AUCKLAND.

Lyttelton Times, Volume III, Issue 124, 21 May 1853, Page 8

AUCKLAND.

After having been for four months without the receipt of a single Auckland paper, we are suddenly inundated with something like 100 Neio Zealanders and Southern Crosses. Where our contemporaries have been stowed away all this time, we are unable to say; suffice it, we have not received them, and great, in consequence, has been our ignorance respecting everything that has transpired Northwards. Previous to the arrival of the " Despatch,' 3 three days ago, our direct advices from England were later than from Auckland ! Our Contemporaries canyass at some'length the new Land Sales Begulations, but we have no space for their remarks this week. We must content ourselves with the extracts which follow, and which are of general interest:— " We are gratified to state that there seems good reason to believe that Auckland has been fixed upon as the port of call for the Panama steamers both coming out and going home. A gentleman whose testimony is of high character has brought this report from Sydney, with the additional and circumstantial information that the Company intended to send out the first steam ship by way of the Cape of Good Hope, to Sydney, there to take in a cargo of coal, afterwards to deposit it at Auckland, and then to proceed from this port to Panama to receive the mail. We shall await witli a solicitude proportioned to the importance of the statement the confirmation of it which we trust may be shortly anticipated. The papers mention that there were live vessels building for the Australian Pacific Line, viz. ; the " Kangaroo," the "Emu," the "Black Swan," the " Dinornis," and the •' Men lira." The " Kangaroo" was expected to sail in June. "We are also informed that an arrangement is likely to be made bj which the Peninsular and Oriental Company's fine steamers will sail from Australia monthly, instead of every second

month as at present; and further, that it is by no means improbable .that one of them may occasionally visit New Zealand, as the Agent at Sydney has been authorised to fill up the time of the disengaged vessels, by short trips to the adjacent colonies. Such a trip to Auckland, with sheep and cattle, and the return cargo of produce which could be speedily obtained here, would no doubt be amply remunerative to the Company.'1

The Gold Field.—Some of the most attractive specimens of New Zealand Gold which have hitherto came under our observation, are at present to be seen at Mr. Hansard's office. They are from the Waiau diggings, from which Mr. Hansard has received, since our last report, about 40 ounces of gold quartz, with a quantity of richly auriferous sand. We understand that a party of experienced Californian diggers have gone to Coromandel in the " Bon Accord," on a prospecting expedition. The result of their visit will be looked for with some interest.

" The 5 Bon Accord,' which arrived this morning from Cororaandel, brought from the diggings three of the persons who have been for some time prospecting or digging there. Amongst the passengers is Mr. Adamson, who brings up a number of packages of a very interesting character, the principal portion of which were obtained by Messrs. Adamson and Unthank's party in a creek not previously prospected, and situated from 10 to 15 miles from the Waiau Creek, at a depth of from 3 to 4 ft. from the surface. They are as follow : oz.dwts.grs. 1. A lot of small quartz nuggets and large dust (a very fine lot) weighing 0 13 19 2. A lot of larger nuggets .very rich 2 0 12 3. A golden quartz nugget 1 ll o 4. A do. do. 0 19 13 5. A lot of small nuggets 0 18 13 6 2 23 " The greater part of the above were found in a very short space of time." Auction S^le op Sheep and Cattle.— On March 30, the sheep and cattle imported by the (expected here) "William Hyde," were sold at Newmarket by Mr. Joseph Newman, at prices indicating the remunerating demand here for such stock. 100 wethers were sold for 15s. each, and 500 ewes at 18s. each, an A, there can be no doubt that a much larger number would have brought equally good prices. 100 head of cattle were sold at from £4 15s. to £5 per head, prices which must be deemed satisfactory, considering that though the cattle were of an excellent description, they were not in very good condition, having so lately been landed. "The Resident Magistrate of Auckland being happily of a statistical turn has assisted in exhibiting the return of native importations into Auckland." Thus wrote the Australian and Neic Zealand Gazette of the 21st of August. And, as if in full confirmation of the well merited compliment, out comes a Government Gazette on Tuesday, of which the gratifying statistics furnished by the Resident Magistrate are the principal, if not the exclusive, features. We refer to those returns, with a confidence of which those incorporated with the Census of last year were wholly unworthy. Those of the Resident Magistrate have always been prepared with the utmost perspicuity and fidelity; whilst those which were last year issued from the Colonial Secretary's Office required to be corrected and re-corrected; and, in the end, could only be regarded as a clumsy agglomeration of questionable facts. There is matter of much gratulation to the citizens of Auckland in the " Return showing the Comparative State of Population, Produce, and Stock, within a radius of fourteen miles of the City of Auckland, for the years 1851 and 1852." Tn the Population tables, the age, sex, employment, births, deaths, marriages, condition and religion are fully set forth. For these particulars we must refer to the Gazette itself. We can only deal with generalities ; but these are sufficient to exhibit the growing progress and substantial prosperity of Auckland. The total population of Auckland, exclusive of the. military, is stated to have been 7742 souls in 1851. In 1852 the numbers are estimated at 8061. Now, although an increase of

