NEW PLYMOUTH.

Nelson Examiner and New Zealand Chronicle, Volume III, Issue 116, 25 May 1844, Page 47

NEW PLYMOUTH.

[from our own correspondent.] '

Taranaki, May 4. The copies of the Nelson Examiner forwarded by the Star of China came duly to hand. I had prepared a letter for you to go by the Finetta, but, in consequence of a surf getting up, the boat did not sail as was originally intended, and so the letter was not sent.

The farmers here are straining every nerve to get in as large a quantity of wheat as they possibly can, and it is estimated that there will be little less than 300 acres of it sown this year ; and, if we improve in the same ratio next year as we have this, we may calculate upon driving the foreign flour out of the market.

Bush land appears to be the favourite here, although some of our largest farmers have nearly all fern land, which, they say, though not quite so productive at first, will not be so soon exhausted. But in this respect I think they will find themselves mistaken, for the fern land does not appear to be half so rich as the bush, and is exceedingly light. One or two settlers only have gone upon timber land, and they are sawyers. For them, no doubt, it is the best : but it seems doubtful whether timber land will produce more than bush, while it is certain that it is much more expensive to clear.

The Company, during two or three weeks past, have been opening out a new district, called Kairoa, extending into the large inland forest ; but the surveyor and his staff were stopped by the Maories on the 26th ult., who claim the land. The natives say that they will not have any white settlers beyond the Mongaraka River; but I do not think -that they will hold out about that, although it is very probable that they will keep possession of the banks of the Waitara, whence they have lately turned off a very hard-working settler, named Fishley, who has grown the finest sample of wheat in the settlement.

Sovereigns, so lately as the end of February, were fetching 9d. premium; but they are now at par, and are fast driving out of circulation the private checks of the Company's Agent.

P.S. — A Maori came in two days ago from the coast with a pair of long boots, which he said belonged to " Wideawake," wh6 was coming after him. He may have been detained by the weather being very rainy, as he has not yet arrived.

[Extract from a private letter to the Editor.] New Plymouth, May 16. No news yet of the Bella Marina, now daily expected; unless, indeed, the news of the Wairau massacre may have postponed the time of her departure from England. In the meanwhile, though of course we should be glad of more good settlers, this part of New Zealand seems getting on very well with the present set. There will be between 400 and 500 acres in wheat next season, besides 150 in barley and oats. The demand for labour is steady, at the rate of fifteen to eighteen shillings per week. The Company's wages are ten shillings per week for ablebodied men ; but there are no applicants for employment at this low rate. Probably a few good agricultural labourers in addition might find work here, if you have any such to spare at Nelson.

The Carbon takes a few persons hence to New Edinburgh, wherever that may be ; — " loose fish," whom we can well spare. The same may be said of those who lately went in the Star of China to Sydney. They left us for our benefit, if not their own.

We are daily hoping to see Mr. Spain, Colonel Wakefield, &c, who were to have been at Wanganui eight or ten days ago. Now that the natives are prevented from selling their land to private persons, in the " blocks " claimed by the Company, there may be less difficulty in settling the land question. I believe much of the annoyance experienced by Europeans from the Maories may be attributed to the mischief-making interference of a few white men, who have no land or stake worth mentioning in the colony. The Governor saw occasion to administer a severe reprimand to such parties at Wellington, and he will probably find pome persons equally deserving of the censure here.

The weather lately has been beautiful. It was very unfortunate that the Theresa should have encountered gales both at Nelson and New Plymouth.

Miseries of Translated Authors. — In the evening Lady Morgan told me that the translation of her works, which were often so bad as to destroy the sense, were a source of great vexation to her. In her letters on Italy, for instance, where she says of the Genoese, " They bought the scorn of all Europe," the translator read for scorn, corn, and . jrrote, " Genes, dans cc temps, achetsit tout le bl6 de l'Europe."— Gtrmmn Princt.