THE WANGANUI CHRONICLE AND RANGITIKEI MESSENGER. “Véritè sans peur.” Wanganui, May 16, 1861.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 5, Issue 235, 16 May 1861, Page 3

THE WANGANUI CHRONICLE AND RANGITIKEI MESSENGER. “Véritè sans peur.” Wanganui, May 16, 1861.

We resume.the 'remarks 'on .our Expdrts fo 1 ’ 1860, which we were obliged to cut short las 1 week. Our readers will see in another column, that an /fuckland gentleman has been taking over shedp to Melbourne for sale frdm Auckland, aiid that they have brought good prices, the growers of wool there being alive to the. importance 'of securing the best bred sheep for the improvement of the quality and weight of the fleece. It is no exaggeration to say, that had New Zealand flockmasters generally been attentive to this point, and to the proper getting up of the wool for the market (in which they have been notoriously deft cient), the value of the wool export last year might have been a fourth more than it was ; in which case it would have considerably exceeded half a million sterling. : As it. was, it amounted to 44-4,3922 against 339,779 1 in 1859. Of this value Canterbury exported 42| p.c., Wellington 26§ p.c., Nelson and Otago lOf p:c. each, Hawke’s Bay, 4f p.c., Auckland 4$ p.c., and 7’aranaki f p.c. The largest exporting province (Canterbury) made its first return? in 1854 0f70002 worth sliippe'tl. In 1860 this amduii t lias been multiplied into 190,0002. In 1854, the total , value of the wool shipped from New Zealandwas 70,0002; in iB6O it is more than six times that amount. The total weight in 1854 was 1,258,000 lbs;, and in 1860, 6,665,880 lbs. These .figures are the most eloquent arguments that can be adduced in favour of this branch of industry, showing conclusively, as they do, how well fitted the country and climate are for the grazing of sheep, and how important it is; that information should be obtained aiid diffused as to;the kinds best suited to 'tlie varying circumstances of tlie different parts of the country. As an illustration of what we ; mean, 1 let us take (lie high countr'y .in the i\:es.t-pf, 7/u\Vke’s Bay province. .4'iie. meriiio sheea ! : has, been introduced there, but, if ’ our information is correct, the result has been by no means encouraging, ; If, however, some hardier breed were, tried, such as the cheviot front Scotland, there can be very little doubt that the attempt would be successful. Such a breed would also, we believe, be much better suited for the latitude of. Otago and Southland than the merino.; Jn weight of carcase they are superior, and would grow as much heavier fleeces as .would.make up, for the lower value of the wool..

,■ The only article of export .besides wool which shows a satisfactory advance, in 1860, is butter, of which 6,6232 worth has been shipped, against 55882 in . ISqS-ran increase which is tlie.more toi.be.remarked^as:no ; doubt there has been a considerably increased home consumption consequent on the greater number of soldiers in the .island. ~ ■

; Having thtis : cursorily glanced at the exports as, they 'are connected with the various provinces, we may naturally be asked;—but to what places are these exports" sent ? In answer to.yhis question it may be stated, that nearly three-fourths of the whole are shipped to the United Kingdom, one-fifth to New South Wales, one-tenth to Victoria, one-thir-teenth to Tasmania ; | p.c. to the Mauritius; p.c., or a four "hundredth part, to Unitbd States; fp.e. to China; | pc. to South Sea islands ; and about the same amount was taken by vessels engaged in the southern whale fishing. France took 281 ; Chili, 49 1; and 46Z went to various places, aIF nameless 1 except Guam, which may be the little island of that name in the Pacific, or perhaps “ Guam, &c.” is not intended to mean any place in particular, hut is used as a kind of waste paper basket, ! ihto which all the little: sundries of an export kind are 7 thrown to saVe? 'trouble. : may be stippose'd; tbe : great bulk‘of the exports’to Great Britain corisists of wool. Canterbury sends home most, 40 \ p.c. of the whole; Wellington 29pC;; Nelson 12f p.c. ; Auckland 6§ p.c.; Otagb-, 7 p.c.; Hawke’s Bay 4^'p.c. In 1854 the exports to the United Kingdom were 43.83GZ—in 1860, they are nearly ten times that amount. Wellington was the largest direct exporter to England till IBo6i since which Canterbury with its wool has taken the lead.