The Farm. THE HOPE OF NEW ZEALAND. SOME PERTINENT FACTS FOR GENERAL CONSIDERATION.

Te Aroha News, Volume VII, Issue 407, 2 October 1889, Page 4

The Farm. THE HOPE OF NEW ZEALAND. SOME PERTINENT FACTS FOR GENERAL CONSIDERATION.

The following letter appeared in the Auckland Stak ;—; — (To the Editor.) Sir,— ln the "Australasian" of the 24th August last I see published the annual statistics for the Australasian colonies, and aa they are published by authority of the Victorian Government, they may be taken to be accurate. Their appearance ab this time of our depression is very opportune. Under these statistics we learn that New Zealand luis 362,153 acres of land under wheat, 367,225 under oats, and 45,027 under barley in addition to ofcher crops. I mention the number of acres to show that it ia not a small patch of a few thousands, capable by exceptional treatment of producing the results which I shall refer to, but a largo area affording the elements of a fair comparison with the large areas of the Australian colonies. When wo come to place the several colonies in contrast, however, we find that the yield of wheat per acre in New Zealand was 24-22 bushels, whilst the nearest approach to this was that of Tasmania, 2016 bushels; but that colony had only 40,657 acres in cultivation. The contrast of New Zealand's 24 22 bushels per acre with the average yields In the other colonies should make an impression upon persons outside the colony who are interested in agricultural settlement. The figures speak for themselves :

Tho yield of oats in like manner shows the same, or nearly tho same, proportion —

A comparative statement of the yield of barley shows —

Those figures prove conclusively tliafc for returns per acre in wheat, oats, barley, and potatoes, New Zealand ia without rival. Even in America the average of wheat is ' under twelve bushels to the acre. As before j stated, New Zealand's return is owing to no chance exceptional treatment from a few lavoured localities, but is the cumulative result of farming upon a large scale. A summary of our agricultural work, like the foregoing, is indeed encouraging, and we are proud to find, despite the invidious comparisons to which we are often treated, that our land is so productive, and our soil has claims to the consideration of the farmer and caoitalist far beyond that of any other colony. Surely the a c facts are entitled to have greater publicity than has been given to them. Now, sir, in the hurry of this life it is absolutely nece&sary for matters of importance to be so placed that the public may not have to search painfully for them. Facts such as those I have quoted oueht to be placed before the whole world, so that those who run may read. The great majority of people have nob the inclination, even if they have the time, to seek after dry statistics. Our population is leaving us : our people are complaining and are dissatisfied. Of the latter how few are at all aware of the positio/i the colony holds in comparison with its neighbours. Is it not, then, the duty of the Government, instead of wrangling and fighting as they are doing, tomaKethese factsknown through thelength and breadth of our land, and produce a feeling somewhat akin to contentment, if that can be with our great burdens ? Would it not also be wiser for them, instead of merely aiding exhibition?, as they are doing at Dunedin, to advertise the above facts as a business man having wares to sell (they have land), not only through the Australian colonies, but in America and Europe, so as to encourage the right kind of immigration ? I would gladly contribute my quota to have these statistics and tacts published on lly sheet and distributed with your country papers and Home Summary, so that our farmers and a few outsiders may see that we have a better country than any under the sun, and that if we have only patience and industry we shall yet rise. Having land and climate none excelling, let it also be known that wheat from the Provincial District of Auckland tookjii st, p-, he aqamst the icorld in the Paris Exhibition. — I am, etc., A Resident ok 49 Years in Auckland.

In the course of his report on New Zealand flax shipments Sir F. D. Bell says :— " A few of the New Zealand brands have already an established name, and the price of 'good Auckland 1 has been steadily higher than for other sorts, owing pimply to the buyer being able to depend on getting what he had bought." Thi->, the Agent-General points out, is a very important matter. The buyer of Manila and other sorts, he remarks, knows what he is buying, and is sure of what he -will get, whereas if he buys in New Zealand "to arrive" he neither knows whether he is buying what ho really wants nor whether he wiil get what has been sold to him. This makes him afraid to lose the chance of making his contract tor Manila even at high prices, lest when the New Zealand hemp arrives he may find it useless for his particular requirements. The question, therefore, which really presses for our colonists is whether they can make regular and constant shipments of their hemp in reasonable uniformity of quality, texture, and colour, or whether there are still to be only irregular and intermittent .shipments of uncertain and uneven sorts. A good name keeps its lustre in the dark. An electric spark— Waking love by telegraph. • Whisky is now made out of wood. Out of the grain found in it, we presume. A drink is as good as a nod to a thirsty acquaintance. Justice raises a nation, bub sin makes a people miserable.

Acres. E Victoria .. .. 83.483 N.S.W 3,318 Queensland . . . . 324 South Australia . . 15,697 Western Australia 5.009 Tasmania . . . . 4 670 New Zealand . . 45,027 3uahel3 per acre. 13-55 11-03 22.94 7-00 14-70 23*55 31*15 Potatoes. Acres. Victoria .. .. 43,074 New South Wales 15,419 Queensland . . . . 7,303 South Australia . . 5,666 Western Australa 481 Tasmania .. .. n.658 New Zealand . . 26.3C1 Tons per acre. 3*04 239 234 2-00 410 J-33 5-08 lIAV. Acres. Victoria .. .. 411.332 Now South Wales 209,531 Queensland . . 20.978 South Australia .. 308,429 Western Australia 23,914 Tasmania .. .. 52,521 New Zealand .. 50,656 Tons per acre. 0-75 064 1.54 O'bt I*oo I'll 1-41

Victoria N.S.W Queenblnnd South Australia . . Western Australia Tasmania New Zealand Acres. I 197.518 7,984 642 7.264 1.787 33.834 367,225 Bush ids per acre. 14-20 13-77 5*65 6-00 23*42 27-97 29-89

Vietoiia N.S.W Quoensland South Australia .. Western Australia Acres. 1,217,191 304,803 9,305 1,605,000 30,739 Busli ads per acre, i 7*lo 476 o'B9 3-85 10*50