spectator," May 11.]

The progresiive increase and present acivity of the coasting trade of this settlement affords much matter for congratulation. The amount of tonnage employed during the first quarter of the present year, if compared with the corresponding quarters of the two pre« vioui years, shews the great improvement which has taken place. In the absence of published official documents to which we might refer, the shipping intelligence of our Journal will afford us sufficient data for the comparisons we are about to institute. On examining our Shipping List we find the total amount of tonnage employed in importing articles coastwise to Wellington during the quarter ending 31st March, 1849, to be 1533 tons, and the number of vessels 66 ; the total amount of tonnage similarly employed during the quarter ending 31st March, 1850, is 2265 tons, and the number of vessels 76. The amount of tonnage employed coastwise in importing articles to Wellington, during the year 1848 according to the Statistics published by the Local Government was 6044 tons, the number of vessels SO. If we suppose the coasting trade to continue only at its present rate, Urn would give, with reference to the two preceding years, an increase of nearly 50 per cent. But we are fairly entitled to assume that the coasting trade of this port, instead of remaining stationary, will shew a progressive improvement during ench quarter ; that the impulse it has received will be fully sustained, since the causes which have contributed to this improvement are still in operation and ore likely to receive fresh development. Two causes which have led to Ibe greatest improvement are the demand for flax in Sydney, and the opening trade with California. The quantity of flax imported coastwise into Wellington during the quarter ending 3 l»t December, 1848, was 1 ton, 12 cwt; of rope and cordage 16| tons; while dnring the quarterending 31st Maich. 1850, there were imported 24' i tons flax and 48 tons wool lashing, and though the demand for wool lashing has ceased in Sydney with the wool iea«on, the price of flux is sufficiently remunerative to allow the trade to be carried on with unabated activity. The trade with California has occus>ioned a great increase in the importation coastwise of timber, potatoes, onions, and other produce, and as the trudo has only just commenced we may anticipate from tins cause a still greater extension of our coasling trade. The trade with Ota^o has also gradually improved with the increase of that settlement, and if the plans of the Canterbury Association are cauied out they cannot fail to have a most beneficial effect on the coasting trade of this port. We have thus briefly indicated the causes at work in the extension of the coasting trade, and have shewn the very great iraprorcment which has already taken place. If duiing the current year, as we are led to expect, local steam commuuicntion thould be established between the settlement* or New Zeuland, and the colony should be connected by steam with the Mother-country, the most powerful stimulus will be given to the coasting trade of the colony, the effect of which will be exhibited in an mciease Jar beyond its present rate of improvement.

Skviznth Dragoon Guards — A young man, now serving; as a private soldier in this regiment, has lately come into the possession of landed property in Ireland to the value of ,£12,000 per annum, in addition 10 a large amount in cash. A. Government Contribution to Science.— Lord John Itusidl hns addressed a letter to the council of the Royal SocMy, offering to place nt then disposal this year, for icientifis purposes, £1,000, and probably the same amount in successive yean. Culloden. — The foundation-stone of a monument at Culloden was laid on Wednesday, a bottle was placed inside, with coins, &c, and a parchment with the following inscription tnereon :-— " The fonndation»stone of the Culloden monument, a monument raised by public subscription, and dedicated to the memory of th"c brave Highlandeis who fell at Culloden on the lGth April, 1741), fighting giliantly for a cause which thuy cousciDntiously believed to be >t just one, was laid on tho 19th of Seplumher, i 8 19, by William Anderson, 11. W.M. of the S', John's Operative Mason Lodge, ol Foucs."