TARANAKI. (From our Correspondent.)

New Zealand Spectator and Cook's Strait Guardian, Volume V, Issue 365, 31 January 1849, Page 3

TARANAKI. (From our Correspondent. )

Since my last letter to you, we have had uninterrupted fine weather which has quickened the ripening of the crops so much that harvest will become general throughout the settlement during the ensuing week. lam glad' to learn that between fifty and sixty natires have been engaged by different farmers during the harvest, which will cause the labours of this . busy time to be considerably lightened.. The Star of China, 10 days from Sydney, arrived here on the 6th instant, with a cargo of cattle, horses, and sundries. She lost 5 head of cattle, and 1 mare on the voyage, we were disappointed in. receiving no English mail by the Star ; an English mail was waiting in Sydney for New Zealand, as j no vessel was laid on for Wellington when the I Star sailed, you will have to wait some weeks longer than is necessary before you receive your letters. I hope our mercantile people here may make some representation of this grievance to the proper authorities.. We have received a file of your paper of 23rd December,j<b£ private hand, with an account of, the opening of the Legislative Council, it is hot what we wanted, but the selection' of the nonofficial members seems gocrd and impartial. I hope amongst other subjects, that some of the members, may draw his Excellency's attention to .the bad consequences of his persisting in , his, neglec_t of this settlement, and, leaving us ,at the nigrcy o.f AheiGovernment 1 officers, who, if they dp. their duty certainlydo no more. It is spinet iijqtes.iobscurely hinted by certain of these gentry, .that the Governor is so anxious, tp forward our interests, to ascertain our wants; ;&c. J7 that it may not be improper occasionally jtb Refresh his memory after the excellent plan adopted .by. " Mercator" in his letter to the JSout&ernsfiross some weeks back. Imprimis, .we^wantjand — we want slight improvements'

in Toads and bridge's I—we want his Excellency to-fulfil his promises (now ten months due), with regard !to the s*outh bank of the Waitara—we'Vant lavrs carried "out against native offenders —we want the Government money that circulates here paid'more frequently, and'*in!'specie—arid we want Mr. M'Lean to be kept in the settlement and not constantly ordered away. The Puketapu purchase'oflsoo acres of land, although paid for, has been pronounced by the representative of Government not safe to survey' or locate settlers upon, and until Mr. M'Lean returns, I believe 1 nothing can be done in it. -'; - : Our races, the first ever held in Taranaki, came off last Monday on a fair piece of flat land near Moturou, as follows :'

The Taranaki Stakes, of 10s. each, with £10 added,—Heats, one mile. Mr. Outfield's ch.h. Bob, 2 11 Owner, won easily Mr. R. BrOwn's br.h. Jack, 12 2, Mr. Good Mr. E. Davy's.br.h. Captain, 3 3 3, Mr. Oates Mr. Stewart'sgr.g. (bolted) Owner

- The Tradesman's Purse of £5, entrances 10s. . ; Mr. Autridge's r.c 1 2 1 Owner Mr. Cooke's b.c. White/eel, 2 12 Wold i Mr. Hulke's Policeman,.. ..3 3 3 Mr. Hulke Mr. Brown's b.c. Topt, (bolted) Owner.. A good race for, first -and second heats, third heat the roan won easily. Maori Race, £s—Horses bonn'fide property of natives, and native riders. Five or six started, all bolted save two, won by a Waitoru native.

, Consolation Stakes for beaten horses. Mr. Dary's Captain, I 1, Mr. .Cutfield Mr.Brown's Jack, ..2 2,' Mr. Good. A very pleasant day's amusement passed off without any accident; it is to be hoped for the future, by having our races earlier, that we may have horses from Wanganui and Wellington to enter previous to their running on their own courses. "Mr. Hulke's new mill will be ready^ to grind wheat in four week's time, and as no expense, has been spared,,l hope we shall be enabled to, turn out as good samples of flour, from Taranaki for the future as can be produced from the sister settlements. 7th January, 1849. ti .