THE PATEA MAIL. Published Wednesdays and Saturdays. SATURDAY, MAY 29, 1875.

Patea Mail, Volume 1, Issue 14, 29 May 1875, Page 2

THE PATEA MAIL. Published Wednesdays and Saturdays. SATURDAY, MAY 29, 1875.

Strang huh visiting this district from other parts of the Colony, invariably indulge in sounding the praises of our natural resources, and give to the Patea district the palm for possessing the best land and most equable climate in New Zealand. With such natural advantages, Patea must sooner or later bo a place of considerable commercial importance, and it remains with our settlers to say how long that time, shall bo in coming. At present the land along the coast is merely valued for its stockfeeding power while in its natural state, but we think at no distant date it will also bo famed for its fertility under cultivation. Wc have now to import the flour for our daily broad and a large portion of the grain used as horse-feed, and thus have to send away to other parts of the Colony large sums of money which could be spent to groat advantage here if the cultivation of the soil formed an appreciable portion of our settlers attention. A place like Patea without its flour mill is not often met with, and we think some enterprising capitalist might do far worse than invest a little in the erection of a good mill, which would soon be fully employed in grinding locally-grown wheat. Not long since, a worthy settler of the Hawera district, in giving evidence in the ease uf Broadbent

iind Siggs v Dive, gave it as liis opinion that agriculture would not pay about here. If he is right, all we can say is that grazing must be a wonderfully profitable pursuit, as we feel confident that by good farming plenty of the land on this coast would yield an average crop of from 40 to -50 bushels to the acre; much of it even more. Wheat will never be worth less than from 4s per bushel here, and is far more likely to be worth double that figure as population increases. It is safe to assume that it would command an average price of Gs per bushel, which, at 40 bushels to the acre, would give £l2 per acre. Of course the cost of cultivation would have to be deducted from this, but we do not think it would come to over £4 per acre, thus leaving the farmer £S clear profit. Barley, too, is a good safe crop, yielding well, and commanding a steady price of from 5s to 7s per bushel; unlike wheat, it is not subject to great fluctuations in value, ami is less liable to disease. Oats, though cheaper than either of the foregoing cereals, yields heavier, and is equally as profitable to the grower. It will thus be seen what an encouraging aspect agriculture turns to us, and how foolish wo are to let the soil lie unfilled and all but unimproved ; for it must bo borne in mind, most of the improved land hereabouts is only improved by the cattle trampling down the fern and spreading grasses over it. If each settler would break up a portion of Ids laud and lay it down in crops each year, he would not only gain a large direct advantage, but would in a few years have every acre of his land bearing to the fullest of its powers, and capable of fattening ten times the number of sheep than is now possible on rough and uncultivated holdings. Besides cereals, there are many other crops, for the profitable production of which plenty of our laud is available; and we hope, the day is not far distant that may sec Patea an exporter instead of an importer of much that it has to nay large sums of money away for now. The culture of both the grape and the bop would pay well in suitable soil, and we trust to see it soon commenced on a large scale. Mr Luxford has proved the suitability of the soil and climate near Manutahi for the growth of the bop plant, he having succeeded in producing a highly remunerative return from his vinos. The want of labour, however, rendered his efforts to a groat extent profitless, as after growing a heavy crop, be failed to get hands to pick it quick enough. We have seen a sample of Taranaki grown ■Kops of Lius season, which are equal to any Tusmauian or Nelson grown bops ill the tnaikot, and "which sold readily for 2s 2d per lb. when dried and cured, the bitter part of the work of production being admirably performed. Wc hope by these few remarks to draw the attention of those in whose bands the future of this and the adjoining districts now rests, trusting that they may have the effect of storing upon the minds of our settlers a steady determination to extract from their various farms the highest possible profits. Grazing is a nice easy pursuit, and is apt to lull its followers into a state of easy-going lethargy, which will in time have the ofleet of utterly unfitting them for active life, and by sounding will prove most bnrtfull in its effect. Man has always been a tiller of the soil, and those countries wherein agriculture has most flourished have invariably become great ami prosperous. It is not the goldfields of Otago that constitute the prosperity of that go-ahead province ; it is the large acreage under cultivation, and the good farming of her settlers, who, although possessing neither the land nor the climate of this coast, yet contrive to send their flour and other grain here to our merchants, whose money thus goes to support population elsewhere, instead of being kojit in the district. Wo hope soon to see the plough goinff, ami the brown furrows dotted ail over the landscape, where now there is little to bo seen but patches of grass and clover, and a tew 'Sheep or cattle picking up a slow living, while their owners listlessly watch their wanderings and wonder when they will be fit for the butcher, or bow wool will sell next season. Agriculture should go hand in hand with pastoral pursuits, a judicious blending being all that is wanted to ensure for the settlers of this coast a solid prosperity.

