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New Zealand Spectator and Cook's Strait Guardian, Volume VII, Issue 572, 25 January 1851, Page 2

The Hutt.—The hay season at the Hutt commenced generally about the 10th of December, and is now terminated. The weather at the first was somewhat change-able,-bat this-was-of so short a continuance as not seriously to interfere with the operations of the hay field. In some instances, where the land is not subject to be flooded and consequently overrun with docks, the produce is unusually heavy, calculated at exceeding two tons of good clean hav to the acre ; while in some lands, from their being choked up with docks and other rubbish, the yield is very light, notwithstanding the average is considered to be very good. The quantity grown is estimated to be about the same as that of last year, arising probablv from the circumstance of a greater quantity of land than in former seasons bein. o- now cropped with potatoes.

The prospects of the approaching harvest are particularly good ; the gentle rains at the commencement of this month have greatly refreshed and brought on the grain. The wheat crops have generally a healthy appearance and promise a good return ; setting aside casualties we should suppose the yield to be about forty bushels to the acre. The quantity of land set apart this year to the growth of wheat in the valley of the lower Hutt is estimated at one hundred and eighty acres, but from the scattered nature of the cultivations, the difficulty of makin°’ a correct statement is greatly increased” Barley and oats, though not so extensively cultivated this year as wheat, form no unimportant items in the rural economy of the Hutt, the harvest of which, should this favourable weather continue, will speedily commence, and an ample result is anticipated.

Of potatoes, the early sorts have proved a partial failure ; but the second, or latter crop, bids fair fully to make up the deficiency. Nor have the resident natives been behind their neighbours the settlers in their operations : in addition to cultivating some of the crops already mentioned, they have extensive patches of Indian corn and the kumera; the great care and extreme neatness observed in cultivating the latter may be seen to much advantage in the neighbourhood of Petoni. °

In conclusion, it i s to us a subject of much satisfaction to remark the progress made during the past year in the clearing and development of this interesting district; it being, we understand, much greater than in any preceeding year. Already, through means of the woodman’s axe, are the fair proportions of this part of the valley revealed ; and rom the road may now be caught many a glimpse of the winding Haeretonga, the beauty of whose ever changing scenerv auas an additional charm ; while the wake"tul echoes, whose mournful task, at no distant period, was but to prolong the note of defiance, now gladly bears back the varied sounds ot peaceful ' industry. .