AUCKLAND.

Otago Witness, Issue 25, 8 November 1851, Page 2

AUCKLAND.

Both the " New Zealander" and " Cross" now appear in an enlarged form, and show by their advertising columns that the northern capital is progressing. The old complaint at this season, of the year of bad roads, is still urged against the government, and a certain slough near Mount Eden calls forth some strong animadversions. We hope soon to see these matters in the hands of the people of the colony, and then we shall hear no more of such complaints. The gold being discovered in New South Wales gives the " Cross" a plea to raise its old cry against the pre-emptive right of the Government to buy land from the Natives ; but we question whether it will ever 'carry its point. The live stock, provisions, &c, imported into Auckland for the quarter ending the sth of July, was of the value of L.8121 ss. Bd., the principal items consisting of 74 horses, value L.102.3 ; 136 tons of flour, L.2240 ; 132 tons of sugar, L.2231 ; and tea, L.I 159. The exports for the same period was to the value of L.8817 and consisted chiefly of spars, sawn timber, copper ore, and grain. On the 19th of August i the second Annual Ploughing Match of the New Ulster Agricultural Society was competed for by nine ploughs; and three medals, one gold and two silver were awarded to the successful competitors. The " New Zealander" strongly condemns taking off the duty on imported flour, and says that it will be a heavy blow and great discouragement to New Zealand progress. The editor tells us that it is all very " well for the settlers in the south to obtain bread at the minimum price that the competition of other colonies with our own can secure, while they are reaping their own harvests from their depasturing operations, but in New Ulster, where the bona fide tilling of the ground is" a principal source of reliance the effect will be obviously different." Our contemporary is mistaken in saying that " about Wellington and Nelson attention has recently been turned rather to pastoral than properly agricultural pursuits. 7 Cultivation of the soil is progessing in this settlement as rapidly as it has ever done, and the only check to its advancement is the absence of labour. If the importation of flour duty free into' the colony will be felt in any settlement, it will therefore be in this, which has the largest agricultural population of any. — Nelson Examiner.