New Zealand Spectator, AND COOK'S STRAIT GUARDIAN. Saturday, November 28, 1846.

New Zealand Spectator and Cook's Strait Guardian, Volume III, Issue 139, 28 November 1846, Page 2

New Zealand Spectator, AND COOK'S STRAIT GUARDIAN. Saturday, November 28, 1846.

A considerable quantity of Salt Pork and Bacon was exported from Wellington to Sydney by the Star of China on her last voyage, and the prices obtained were sufficiently remunerating, the Pork realizing 4d. per lb. and the hams and bacon 6d. to 6£d. per lb. The provision trade has been gradually growing in importance until it may now be considered as placed on a firm basis. The principal condition for the successful prosecution of the trade, a neighbouring market in which the demand is more than the present means of supply, and where consequently a remunerating price may readily be obtained, is established ; it remains therefore for the industry and care of our merchants by renewed exertions to make the supply keep pace with the growing demand, and to use every precaution to maintain the quality of the article. The amount of salt pork cured at the different stations and brought coast-wise to Wellington in the course of the present year is estimated by competent judges at about one hundred and fifty tons, and about thirty tons of hams and bacon. For the pork about fifteen hundred casks are required, the cost of which is about seven shillings each, these are all made in this place, principally of Bimu or red pine, and the Tohai or black birch, both of which woods are found to answer equally well for staves. Tbe pinncipal stations for curing pork are Ahuriri, and Poverty Bay on the East Coast, Wanganui and Taranaki on the West Coast, and the Chatham Island. The trade is already of sufficient importance to afford almost constant employment for several small coasters which are engaged in conveying the articles necessary for trading with the natives, together with salt, and casks to the different stations, and which return loaded with pork and bacon to Wellington. We are informed that facilities exist at the present stations for curing pork to the extent of from 500 to 600 tons yearly, and the existing prospects are sufficiently encouraging to warrant the expectation that the trade will be prosecuted with additional vigour. The present condition of the trade is already a subject of congratulation. Tf we value the pork brought to Wellington this year at £32 per ton, and the bacon at £56 per ton, its value will be £6,500. , The .value of the casks required for this year is £525. And as the export trade increases, it assists in paying for our imports and in 1 turning the scale in our favour.

Nor, in considering the different sources from which an increased demand arises, must we forget the home consumption, which is already considerable, and which will increase as the cultivation of the country districts increases. The settler on first going into the bush.requires a certain supply of food until he is able in some degree to supply Tiis wants from his own farm ; and as the authority of the Government is established and roads are made through the several districts, the demand from this source is likely to increase very greatly. The different whaling stations also, and the vessels which frequent this port all contribute to increase the demand to a considerable amount. A demand has also lately been created for the supply of a certain quantity of salt provisions for the use of the troops quartered in this district, which has been obtained by the Commissariat from Sydney at the rate of six pence per lb, but we do not suppose that recourse will be again made to the Sydney market when an article of equal quality in every respect can be procured on the spot at hali the price. The provision trade is of all others the most likely to promote the prosperity of this colony and to extend the progress of colonisation, and the civilisation of its aboriginal inhabitants. The pigs are purchased in the way of trade from the natives, and are paid for the most part in British manufactures. The articles thus acquired by the natives, from habit, become necessaries, to obtain which they are stimulated to make fresh exertions, and the circle of their wants increases, in proportion to their means of gratifying them. They desire to have set-tlers-resident among them to be able to exchange their produce for which before they had no outlet, and which, after their own wants were satisfied, were of no use to them, for the products of civilized life. Trade becomes thus a most powerful auxiliary in civilising the natives and a most effectual guarantee for the preservation of the peace. During the late disturbances the natives engaged in this trade were too sensible of its advantages to allow of its interruption. On the East Coast the natives have uniformly been quiet ; and at Manawatu and Wanganui we have recently seen that the resident natives at both places have interfered for the protection of the settlers against the threatened violence of Rangihaeata and his adherents. The general policy of his Excellency and his efforts to maintain the supremacy of the law have a material effect in promoting the extension of this trade, by increasing the confidence and feeling of security entertained by the outsettlers, while the trade itself operates in an equal degree in promoting the influence of civilisation. But let us for a moment contrast these beneficial results with those which would be produced by the adoption of the scheme lately proposed by the New Zealand Company of an Outside Territory. As in this scheme it is intended that the protection of British law should in no case extend to white persons against the acts of natives, outside the Municipalities, while its penalties would be enforced against offences committed by white persons in the ontside territory, the feeling of security, which is now gradually increasing would be destroyed, and the effect would be to break up a trade which promises to be so important and to be productive of so many advantages. It would be superfluous in this hasty sketch to expatiate on the encouragement given to ship-building by the increase of the coasting trade, to the manufacture of casks and staves, and other dependent trades, from the increase of this branch of our exports, since its effects in this respect are self-evi-dent. The provision trade has been the foundation of the commercial greatness of the United States, and at the present day constitutes one of .the most important branches of its trade. With due encouragement it promises to become of equal importance in increasing the resources of this colony, and in promoting its prosperity. All that is required on the part of those engaged in the trade is to take every possible precaution, in/ the salting and preparation of the article for " market, to sustain its character. An exten- ' sive demand may cause in some instances an inferior article to be produced, which would have the effect of injuring the trade, but if. due care is shewn in this particular, and each merchant is laudably solicitous for the credit of his brand, we may speedily hope that in a short period the provision trade may become one of the most important branches of the export trade of thn\colony.

The Comet and Star of China both arrived on Thursday, after a quick passage from Sydney, which they both left on the same day, the 14th inst. The Comet was very fortunate with her stock having lost ten head of cattle, and only two sheep on the passage. -The stock have been landed in very good condition, and will be sold this day by auction. The sheep by the Star of China, which have arrived in excellent order, will also be submitted to public competition.

A notick has been issued by the Superintendent, offering a reward of Ten Pounds to any person who "will give such information as will lead to the discovery of the person of either Matthew Hobman or Petomi." The notice is printed in English and Maori

We observe that our fellow settlers " frae the North" intend to celebrate with accustomed festivities the anniversary of Scotland's Patron Saint by a dinner, at Munn's Tavern, at Thorndon Quay.

Wellington Savings Bank. — Mr. P.M. Hervey.Mr.P.D.Hogg, Mr. A. Hornbrook, and Dr. Featherston, the Managers in rotation, will attend to receive deposits at Mr. Ross's office, from seven to eight o'clock on Saturday evening, the 28th November, and at the Union Bank of Australia, from twelve to one o'clock on Monday forenoon, the 30th November.

Wanganui. — By the Katherine Johnstone we learn that all is quiet at Wanganui. On the 7th inst. a dinner was given by the settlers to the chiefs of the pa Putiki in acknowledgement of their assistance on the late visit of the Taua. By permission of Mr. Churton, the entertainment was held in his garden, where sixteeen of the chiefs sat down to an excellent dinner of roast beef and plumb pudding. Wine was provided, and after dinner the healths of the Queen and the Governor were drank with all the honours. The natives appeared highly pleased with the entertainment. On the 20th inst. the party of natives who had gone to join Rangihaeata returned to Wanganui, and immediately proceeded up the river. They reported that a vessel had arrived at Wellington with troops and that the Steamer was here also. The former part of the report would refer to the expected reinforcements by the Java.