New Zealand Spectator, AND COOK'S STRAIT GUARDIAN. Wednesday, March 6, 1850.

New Zealand Spectator and Cook's Strait Guardian, Volume VI, Issue 479, 6 March 1850, Page 2

New Zealand Spectator, AND COOK'S STRAIT GUARDIAN. Wednesday, March 6, 1850.

The division of the Statistics of this Province recently published relating to production, comprises a good deal of interesting and valuable information on the condition of the Southern settlements. In the return showing the number of acres of land in cultivation, the whole amount in the different settlements under cultivation by Europeans for 1848 is stated to be 5903 acres, being an increase of 1581 acres over the previous year ; the amount under native cultivation is stated to be 2026 acres, but this latter return is considerably understated, as the extensive native cultivations at Waikanae, Otaki, Manawatu and Wanganui are not included in the return. The coasting trade between Wellington and Manawatu is more considerable than with any other settlement along the coast, consisting of flour, sawn timber, wool- lashing, flax, &c, the grain and flax being the produce of native labour, and the amount produced of these two last j having greatly increased during the past year. The following is an abstract of the

quantity of land under cultivation in Wellington at the end of the year 1848 ;—; — Acres. Wheat 350 Oats 241 Barley 69 Potatoes 200 Pasture 1318 The quantity of land in crop in this settlement is less than at Nelson, but this is readily accounted for, the latter settlement being chiefly agricultural, while Wellington is essentially a commercial community, and in this settlement the attention of the country settlers appears to have been chiefly directed to stock and dairy produce. The returns of stock are equally favorable in showing the progressive increase of the pastoral wealth of this Province, as will be seen by the following summary of the total amount of stock for 1848, with the increase on the previous year :~

The following abstract shows the amount of stock in this settlement in 1848, with the the increase oa the previous yer : —

We confidently anticipate that the Re7 turns for 1849 will show a considerable increase in stock, both in the Province and in this settlement, since, besides the annual increase by births, a large amount both of cattle and sheep has been imported to Otaga. In this settlement also, besides the usual annual increase, there has been a considerable importation of stock ; an attempt will also, no doubt, be made to ascertain the amount of stock belonging to the natives in the different settlements. The prospect for the present year is still more promising, from the opening of the Rangitiki district, where several new stations have been established, and from the formation of the new Canterbury settlement, in which, before the close of the year, there will probably be considerable, importations of stock. The return of the produce of the whaling establishments connected with the Port of Wellington we regret to say shows a gradual falling off, as will be seen b/ the following abstract for the five years ending with 1848 ;— Value of Oil, &c. 1844 £24,235 1845 8,256 1846 23,852 1847 13,124 1848 10,087 Whaling has hitherto been carried on by shore parties at different stations on the coast, and a similar decline has been also exhibited in other colonies, where, after a time, shore parties have been broken up. We believe the most profitable plan of whaling will be found to be by means of vessels of 150 to 200 tons, which, when full, would return to port, unload and again proceed to the whaling grounds, a plan formerly advocated in this Journal. In this branch of colonial enterprise the whaling establishments now forming at the Auckland Islands cannot fall to effect a heneficial change in many respects, and assist in restoring to British commerce advantages now engrossed by other nations. The following Is the Return for 1848 of Manufactories, &c, in Wellington : — 3 breweries ; 2 brick kilns ; 1 candle manufactory ; 5 cooperages ; 2 rope walks ; 1 sacking loom ; 2 wind mills, 1 water mill, 1 steam mill, for grinding corn ; 1 lime kiln ; 2 ship yards : 3 boat yards ; 2 tanneries ; 1 saw mill (water) ; besides these, in the neighbourhood of Manawatu, there are four rope- making establishments, which turn out from 40 to 50 tons per annum of rope, wool lashing, and small cordage, and one flour and saw mill-

Importa nt to Masters of Vessels. — We have been favoured bj Mr. Heberley, master of the Jdary Ann, with the following bearings of a half- tide rock lying in the track of vessels passing through Cook's Strait- From Cape Koamarro SE. by E., distant seven miles ; Brothers S. distant six miles ; white mark in a neck between Cape Koamarro and Wellington Head, E. by N. five miles j Wellington Head N E, distant

seven miles. This rock, which appears like a boat has never yet been laid down in any chart of Cook's Strait.

The Orion whaler arrived in port on Saturday having sustained considerable damage at sea. On the 25th ult., when about five degrees from land, she encountered a very heavy gale in which she carried away her fore and main topmast, sprung her fore yard and foremast head, and sprung a leak which it required all the exertions of the crew to keep under. Having rigged jury masts in the place of those carried away she bore up for this port, making at the time of her arrival about three feet of water" an hour. A survey has been held ; and it has been found necessary that the cargo should be discharged to allow of a more complete examination. The Orion has on board 1400 barrels sperm oil.

Quantity of Rain fallen daring the month of February, 1849, lin. 7-tenths.

Programme of the performance of the Bandof the 65th Regt., at the Horticultural Society's Exhibition, Wednesday, March 6, at the Britannia Saloon. 1. Overture— D'Eliza et Claudis .... Mercadantc 2. Selection — Bohemian Girl Balfe 3. Scotch Medley Quadrilles Waddell 4. Aria — Conseli amor d'Figlia — 1 „.' . Chiara d'Rosemberg J Rtcct 5. Olga ; or, Princess Waltz Jullien 6. Geschwind March-- "Cheer up my 1 „, own Jeannette" f. .. / Glover 7. French Galop .'. ,' 8. Trumpet Polka

previous year. forses ... 672 376 Jorned Cattle 6,786 2,014 iheep i . . . 35,507 11,060

Stock, 1848. Increase on previous year. lorses 1092 376 lorned Cattle 12,672 4796 iheep 85,915 37,160