319 souls may appeal 1 to be but a poor addition in the course of the year, yet, considering the vast outpouring of speculators to the Australian gold fields, it is surprising that a decrease and not an increase, should have taken place.

In the quantity as well as in the quality of her dwelling houses Auckland continues steadily to advance. There are 32 stone houses in 1852 against 31 in 1851: —53 brick agrinst 49 : 1903 of wood against 1736; and 11 more in process of construction. There are also 49 houses inhabited by natives against 35 so inhabited in 1851.

But it is in the comparative extent of land cropped in 1851 and 1852, that the energy, industry, and prosperity of the colonists are best exhibited. We have last year 1558 acres of wheat to contrast with 835 acres of wheat of the previous year—Boo acres of oats against 779 : 337 of barley against 332: 138 of maize against 109 : 1,158 acres of potatoes against 794: 102^ acres of turnips against an unascertained quantity: 1,313 acres of hay against an.unreturned amount: 279 acres of garden against 225: 11.606 acres in pasture against 6,631 : 17,299 acres of all sorts of crop against 9,707 : And 20,207 acres enclosed in 1852 against 12,246 acres of fenced lands in 1851!!

The stock of the district is also steadily on the increase. Horses have augmented from 686 to 847; cattle from 6,104 to 7,631 : sheep from 5,288 to 8,656 : pigs from 1,624 to 2,307.

These are facts extremely gratifying1 to record, because they furnish undeniable indications of a progress long and oppressively stayed; and present a bird's-eye view of an activity now allprevalent; an activity to which we have of late so repeatedly drawn attention. The hand of industry is every where on the alert. Every month tells its tale of lands reclaimed and Home-steadings created. Gratifying therefore as the comparative return of 1852, we cannot doubt, from the movements all around, that, when 1853 shall have run its course, the record of progress it will supply will be still more striking.

Three defined runs have been applied for. Their boundaries and descriptions are open for inspection at the oifice of the Commissioner of Crown Lands.

79 Depasturing Licenses have been issued for the Hundred of Auckland, 67 for the Hundred of Onehunga, 48 for the Hundred of Pan mure, 24 for the Hundred of Otahuhu, 63 for the Hundred of Howick, and 6 for the Hundred of Pupvike.

Persons outside Hundreds who have not renewed their depasturing or timber licenses are enjoined to do so forthwith under the penalty of being proceeded against.

We have an extensive return of Crown Lands sold privately, from the Ist October to the 31st December. This list comprises 20 lots of town and one of suburban land ; 8 lots in the village of Onehunga, and one in its neighbourhood ; 9 lots near Panmure ;14 Manure\va Farms; one lot near Howick ; 7 East Tamaki Farms; 9 Country Farms in the parish of Opaheke ; one in the pariah of Titirangi; 17 allotments in the parish of Takapuna, situated on the north shore of the Waitemata, immediately opposite to Auckland ; and 37 lots in and around the several pensioner settlements, and selected by the enrolled pensioners. The cash realized for the land thus sold (immediate payment being an indispensable condition) amounted to the sum of £4.95S os. 3d.