The Jicv N. McCallum, Presbyterian minister, has now taken up his permanent residence at Wairoa, where a manse is being erected for him by the settlers of that district.

Some time since a petition was forwarded to the Provincial Council o£ Taranaki, asking that body to extend the boundaries of the town of Oax’lyle ; but up to the present time no action has been taken in the matter. We now understand that the Superintendent lias been written too, and if he approves of the proposed extension, a proclomation will be at once issued by the General Government extending the boundaries of the township, which will include the recreation ground, education reserves, and other valuable lauds. The latest sign of civilization we have noticed among our dark ,skinned brethren in this part of the Colony was while on a trip up the coast the other day, when we passed a native driving a team of bullocks across the Waimate Plains, who was provided with a large umbrella in order to protect himself from the inclemency of the weather.

Vessels with up-river cargoes need not now experience any alarm owing to the dangerous proximity of the snag in the channel which hitherto impeded navaga t ion, especially at low water, in the reach below the railway works. This obstacle has been •successfully removed by Sir HarbourMaster McLaren and the crow of the snag punt. As we anticipated, it was found impossible to raise the submerged monster by means of the ordinary appliances, and the sendees of a diver were called into requisition, who managed, after considerable difficulty, to affix the bight of a chain cable round the limbs of the roots, in such a manner that slipping was impossible. The punt was now brought into position, and at dead low water the chain was tightened, and as the tide rose, so did the large snag from the accumulations of sand

ill which it was imbedded. The form and dimensions were then ascertained, and the trunk was found to measure about 10 feet in length, though the roots extended out. wards in a circle of about 25 feet in diameter. On tliis root, in the same position as when growing in its native forest years ago, the snag rested in an upright position, and it was the top of the trunk which offered the obstruction to vessels which has been complained of. The labour of raising was very severe, every portion of the apparatus being strained to the uttermost, and the huge bulk being elevated only inch by inch. It is now lying horizontally on the edge of the bank with the head towards the shore, and the widely-extended roots forming an upright circular-shaped wall facing the river. The singular appearance of the ancient specimen has attracted considerable curiosity. —Wanganui Chronicle. The Turanahi Herald says : — u Tenders for the Wanganui end of the WaitaraWangamii Pailway having been sent in, a Mr Lanagan, of Auckland, is declared the successful tenderer, the amount being Til 1,552, just .£llO under that of Messrs JJrogdon and Sou. It scorns a strange way the Government adopt in calling for tenders for works that may be said to bo connected with this Province ; for although they insert advertisements in the West Coast and other outside papers, few find their way to the local newspapers in New Plymouth. It is satisfactory, however, to find that another section of this railway is about to bo commenced at this end ; and as we publish to-day a proclamation defining the limits, description, and line of the portion from Sentry Hill to Mangamawheto, wc may hope to hear of contracts being called for the same forthwith.”

It is rumoured (says a contempory) that Mr Stuart, the Mayor of Napier, will conte.st the seat in the House of Representatives with Sir D. McLean at the next election.

The disposal of the p.s. Tongariro (says the Wanganui Chronicle) is under contemplation. The cause of the proposed sale is her unfitness, through too deep draught, for the trade in which she is at present engaged. It is probable that the keel of a more suitable vessel to take her place will shortly be laid.