AUCKLAND AGRICULTURAL PROSPECTS.

Hawke's Bay Times, Volume III, Issue 153, 18 December 1863, Page 2 (Supplement)

AUCKLAND AGRICULTURAL PROSPECTS.

Owing to the disturbed state of the country,' a great deal of the growing crops will be lost to the South of Auckland. The hay crop, especially in exposed districts, will be lost to the individual proprietors and the country at large. Large tracts of bush clearings and fern land had been laid down in grass, the certainty of a remunerative market this year having led settlers to greater attention to this crop than hitherto. Hostilities, having commenced, however, the settlers in the out-districts were driven off their farms, and their crops were consequently neglected. The Wairoa district, famous for its thriving settlers and dairy produce, is now a military camp, desolated by the ravages of war or the destruction which ever follows in its wake. The Pukekohe, Mauku and Waiuku districts have also been deserted. So also have been the homesteads at and near Pokeno, where so much was being done by enterprising settlers to improve the country before the war. Thousands of acres laid down in grass and potatoes, in the districts named, and around Druiy and Papakura, must be looked upon as valueless this season ; and the positive loss to the country under this head alone is enormous. We do not speak of the loss of money in cattle, which at this time cannot be adequately calculated. In the neighborhood of Auckland and the more settled districts, the hay harvest has commenced, and a good crop can be reported. We would suggest, where practicable, that as great a proportion of seed ought to be preserved as possible. It is rather late in the seaon ; but still a good deal might be done yet. There are greater inducements to save seed now than in former seasons. Country settlers ought to recollect that the demand for grass seed will be very great, in consequence of the military settlement scheme.being carried out, and the arrival at no very distant date of a third thousand of the Albertland special settlers. Large additions to our population may likewise he looked for daring the coming season from the North of Irelaud and Scotland: a Presbyterian Emigration Society having been organised to send out members of that religigious denomination to this Colony. We mention these points to stimulate what we conceive has been too much neglected hitherto, —namely, the saving of home-grown grass

seed. It will be found profitable to the settlers themselves who do so, and they will at the same time confer a benefit on the country.

There is about the average breadth of potatoes in the ground around Auckland. The crop, in light soils, is below the average. Good prices will be realised throughout the summer.

To the North nothing has occurred to disturb the quiet course of settlement and improvement ; and we have been informed that crops are looking well. The great drawback to the settlement of the North is the want of good roads ; but this evil is in course of being remedied. A good deal depends on the settlers themselves in this matter ; and we will be happy to be the medium of making public the wants of the various settlements.

The scarcity of meat is much felt amongst the town population. The price for prime cuts is one shilling per pound; and owing to the short supply of stock, there is little to choose from. In the North there are considerable herds of horned cattle which would find a ready and remunerative market in Auckland, and we beg to call the attention of owners of stock to this fact.

Horses are still scarce, dear, and in demand. The requirements of the transport service are still very great. The heavy draught horses imported by the Commissariat from Sydney may be looked upon as so much money permanently invested in this country. At the close of the war they will be quitted amongst the settlers, and a class of stock much required in Auckland will become plentiful and cheap. There are several very fine brood mares amongst the Commissariat lot, and three good stallions. Mr. B. Newell, of Auckland, has likewise lately introduced a number of excellent heavy draught mares from the Australian colonies. Sheep are scarce and in demand, mutton bringing the same price as beef at per pound. The heavy consumption of beef and mutton in the South and in Auckland, brings a steady pressure on flockmasters which their limited resources cannot meet, and hence the dearth. There are several very fine small flocks in Auckland. In Hawke's Bay province there is a considerable number, but these cannot largely be taken advantage of until the overland route between Napier and Auckland has been opened. —Auckland Weekly News, 28th November.