THE WANGANUI CHRONICLE AND RANGITIKEI MESSENGER. “Verite sans peur.” WANGANUI, March 20, 1862.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 6, Issue 284, 20 March 1862, Page 2

THE WANGANUI CHRONICLE AND RANGITIKEI MESSENGER . “ Verite sans peur.” WANGANUI, March 20, 1862.

The note of Exports and Imports given in another column shews how much the pastoral interest is gaining ground in jthis district. The'great loss of grain in jthe beginning cf last year of course prajvented the expectation of any surplus for fexport } but the growing conviction of jfarmers, that grain crops cannot be defended on, for a profitable return,; unless to those who are able to crop a comparatively large surface, having different exposures and sown at different periods, so as to average any losses arising from the too frequent casualties of dry, wet, or windy weather, or the ravages of insects, makes them less inclined to do much in the way of cropping, unless in the course of bringing waste land under cultivation, and laying it down in grass. The land,, requiring to be ploughed at any rate, yields a crop the first year, which, at the very worst, must pay the expence of seeding and harvesting. Thus the district is gradually being turned into grass fields, in which it is found that the growth of wool pays much better than the cultivation of any cereal. A glance at the list of exports shows that the shipment of wool during the quarter lias nearly doubled in comparison with the corresponding period of 1860 while almost every thing else has fallen'off (excepting bacon, the exportation of which (was stimulated for some time by tlie deSinand for it from.the Otago diggers. Some (more attention is being paid to cheese, as lan article, which may be kept for a favlourable market, if an inmediate outlet is snot found for it; but yet comparatively (few of our settlers seem to like the trouIble attending its manufacture.

j It will be seen that the value of the [wool shipped is fully more thau that of all the other exports put together, and that [but for it, a very miserable account inkleed would have been given of this disjtrict’s rural industry, as exhibited by the [exports of the quarter. - | The extent of land which has been [reaped this year fully bears out our remark regarding the decreasing attention paid to the culture of grain. On the [north side of the river, there are only 270 [acres of grain, or about two thirds of [what there was two gears ago in a [district, no place of which is above ten miles from a market, with roads which in summer may be called good, and in winter are for the most part passable, and at a time when prices' ought to yield a fair [remuneration to all having an ordinary [crop. There can be no stronger argu[ment against the small-fanning system than such figures give. If the growing [of wheat does not pay at ss. and 6s. a [bushel, what would be. the result to the [producers, if the supply were so much increased as to bring down the price to 2s. 6d or 35., as would inevitably be the case if such a system were brought quickly into operation in any pare of New Zealand. ' Even with all the advantages, which machinery of the most improved description,; unbroken summer and harvest weather, and extensive rich agricultural plains give to the California# fanner, he fi lids wheat at 2s 6d a bushel by no (means remunerative. Those who are

anxfoTJs for • extensive small farm settle*! ments in New Zealand, must also provide a manufacturing population to consume the produce ; and the introduction of sucli a class must be the work of many years* and (the r suit of a proper direction of the industry of the sheep'farmer.