Thirty-seven lots of various lands were also sold by public auction. These realized jg4,958 4s. 7d.

A sale of Crown Lands has also taken place with results highly satisfactory as indicating-the augmenting value of allotments, and therefore necessarily the increase ot agricultural enterprise in the Province of Auckland. This was particularly evident in the spirited competition for lots at the village of Onehunga, where, as in the other Pensioner Settlements, the industry and frugality of the Pensioners—(who are daily manifesting more clearly how important an acquisition they are to the class of steady settlers) —has enabled them to add to their own acres additional property, as well as to stock and cultivate their little farms with a measure of success fully equalling that realized by their neighbours generally. Of 32 village allotments included in the Proclamation for the auction, only one remained unsold. The aggregate upset price of the 32 allotments purchased was £314 17s. 6d., while the sum obtained for them amounted to £455 17s. Several of them were

bought by Pensioners, and for most of them Pensioners were animated bidders, although in some instances the " longer purses" of competitors who had a less intimate interest in the particular locality enabled them to out-bid them. Indeed there can be little doubt that the value of land about Onehunga will be rapidly and considerably increased by the results of the accurate survey of the Manakau harbour now in progress by H.M.S. Pandora, from the scientific and laborious observations of whose Commander and officers this country has already derived so much benefit. One lot near the village, the upset price of which was £'Z7 17s. was knocked down at £38 10s. The other lots in the list for the day included one in the suburbs of Auckland, not sold; one at Panmure, sold at the upset price ; seven at East Tamaki, of which only one was sold; twelve Opaheke Farms, of which two were withdrawn, three sold at the respective upset prices of £224., £193 155., and £11, and one sold at £9, the upset price being Jbo 10s. ; and, finally, three small farms at Mahurangi, of which only one was sold, —at the upset price of £24, being £8 per acre. The total proceeds of the day's sale amounted to £1,015.

Indeed, high as the price, such is the unquestionable intrinsic value of the lands around Auckland, that they are now being greedily sought after, and are quickly passing into the hands of the energetic and enterprising colonists.

The exports of New Zealand produce from Russell, from the Ist of September to the 31st of Pecember, amounted to £90 10s. The import of produce coastwise during the same quarter amounted to £1,000 Bs. There were 29 vessels of 744 tons, manned by 76 men, entered inwards—and 28 vessels of 832 tons, manned by 81 men, entered outwards.

New Zealand produce exported* from ;Hokianga, from the 11th October to the sth Jan., amounted to £303 13s. Seven vessels of 330 tons and 24 men were entered inwards ; —and six vessels of 309 tons and 22 men were entered outwards.

The exports from the port of Auckland, the produce of New Zealand, from the 11th October to the sth March, amounted in value to £17,519. Of these the principal items were —Flour, £2,925 :—Houses in frame, £1,454 10s.-.—Whale Oil, £I,ss2:—and Sawn Timber, £7,157. The value of Live Stoct and Provisions imported during the same period amounted to £6,126 10s. Tea, Sugar, Sheep and Horses constituted the most prominent items.

During the year 1852 there was conveyed to Auckland in 1792 native canoes, navigated by 6,235 men and 2,542 women ; 6,863 kits of potatoes ; 1,427 kits of onions ; 1,776 kits of maize; 661 kits of kumeras; 807 kits of cabbage; 1,212 kits of peaches; 19 kits of flax; 5,760 bundles of grass ; 1,202 and ± tons of wood; 45 and f tons of fish; 1,299 pigs; 39 goats ; 191 ducks ; 1,289 fowls ; 62 cwt. flour ; 2 geese ; -and 30 kits of shell fish, of the aggregate value of £3,564 11s. 6d.

