THE TENTH ANNIVERSARY OF THE AUCKLAND SETTLEMENT. [From the New Zealander, Jan. 30.]

New Zealand Spectator and Cook's Strait Guardian, Volume VI, Issue 485, 27 March 1850, Page 3

THE TENTH ANNIVERSARY OF THE AUCKLAND SETTLEMENT. [From the New Zealander, Jan. 30.]

The termination of a period of ten years since the foundation of the colony, naturally leads to some reflection upon the progress we have-made, and, more especially to a view of the position in which we now stand, with reference to the future that may be reasonably expected" in our affairs. Tlie?-View, whether retrospective or prospective, must necessarily excite mingled feelings ; for neither countries nor individuals seem destined to an uncheqaered lot ;but, on the whole, it is calculated to furnish us with matter — though not for proud exultation, yet for thankfulness as to the past, and, though not for exrited and romantic anticipation, yet for solid and animating encouragement as to the future. We have been enabled to collect, from the most authentic sources, a few statistical facts, which, so far as they go, will enable our readers to form their own judgment respecting this settlement. We refer first to agricultural efforts and results, believing as we do that we possess so amply the capabilities of soil, climate, and the other essentials to agricultural prosperity, that it needs only a moderate amount ot enterprise and perseverance to give us an elevated place in this sphere of productive industry. According to the official returns just completed, we find that the number of acres in cultivation in the district of Auckland, at the close of the year 1849, was 6,1935, while in 1848, it was returned as 4,338^, and in 1847 as 2,691, thus exhibiting a large progressive increase in the total. A considerable portion of this increase has been in pasture land, the number of acres in the years 1848-49 respectively having been 2,742 and 4,054 acres. Notwithstanding the general cry for more land for depasturing purposes — aciy wbich we are far from saying is not warranted by the exigencies which are experienced by many — it would that seem that a gratifying advance has been made in the effort tt> meet this necessity. The most observable differences in the other numbers are in the crops of wheat, oats, and potatoes, the former of wbich shows a falling off in the last year — the last two a marked increase. The number of acres of wheat cultivated was,, in 1847, 364| ; in 1848, 397^; and in 1849, 214|, a declension in 1849 which would be discouraging, if it were not accounted for by the known fact that, wheat has not yet been found so profitable in this neighbourhood as some other crops, and that there has been only a transfer of the cultivation from one article to another (as potatoes) which was found to pay better. The returns of oats were, in 1847, 284f acres; in 1848, 330 tcres ; and in 1849, 588| acres. In potatoes we notice tbe most gratifying increase. The number of acres reported as under potato cultivation were- in 1847, 247 ;in 1848,

r 294f ; and in 1849, no less than 775 acres, ■ I — a return which indeed we have reason to i believe is rather below than above the truth. s There can be no doubt that the advance thus l made in this department of farming will go ■ forward with yet greater rapidity, now that > the market for California is ascertained to be : so secure, ready, and remunerative. i It should also be noted here, that there is , a large and interesting amount of agricultural i work done by the native population, the fruits , of which, although not included in the Re' turns, or indeed produced within the actual limits to which they apply, yet find their market in the town and its vicinity, and virtually, if not technically, belong to the settlement. Before laying aside the Agricultural Return for 1849, we may note that it reports in the district, * 25, 062| acres of uncultivated land; 698 horses; 6,955 horned cattle; 1701 sheep ; 275 goats. The prices of produce as given in it are — wheat, oats, and barley, each 4s. per bushel ; maize, 3s. 6d.; potatoes, £4 per ton ; hay, £5 per ton ; turnips, £3 per ton ; horses, .£l5 each ; horned cattle, £12 and sheep, £l. In these general statements, taken collectively there may, we think, be found some proof that the Auckland district is moving on in agricultural progress, with steps which may not be the less sure because they are sometimes slow, to the realization of Captain Fitzroy's anticipations when, in answer to a question proposed to him by the Parliamentary Committee of 1838, " Are you of opinion, taking into consideration the position of that country, the fertility of the soil, and the salubrity of its Climate, that it must grow into great importance?" he replied, "Certainly; it corresponds in that hemisphere to Great Britain in this hemisphere. It rriust go on holding out temptations to settlers of all descriptions : it is quite impossible it should remain in its present state." We turn now to the exports from Auckland, which we need not lay, furnish, in a young colony like this, one of the most testing criteria of our real state and prospects. Here the result is very satisfactory. Looking back for six years, we find the estimated value of exported articles as follow: — 1844, £3,037 ; 1845, £27,239 ; 1846, £40,187; 1847, £12,670 ; 1848, £15,096 ; and 1849 £26,168 14s. We say this is satisfactory, notwithstanding the fact that the amount in two of those years exceeded that of the last ; for the simple and conclusive reason that the higher sums were from articles which either could not be permanently produced to so large an extent, or, if produced, would not command so certain and steady a market as those which have mainly made up the total in 1849. The principal article of export in 1846 — the year which stands highest — was kauri gum, the exportation of which on so extensive a scale lasted only about a year, the purposes (of varnishing, &c.) for which it was employed, not furnishing the foundation of a certain demand, or perhaps, of any demand at all at a remunerating price : — " for som; time," says Dr. Dieffenbacb, "it was supposed that this resin, or gum, of which plenty is found in the ground even long after the forest has disappeared, would furnish a valuable article of export ; but it has not hitherto repaid in England even the cost of its collection in the colony;" — whereas, during the last year, the most extensively exported ar- < tides have been such as copper ore, timber (merely sawn, or made up into the frames of nouses), potatoes, and other commodities which we can continue to supply largely, and for which there is sufficient reason to believe we shall continue to obtain a prompt and re- * rnunerative sale. Examining the Returns ! for 1849 quarterly, we find the following re- ■ suits : — r

