New Zealand Colonist. TUESDAY, MARCH 14, 1843.

New Zealand Colonist and Port Nicholson Advertiser, Volume I, Issue 65, 14 March 1843, Page 2

New Zealand Colonist. TUESDAY, MARCH 14, 1843.

The want of, statistical information is severely felt in this' colony. There are many facts, a knowledge of which would materially affect the degree, of confidence entertained by our friends in England, with regard to the progress and security of the colony, of which no means exist of obtaining accurate information. The amount of stocb for instance; the number both of sheep and cattle that can be fed upon a given portion of land ; ‘ the number of acres actually in cultivation ; the produce of land both in potatoes and grain ;, these are only a few of the matters which it is roost important to communicate to those at home who are interested in our progress —but which, so far as we are aware, have never

vet been ascertained. Without some precise knowledge of this nature, many persons who would otherwise be disposed to select New Zealand as their place of settlement, must be deterred from embarking their fortunes in a Colony of which so little is known. And without this precise knowledge the English capitalists will, we fear, never be persuaded to invest their money in securities upon land in this colony. There has certainly not been any lack of favourable statements upon all the points to which we have referred, and upon innumerable others, sent home to England. But, unfortunately, these statements have been too vague to form the basis of any safe deductions, as they have borne an air of exaggeration which repelled instead of exciting belief. When; for instance, it was stated, what we suppose was true, that Mr. Molesworth had grown wheat at the rate of 70 or 90 (we forget which) bushels per acre, and potatoes to a corresponding amount—the very statement would generate a suspicion that there was some error in the measurement, or that this was a picked case under some peculiar circumstances, which were not explained, and from which, consequently, no inference of whatever character could be drawn. But if the yield of a given number of acres could be ascertained, and still better, if the average yield per acre for the whole colony were found; from the result thus obtained, satisfactory deductions could be drawn by which an intending emigrant might safely regulate his proceedings. . ~ It is probable that, up to the present time, there has not been any opportunity of making these calculations, as the quantity of wjieat grown last year might not have been sufficient. for the purpose. If so, it will be of an im/portance not easily to be overrated, that this information should now be collected, and as speedily {is possible made public. It will, we suspect, tend more to bring into this Colony the Settlers whom we’most need—agriculturists of mode-i----rate capital—than the most glowing. descriptions of climate, and sides, and foliage, and the romantic alternations of hill and valley, and all the other charms which a prolific imagination. may find or feign in our Settlement. These are delightful as mere objects of contemplation; but when a person, inspired with a desire to improve his condition; to attain for himself an independence which he may bequeath to his children; is hesitating which Colony he shall select for his residence, it is not by such considerations that he is influenced. He is much more likely to be moved by a very short and unadorned statement of this fashion : —ln the Port Nicholson district you can obtain land for so much per acre ; this land will cost so much to clear sufficiently to put in a crop; when cleared, it will produce so many bushels of wheat, or any other grain, which are worth so much per bushel: and if to this is added the needful particulars as to the number of sheep or cattle that may be fed upon 100 acres of open country; how much they will cost, and what has been found to be their increase; we will answer for these facts, if fairly stated, producing an effect, to which all the eloquence wasted in descriptions of the beauties of the place, were it tenfold greater than it has been, would be quite inadequate.

The ttuth is, that when a man about to emigrate, he wants' facts upon which he may repose. There is scarcely any act of his life upon which so much depends, and with regard to which consequently he feels so strongly the necessity of haying accurate information. A mistake may be irremediable—and consequently, numbers resolve to emigrate to a place, for instance Canada, which they may not believe to be the best, but which, from the experiment of numbers, has been proved to be sufficient to secure in a moderate degree the objects which they seek. When the facts are ascertained they are accessible to other considerations—but the voice of the charmer falls upon a heedless ear until they Eire satisfied ef ; the cerjtainty of realizing their main objects. The best'security therefore for a constant supply of emigrant capitalists, would be to publish accurate statistics of the Colony. We heard some time since, of the projected establishment of a statisticaK society. Of its

labors we have heard hotlij.ngvnor are - We quite certain' whether it. ever obtained an existence. Such a Society, if vigorously carried out, Would be highly beneficial; but from our experience of societies in this place, we rather doubt any continued vigof™», action on the part of this. The subject, Bpfffer, is of sufficient importance to demand effort, and we trust that such an effort will be made.

We are in possession of the Colonial Observer to the 18th of February, which contains intelligence from England to the 25th October, and from which copious extracts will be found elsewhere. , The Mail by. the" Posthumous, from Sydney, .which was at on Saturday night, and that by the Whomas.Sparks, from. Nelson, which landed passengers for this place and proceeded on her way to Valparaiso, was landed and brought into tqwp iy the pilot. Colonel Wakefield fqnd a party of gentlemen, started for Thranalu oh Friday last. The BrpughammUsifvmg this port rani fou of the Qcean schooner, and' the latter will be obliged td put back for repairs. By the Colonial Observer of the. Ist of November,'which came but recently to hand, we observe that a most calamitous fire occurred at Port Phillip on the 16th October, by which property to the amount of 10,00(j/. was destroyed. We have also received the Geelong Advertiser to the 23d January.

In accordance with our announcement last Friday, Mr. Hanson will delivftf liis third and last -lecture this evening, in the: Hall of the Mechanics’ Inßtitute; a(t halfrpastseven. We hope that as many as can will make it business to, attend. It ,mast he very discouraging to thbi&*Rhq the management of the Institute; .!© find iheir efforts met with so much apathy and indifference. We have authority to state thatTectures will be delivered fortnightly, and the iwhole: machinery of the Institute set actively in motion, provided a corresponding interest is evinced on the part of the public. -

St. Patrick’s day is at hand —Friday the 17th instant—shall it pass without notice like those of .the lkst three years ? Scottish men manage such matters better;, both at home and abroad. Is Ireland undeserving of patriotic recollection—are there np associations entwined with the remembrance of that green and glorious islari dof the West, sufficient to stir up her enlightened sons here, to honor her, in this new land of their adoption ? Has Ireland produced no genius—have heroism, statesmanship, poetry, and all that can ennoble human nature, had no representatives there ? Should that country be forgotten, which gave birth to such men as the Wellesleys, Burke, Grattan, Curran, Moore, and O’Connell, besides other names, of whom it may be well not to say more at present, except that they lived in troublous times—were perhaps too little appreciated, and suffered much for their beloved native land. Is there nothing connected with the splendid triumphs of our fleets and security and integrity of the United Kingjwnit to make Ireland respected and dear to us all } If her sons choose to celebrate the anniversary of their patron saint, we undertake to say, that they will be supported by some of the representatives of roast beefj and plum-pudding, and that, some laddies from the land of cakes, will consider them as brothers, in meeting them at Barrett’s Hotel, or any other* place, that may be considered suitable.