During the same year, there was landed at Onehunga, from 324 native canoes, navigated by 1,095 men and 407 women ; 179 kits of potatoes; 13 kits of onions; 381 kits of maize; 14 kits of kumeras ; 35 kits of peaches ; 37 bundles grass; 362 and f tons wood; 7 tons fish; 472 pigs; 6 goats; 3 ducks; 103 fowls ; 1 cwt. flour ; 37 bushels of wheat ; 7 kits pumpkins ; and 7 kits melons, of an aggregate value of £704 9s. 6d. During the same year the native cutter, Harry Bluff, landed at the same place 9 and half tons flax ; 61 tons flour ; 1,637 bushels -wheat ; and 71 bushels brim ; the whole being- valued at £2,191 17s. We have thus acquired a knowledge, through the care and zeal of the Resident Magistrate, of an annual native import, at Auckland and Onehunga, of the total value of £6,460 17s. 6d. This is indeed encouraging; and as our exports are only in their promising infancy; and as Australia is exercising an active and energetic influence upon the Native mind, we have no doubt that the increase of 1553 will prove as gratifying as the product, of 1852 has been unexpected.

234 vessels of ft,225 tons, and 492 men, entered the Port of Auckland, coastwise, during the quarter ended the 31st December last: and 230 vessels of 5,222 tons, and 459 men, entered outwards, coastwise, during the same period. The value of produce imported coastwise into Auckland during the last quarter is stated at £21,232 13s. Ojf these the principal items

aye Bacon and Hams £1,012 10s.; Horned Cattle, £1,112 ; Wheat, £7,277 ; Maize, £1,064; Whale and Sperm Oil, £3,595 ; Sawn Timber, £2,230 ; and Wool, £920. In connection with this branch of the subject the Shipping of Auckland obviously claims attention. Within the last year seven hundred and forty-one vessels of all sizes, foreign and coastwise, were entered at the Custom House as arriving in this Port. We have examined an " Auckland Shipping List" which has been contributed to our contemporary the Southern Cross, which bears internal evidence of having been prepared with care and diligence. From this it appears that the number of vessels belonging to the Port of Auckland, employed in the Foreign or Colonial trade on the Ist of January, 1853, was twelve, with an aggregate tonnage of 1737 tons, and the number employed in the Coasting Trade was one hundred and eighteen, with a tonnage of 2,167 ; making a total of one hundred and thirty vessels, of 3,904 tons. The list includes only vessels of 10 tons and upwards, and therefore to present a complete view the numerous class under that tonnage should be added to it. In the remarks which accompanied its first publication it is observed that the excess of tonnage —250 tons —above that of the preceding year, is the more remarkable, seeing that we have had three barques of 637 tons, two brigs of 493 tons, twelve schooners of 790 tons, and between 200 and 300 tons of smaller vessels, —being an aggregate of 1870 tons, or more than half the tonnage of 1851 —sold out of port, or lost within the year. Keeping this calculation in view, the increase may well afford matter of congratulation.

But the survey would be defective indeed if we overlooked or lightly regarded the part borne by the Nativos in our Coasting Trade. Of the vessels enumerated in the list to which we refer, it will be seen that no less than thirly-seven belong- to Native owners ; and it may be noted that, of the coasting craft trading between Auckland and the Bay of Islands, there is not one that commands the preference of passengers, beyond the cutter " Napi," whose master, James Tautari, (a relation of the celebrated Chief Thomas Walker), is, in the course of his trading between the Bay and Auckland, entrusted with property and money which in the year amount to thousands of pounds sterling, while his nautical skill is as fully confided in as that of any navigator on our coast. This is a rapidly increasing trade also, for within the year several vessels of considerable value have been purchased by natives, to be*paid for with their own Produce, and we are informed that, within the last two years, considerable sums have been advanced by the Colonial Government by way of loans to the Natives of the North to assist them in procuring small vessels. Into whatever trade the ships built in New Ulster have been sold, their buoyancy, speed, and substantial workmanship have never failed to give satisfaction to the purchasers; and as the province that supplies the admirable materials for the hull, is equally prolific of the means of masting and rigging those hulls, it must be obvious that so long at we can equip and sell, we require no better description of export, or one more likely to spread and establish our reputation, than well constructed sound, and handsome shipping.