Now, looking at the items which make up the unusually large aggregate for the December quarter, we find tbat, while of kauri gum only 50 tons, value £300, were exported, there were 335 tons of copper ore, value £3,210; 75 houses in frame, value £2,555 ; and 285,930 feet of sawn timber, value £1,633 10s: these three items, in articles of which we have all but an inexhaustible supply, amountiog to no less than £7,390. It is also observable that other articles of safe and repaying export appear in that Return at a much lower figure than we are warranted in expecting them to realize even in the current year. Potatoes are there returned at only 8| tons, value £35 ; but tji&rtue export for the present quarter is certain to go very far beyond this is too notorious to need proof. Flax and cordage,- together reached only to £350; but, with/the improvements now made and raaking^o the - preparation of the phormimn tenq& t and tht readiness, rising almost

to earnestness, with which it ii purchased at Sydney and elsewhere, we cannot bnt see in this " mine of New Zealand wealth" the promise of a trade largely augmented beyond this. Any view, however rapid, of the points to which we are here adverting, would be incomplete if we omitted to bear in mind the opening presented in California, to which we have so frequently referred ihat we need only name it now. Our geographical position in relation to that country, and our capability of supplying it with timber, potatoes, and other articles suited to its urgent wants, gives us the advantage there with which no rival is likely to compete successfully. It is remarked, in a letter received this week by one of our townsmen, from a friend who bad just removed from San Francisco to Honolulu, " this California is a great matter for you, as there must always be a great demand for flour, and your's is the nearest place wbere it can be got." What is stated of flour (as particularly interesting to the individual addressed by the writer) applies more forcibly to some other articles, such -as potatoes, which the Sandwich Islands (eveu if they could furnish them equally good and durable in quality) cannot send in anything approaching to the required quantity. Accordingly we find the Polynesian of the 22nd of last month admitting that "of exports, except the supplies for the ships which have resorted there, they had scarcely any ;" and lamenting that" the present supply is exhausted, and that vessels which have resorted there (to Honolulu) for cargoes of produce for California were obliged to return with but a partial supply, or seek in more distant groups what they are now unable to furnish." New Zealand is specified by our contemporary as one of the places to which such vessels must go for the supplies which the Sandwich Islands could not afford them. This is an additional and significant illustration of the extent and worth of the market opened in California for various of our most abundant products. Shipbuilding has made some progress during the year. We learn that in 1849, 21 . vessels — 808 tont, were built. Though most of these were small craft for coasting purposes, one was our beautiful Moa, which we look on with continued pleasure not only from her own value to our trade with Sydney, but also as a model for other vessels, and a conclusive" evidence of what we have the means to accomplish from our local resources in naval architecture. Other matters might be adverted to, but we trust we have stated enough to justify us in speaking of the condition of the settlement as, on the whole, gratifying and encouraging. Additional incitements and aids to effort are undoubtedly both desirable and practicable,, particularly the cheapening of the price of land and the " opening up of the country", to our farmers and stockholders. But, while we seek in every proper way for other means of improvement and advancement, let us dili-' geutly and perseveringly work those which ' are already at our disposal, rather striving to realize the benefits which a bountiful Providence has brought within our reach, than permitting ourselves to be so dazzled by deceptive, though golden, dreams of marvellous prosperity at a distance, as to abandon the substantial good which honest and industrious enterprise holds out here, for the shadow which has tempted multitudes to California — and to ruin.

Quarter ending April 5, 1849. . ..£4,646 0 „ July 5, 1849 .... 1,850 9 „ Oct. 5, 1849 .... 8,593 5 „ Jan. 5, 1850 ....11,079 0 0 0 0 0 Making a total for the year, as already stated £26,168 14 0