The New-Zealander.

New Zealander, Volume 7, Issue 511, 8 March 1851, Page 2

The New-Zealander.

Population and Agricultural Statistics of Auckland and its Vicinity.

Be just aii'l fern notLet all the ends them aims't at, be thy Country*, Thy God's, and Truth's.

SATURDAY, MARCH 8, 1851.

The Returns of the European Population of the principal Settlements in the Province of New Ulster, " compiled from authentic Official tecords," which was published in the last Government Gazette, and transferred to this journal on Saturday, however satisfactory its details may be to those who are acquainted with the relative position of the various places enumerated in it, yet must fail to convey to readers not possessed of such information any clear view of the proportions in which the population is distributed through the several parts of the Province. It may therefore be well to notice that the great bulk of the European Population included in the Return is to be found in the town of Auckland and within fourteen miles of it. Omitting Kawau and the Great Barrier, which are more distant, it appears that the numbers residing within this radius of fourteen miles amount to no less than eight thousand and forty-eight, being considerably more than three -fourths of the European Population of the entire Province. The digest, which we gave in a late issue, of the Trades, Callings, &c, of the persons returned in the Jury List for the present year, afforded a tolerably adequate view of the ( industrial occupations of the inhabitants of the Town and its immediate neighbourhood. We are now enabled to furnish some additional statements of interest respecting the condition and progress of agricultural pursuits in the district referred to — (viz. that included within a radius of fourteen miles of Auckland). The Returns from which we derive our information comprehend in their details, (1) the Town and Suburbs to Hobson's Bridge and Whau ; (2) the North Shore ; (3) the West Bank of the Tamaki River, Tamaki, Hobson's Creek, Remuera, Epsom, Cabbage Tree Swamp, Three Kings, Onehunga, Otahuhu, and Panmure ; (4) the Town of Howick ; and (5) East Bank of the Tamaki River and Papakura. Without of course being able to vouch for their minute accuracy in every particular, we have no doubt that they are substantially correct and trustworthy. We shall illustrate the facts before us by comparing them with the corresponding statements relating to two or three preceding years, of which a summary appeared in the New Zealanderoithe 30th of January, 1850. The extent of land under cultivation in the respective divisions of the District (referring to them for the sake of brevity according to the numbers which we have affixed to them above) is as follows :—(l)— 1370 acres; (2)— 1841 acres; (3)— 5,654 acres; (4)— 264£; (s)— 610^. Thus the total number of acres cultivated in 8,082^. At the close of 1849, it was 6,993: in 1848,4,338^: and in 1847, 4,054-. Thus it appears that year by year there has been a steady and large increase in the quantity of cultivated land. Last year the uncultivated land was returned at 25,062^ acres; this year it is returned at 30,122^ acres. When " uncultivated land " is here specified, however, it is necessary to bear in mind that what is meant is not the waste land which is still the property of the Crown ; but purchased land, which is actually possessed by the settlers. Besides this, there is perhaps about as much more which has been granted in exchange for lands that were claimed in more distant parts of the Colony. Thus it will be seen that — whatever may be the difficulties in the way of procuring land, and however desirable it may be that the country may be more fully opened by the removal or modification of the restrictions which impede its acquisition — there now really is this immense tract of ground, which might, without any possibility of hindrance or interference on the part of the Government, be forthwith brought under culture, either by the owners themselves, or by parties to whom they should let or sell it. Here then, to say nothing of the Waste Lands of the Crown, is a wide extent of country immediately and fully available for the pur-

poses of agricultural industry. It will be observed that the quantity rendered available by purchase has within the last year increased by upwards of five thousand acres. We next invite attention to the Returns relating to particular crops. In Wheat we observe only a little advance on 1849, and a falling off as compared with the two preceding years. The number of acres of wheat in 1847, was 364^ ;— in 1848, 397£ ;— in 1849, 214|; and in 1850, 243. We can have no doubt that the increase in the cultivation of this most valuable crop would in 1850 have been considerably greater, had it not been for the special attention given to producing potatoes for the California market, which caused, as we shall see, a large augmentation of that crop. As this cause is not likely to operate in the same degree in 1851, we anticipate a much more extensive sowing of wheat than in any of the seasons to which we have adverted ; — an anticipation which for various reasons (some of which we have more than once recently stated) it would afford us no little gratification to see realized. New Zealand might, it therefore should — and we earnestly tiust it soon will — be independent of other and less fertile colonies as respects its supply of bread. In Oats there has been a progressive increase. In 1847, the number of acres was 284| acres ;— in 1848, 330 acres ;in 1849, 588^ acies; and in 1850, 795 acres. There are some products respecting which we have not means at hand to make this kind of comparison, but must content ourselves with stating simply the extent of land devoted to their cultivation in 1850. Of Barley, there have been 134-^ acres; — of Maize, 103 acres ; and of Hay, 376^ acres. There are also 267 acres returned as " Garden." We have intimated that the culture of Potatoes was particularly attended to in 1850, with, a view to their exportation to California. Accordingly, we find that, while the number of acres devoted to this crop in 1847 was 247— in 1848, 294f— in 1549, 775, (an increase to be attributed mainly to the same cause) — in 1850, it was no less than 1,066| acres. We notice with pleasure a continued increase in the extent of Pasture Land. This in 1848 was 2,742| acres ;— in 1849, '1,054 acres; and in 1850, 5,097f acres. The Returns before us include a report of the Stock in the District. There are 725 j Horses ; — 6,803 Horned Cattle j — 3,281 Sheep ; — and 345 Goats. We commend these Statistics to the attentive consideration of our readers. They present evidence of progress in the Auckland District which, although it may not be altogether as rapid or as great as might be | looked for by the sanguine, is yet gratifying in its actually existing reality, and still more j as a solid foundation for the expectation of further and accelerated advancement. A sin- , gle column of figures and facts of this kind is worth more as an index to the real condition of the Settlement than pages of hypothetical speculation or political criticism.