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New Zealander, Volume 9, Issue 729, 9 April 1853, Page 2

Wiv.E it not for the temporary suspension of some official acts necessarily arising from the sort of intcr-regnum now existing in the Province,—between the cessation of the functions of tiic Lieutenant-Governorship in consequence of the Proclamation bringing into operation the provisions of the New Constitution, and the daily expected arrival of the Govcrnor-in-Chlef, —we suppose that by this time the returns of Imports and Exports, Shipping, etc. for the last quarter would have been published in the Government Gazette; and we should have been glad of the opportunity of forwarding to England by the St. Michael— as well as {by vessels now about to leave our port) to the adjoining colonics, where we arc aware that our statistics are looked for and widely circulated —officially attested facts demonstrating the progressive prosperity of tin* Auckland district. As, however, for the reason thus intimated, we cannot immediately avail ourselves of this advantage to its full extent, we do the best in our power by laying before the public general statements ih a measure anticipatory of the regular Returns —derived from sources which warrant us in claiming for them the credence and confidence of the reader. When the details appear, it will, we have no doubt, be found that our statements are substantially accurate, and indeed that the figures arc rather under than over the truth. We first notice the Exports from the Port of Auckland for the quarter ending on the 51st of March lasi. These in the corresponding quarter of 1852 amounted in value to Six Thousand One Hundred and Fifty-two Pounds, but in the quarter just ended the value has reached no less a sum than upwards of Twcnfy-ta'o Thousand Pounds. The items of which lids aggregate is made up are also very encouraging, as the principal of them consist of articles which the resources of the district will enable us to supply continuously through future years, and to analmost unlimited extent. Tims Timber, of which we have immense forests still standing, was exported last quarter in quantities considerably exceeding the total value of all kinds of produce exported in the .March quarter of 1852. As an indication of the continued development of this particular resource this season, we may mention that, at Kaipara, we are assured that no less than four hundred natives arc employed on Mr. Atkins’s station alone in preparing the Kauri for exportation. Potatoes have been exported to the value of more than 4000/. Flax and Cordage, about 000/.; Wool, upwards of 1,800; Grain, upwards of 800/., the larger portion of which was the very profitable crop of oats; Cheese (a rapidly improving product of the district) about 550/.; Onions, between 700/. and 800/. We may also enu morale Sperm Oil (about 2,600/.); Copper Ore (about 750/.) Hams, Bacon, Sailed Pork, Butter, and our other ordinary articles of produce will be found satisfactorily prominent in the list, and, although our export of Gold may seem little more than nominal as to amount, yet it will be sufficient to keep in view the important fact that the soil of the Auckland district continues to afford conclusive evidence of its auriferous character in extensive localities. Turning to the Imports of Live Stock and Provisions, we learn that their value during the last quarter has exceeded 12,000/., being about 5,000/. more than in the corresponding quarter of 1852. We arc aware that an increase in Imports is by no means so unequivocal a lest of prosperity as an advance in Exports, but there is a feature connected with the Imports of the last quarter which invests them with a specially encouraging significance. The horses, cattle, and sheep amounted in value to about one-third of the whole,—upwards of 4,000/. Here we have a convincing proof of the progress of the farming interest, which we have always regarded as that most vitally bound up with the ultimate prosperity of New Zealand. It has already been our pleasing duty to call attention to the extraordinary advance made in agricultural operations during ihe last year, as shown by the Resident Magistrate's* Return for the district within a radius of fourteen miles of Auckland. From Ural care-

fitJlv compiled document it appears that in 1832, as compared with 1831, the number of acres in crop had increased from nine thousand, seven hundred and seven lo Seventeen Thousand, Tiro Hundred and ninety-nine, and and the number of acres fenced in from twelve thousand, two hundred and forty-six to Twenty Thousand Two Hundred and seven, being (as we remarked when the Return came out) a proportionate advance in the actual cultivation of the soil probably exceeding any that could be shown to base taken place in another instance in any district of any colony. The increased importation of cattle and sheep to slock the pasturage, and of horses for agricultural purposes is in gratifying accordance with this fact; and we may add the recent importations, especially those by the William Hyde, have been of a superior description to most that preceded them, and have realized such prices as are likely to stimulate to further enterprise in bringing animals of a good class into the Auckland market, where they are so sure of meeting a ready and remunerative sale. On the Shipping transactions of the last quarter, we are at present unable to gRe more precise information than is contained in the Lists which from one publication to another have regularly appeared in onr columns; and a similar remark must apply to the coasting trade, which, however, we are satisfied will in due lime be proved to have maintained its position as an element of the commercial and industrial progress of both settlors and natives the importance of which can scarcely be over-estimated, Rut we arc enabled to he a little more particular with reference to the very interesting Native Canoe trade. During" the last quarter between 300 and GOO Canoes have visited the port of Auckland, with crews numbering about 2,300, bringing the usual articles of Native Produce —such as Potatoes, Pigs, Fish, Fowls, Onions, Peaches, etc. —of the estimated value of more than 1200/. This, we need scarcely add, only exhibits one branch of the Native trade; to have even an approximate view of it, we should take into account the important share borne by the Natives in the more extended trade by coasting vessels. The Immigration and Emigration Returns will, we understand, show that during the March quarter, —notwithstanding all the attractive tales of the Australian Gold Fields which have been circulated here —yet the number of Immigrants to Auckland exceeded the number of Emigrants from it by about forty. This does not include soldiers or their families ; had it done so, the troops by the 7 rue Britain from Wellington would have added considerably to the excess ol Emigration. Neither docs it include any Pensioners, none having arrived during the quarter. A still more observable fact is that there was no arrival from England. The Cashmere from London, now considerably over-due, sailed with a large number of passengers for tins port; had she arrived, the excess would have been raised to a comparatively high total. In a short lime we shall be able no doubt to substantiate moslof these general stalcmcntsby the official details from the Government Gazelle; meantime we commend them to the attention of those w ho lake an interest in the progress of the advancing Province of Auckland. Now that Cheap Land is brought within our reach, however, we may confidently anticipate a far more rapid progression than we have ever yet known.

I-V n Suupplcmcnt lo the New Zealander of Wednesday, we published (in addition lo the new List of Justices of the Peace) a Proclamation declaring the disallowance of that “Marriage Amendment Ordinance,” lo obtain which so much effort was made here some three or four years since. We do not know, and are wholly at a loss to conjecture the grounds on which this decision has been been arrived at by the Imperial Authorities ; but most probably they have been staled in a Despatch to the Governor-in-Ghief which by-and-by may be made public. As the question, however, is one of very wide and deep intrest, we should deem it quite within the scope of the duties of the Standing Committee appointed by the Public Meeting of August, 18-19 for the purpose of watching over the progress of the measure then in contemplation, lo solicit from His Excellency such information as may at once throw light oil the past and guide in the future action that may be necessary. Meanwhile no 'immediate. inconvenience arises, as the Proclamation is not to lake effect until the s!sl of May. After that dale of course the law will stand precisely as it did before the Amendments, now disallowed, were enacted by the Legislative Council.