NELSON, [From the Nelson Examiner.]

New Zealander, Volume 1, Issue 24, 15 November 1845, Page 4

NELSON, [From the Nelson Examiner.]

Wo are extiemely happy to hoar that a census vili he sho'itly taken in this settoiiHMit. Two have already been taken ami published ; one by thu New Zealand Company, in IS'l3, (lie other by Governmci t, last y ear. .The result of the latter Mas cxliemeJy satisfactory ami ouroiiiaging:, shoeing a. vei) large and lapid increase in the pioducJion of wealth. And w e anticipate thai the foithcoming returns will not at all disappoint the expectation of thobe who have matched the patient industry of the setlleis dining the )ear. In last year's rel urn, the quantity of land in cultivation was given at 1,202 acies. of which 237 were in wheat This season w e have no doubt that it willbeovei 2,000 acres, of which not less tinn GOO will be m w heat. Taking 2." bushels to the atT<> (which is not at all too much to expect, considering what the cioj>s were last year, and how much better they ought to be eveiy year as the land is belter cleaned and worked), this will cive us <\\ out 300 tons of flour. We believe our consumption is not above 200 ; so that we shall have 100 foi exportation, w hich will go to pay, nolow debit., for in iVelson we ow e none, but for various m'ceosary impoits which w e shall leceive in ret in n. Our potatoes also will probably form an arfele ofe\po!t. I.a&t Near w e had 288 acies. Probably the quantity will not be doubled this, as more laud u ill be put into wheat and barley in l>r poition to other crops. We have, however, a heady more than enough for local consumption, and some probably will therefore be e\ ported in the coming year. Olba. ley,' last year, we had IS2 aeie«, and should have had much more, but when the sowing time arrived it A'as discovered that no seed wris tv be had, and potatoes, oats, and other ••rops were put in instead. This year there is *oeii enough; and, as a second biewer) is to be staited at the beginning ol the new year, there is eve"ry encouragement for the agiicnltuiists to grow a larger quantity, which we understand is being done, in 1813 our sheep amounted to only 1,130. Last year they wore 5,789. This jear we expect they will not be less than 10,000. Horned rattle last \ear weicDlS; allowing one-shird for met ease, theie will be about 1,200 this Ol minor st6ck, such as goats, pigs, aud poultry, we can only say thai eai ly in the spring asweyet are, fowls have been letailed at Is Gd. a couple, eggs at' 6d, a dozen, and pork, as usual, in Ihe carcase, af' about 2d per pound. The mot satisfactory feature of all this increase is, that itis not the result ofany wild speculation, which might, on the tut n of Fortune's wheel, le,aveus m the abyss, but it is the fruit of steady industry and piudent investment. It is all in the Colony now. It belongs to ourselves, not to flistajit creditois; and it forms a capital of great vajue and of the most permanent sort, which, even if none should enter the colony from any external quaitei, might in a few years spread fertility and civilization over the whole" of the vast pastoral and ng\ icultural plains of this island It is easy to foresee, without laying claim to the character of prophet, that shortly we shall emerge Irom oilr home distrel, and drive our flocks and herds faither afield, w here the food necessary to Mippoit their mci easing numbers is to be found ; and so we shall go creepi q on by degrees, till the whole of the East Coatt is studded with oui flocks and tin* homos of their owners. 'Our first step from home will of course be into tHeWairau If the New Zealand Company and the Government should not s.i. -cued incoming to Mich a s 'ttk-ment as may give us our country lam.s thoie slill w e do not considei ourselves deban ed fioin the district. The settlers in the Waitarapa run tLeir flocks by arrangement with the natives, paying a sina.l sijnatliiig lent; afid we l'a\eno doubt that when the time comes ■we shall be able to effect similai arrangements fyr the Waiiau if the G«)vetnm?nt should pprsist in sunendenug the Crown Estate in New Zea land to the natives as laud in liieir occupation. ~ Of the tapidily with which wealth increases in anew country which is capable of producing a staple for manufacturing m.ukets little idea ran be formed wit out an examination of returns The whole quantity of wool evporled from Neu South Wales in IS 10 was only lG7lbs,, woith about £15 In 1810, that is 80 >eais afterwards, i « as es'imated at 1 2,000, 0001b5. , w orlli considel.ldly mOre t'lan a million sterling. Tnen look at the valnp of the shfcp of w Inch thai is the ahnnal dip, and coi»sider tue numerous collateral investments in ftstllt^ lioi ses. ami ayt lrul t.ir<>, wlii t -li woie all in 1810 at nearly a< low an ebb as « 001. and have since increased in a somew hat simildr lalio, and we may form scne i<lea of wiiat New Zealand may yet be in out lifetime, if the colonists afe allow ed to avail themselves of its advantages, without tiiose ]>reventive"T;hoi'ki> which ilxi natives and their pations in Dowi.ing Street and Kfietei Hall have hitherto opposed to their pjo^u^s. We have asked befoie, and we ask again, how co. n>'S it that Government does not publish statistical returns of its own settlements? Where an; we to find an account of the cattle, sheep and c opsof A.irkl.in 1 audits dependencies ? The last census in Co ik'sS'iaits was taken by Government ; was no,«e taken m the no: Hi ? and, as the lawyers sj.y, •• if not, why not?" If any wastak a n \v}\\ not p-.i'ilislied ? Were they .ill aid of showing the nakedness of the land —of giving a beggaily'account oi'empiy boxes — of piovmg by compaiison of fignitj<i, i!ie propiiety of Hobson's choice and Fh/; 31o) 's adoption.? We have no doubt of the enterprise of our northern fellowsettlers had a fair eh nice been given them of exhibiting it success full ; but this continued ai.d aptjatently Mudier} concealment does ceitainly i look h'ven coi s-lnnsnesss -lnnsness on tbe part of Govern- ' me>,t vi (he i 1-ellects of perseveiiiig m itsongi- I nai mis'ake.