TARANAKI. [From our Correspondent.]

New Zealand Spectator and Cook's Strait Guardian, Volume IV, Issue 266, 16 February 1848, Page 3

TARANAKI. [From our Correspondent.]

I am unable to furnish you with a copy of ■the Return of European population of this settlement, cultivations and stock for the year ending 31st December, J847, as it will not ■be made public .until the Return itself has •been received by the Goyexnme'nt. This is ■to be regretted as you will probably not receive it in time for the Woodstock. The harvest has been somewhat impeded and not much affected by the late rains, which lasted nearly two days to the great relief of

growers of potatoes, turnips, Sec. The corn crops are unusually abundant and they need be so, for the farmers deserve something out of the common, and they have got heavy crops out of fern land which once on a time was not thought north cultivating and in this settlement, or fractional part of one, has been cropped 4or 5 years in succession. This is compulsory in our seventh year at New Plymouth, for the natives still claim nearly all the best land and we look at it. Our truly vegetating population of 1000 neither sensibly increases nor diminishes — and so it will he in after time unless something be shortly done — a bright prospect for us and a beacon for others. Yet we have one piece of good news. This settlement, drawn more closely to Auckland by new markets for our produce in its vicinity, is included in the Noithern division. The influenza was duly shipped to us from the neighbouring settlements. Fortunately however, it was received after the winter and the fineness of the weather has confined it among few Europeans, the natives from their careless habits being the principal sufferers. In no case in the district has it terminated fatally. 28* th January, 1848.