THE NATIVE CANOE TRADE.

Maori Messenger : Te Karere Maori, Volume I, Issue 2, 1 February 1855, Page 10

THE NATIVE CANOE TRADE.

Many important items of intelligence appeared in the 'New-Zealander' of the 27th ultimo, from which issue we copy the following interesting matter relative to the Canoe trade, which seems to vie with the Native Coasters ; indeed it is very questionable whether the sum of £16,181 has been realized by the owners of the Maori vessels during the year 1854. The 'New-Zealander' says:— "This branch of native industry has continued to increase in the most satisfactory and surprising manner. Even at the last quarter of the past year, when the products of the previous season may be supposed to have been pretty well exhausted, the supplies are declared to be but little short in value of those of the previous quarter. A reference to our issue of the 13th instant, will show that the returns for the quarter ended I on the 30th September amounted to £4580 9s. Those for the quarter ending 31st December, are declared to have been of the value of £3159 Ss. 6d. From the Ist of October to the 31st of December, there arrived in Auckland 328 canoes navigated by 1082 males and 480 females, and laden with the following produce tatoes ; 156 kits onions; 149 kits maize; 4 kits kumaras ; 232 kits cabbage : 5 kits flax ; 2452 bundles of grass ; 351 j tons firewood ; 2lf ton* fish; 130 pigs; 111 fowls; 48 bushels wheat: 64 kits oysters ; 39 tons kauri gum; of the estimated value of £2343 12s. 4d. "During the same period there arrived at Onchunga 71 canoes, navigated by 174 males and 71 females, and laden with 184j tons firewood: 1 cwt. fish; 107 pigs; 8 tons flour; kauri gum: of the value of £Bl6 Bs. 6d. "'lt is only necessary to recapitulate the declared

estimated value of this minor, and, until recently, unconsidered traffic, to show its rapid progress, and its great importance to the best interests of Auckland; and in doing so, it is requisite once more to state that that these returns neither include produce conveyed by coasting vessels, or back-borne into Auckland by numerous native tribes employed in agricultural and other industrial pursuits in the vicinity of the capital. The total declared value of produce brought by canoes to Auckland, and Onehunga, during the year 1852 was estimated to amount to £6,460 18s.

The returns of 1853 were thus £5,273 7s. in excess of, or nearly double those of 1852; whilst those of 1854 were 4,447 Bs. 4d. in excess of those of 1853. This is indeed the best proof'of Maori civilization and intelligence ; as well as the clearest illustration of the pre-eminent maritime position and smooth water facilities of Auckland."

The same in 1853 . , 11,731 5 0 Ditto ditto 1854 .. 16,181 13 4