PRESENT STATE AND PROSPECTS OF AUCKLAND. CUSTOMS REVENUE.—1845.

New Zealander, Volume 1, Issue 25, 22 November 1845, Page 2

PRESENT STATE AND PROSPECTS OF AUCKLAND.

CUSTOMS REVENUE.— IB4S.

"Mark, now, how plain a tale* shall put you down." Shakspeare. That the seat of Government of New Zealand was placed on the -shores -of the Waitemata, has been source, during the last five years, of the ebullition of the most acrk monious feelings, from all the Southern settlements founded by the New Zealand Company, Even after it was acknowledged 'that Wellingi ton was neither the most eligible^nor the most accessible harbour, in the Northern Island, for a capital — it was" urged, that " as" there had emigrated tb that settlement such/numbers, as to far exceed the population of the Government settlement on the Waitemata, in the year 1840 — that the capital should be fixed 'where 'the greatest European population were located. Our readers will well remember with' what envious exultation' birr Southern cot£mr)braries did, for the years 1841, 1 42, and 43, put forth'the'number of shipping inwards, as well as the great value of their imports. • As soon as the whale-fishery, on the coast and in Cook's Straits, was productive, corresponding publication was made of the great amount aud value of their exports : — the whole system i being intended to> disparage, the district, with a view to influence the Home Government in the belief, that Port Nicholson -was the only place in the three islands fit for the seat of Government. At this particular juncture of the colony, we have considered we shall be " rendering the state some service," by publishing a correct account of the present state of the commerce of Auckland, so as to shew, that the Waitemata 1 is the best district for the seat of Government ; and also, that in despite of the previous drawbacks and difficulties of the settlers, here, and thg present native rebellion, their .perseverance has developed the rich valuable indigenous products, so exclusively abundant |in this part of the North Island. We have been still further prompted to this course, on account of some observations, in the House jof Commons, by Sir Robert Peel, in the debate commenced on the 17th June, in reference ito the proper locality for the permanent capital .of the Colony. We cannot really consider the •Premier was serious : but regard his remark as one of those artful political stratagems in debate, to neutralize wavering opponents, for which he is so celebrated. We shall only observe, that if the Home Government ever sanction such an atrocious breach of faith, towards the purchasers of land in the town of Auckland and its neighbourhood — bearing in mind also, the exchanges that have been' made with land claimants — it will be an act of direct fraud and robbery, unparalled in the history of civilized nations. But to return to our present purpose. — Tn an extract which we published in our last number from the Nelson Examiner ; detailing the statistics of that settlement and district, there will be found at the conclusion the following remark :— We have asked befote, and we ask again, how comes it that Government does not publish statistical returns of Us own settlements? Where are we to find an account of the cattle, sheep and crops of Auckland audits dependencies? The last census in Cook's Straits was taken by Government j was none taken in the norih ? and, as the lawyers say, "if not, why not ?" If any was talon why not published ? Were they aft aid of showing the nakedness of the land— of giving a beggarly account of empty boxes^bf proving by comparison of figures, the propriety of Hobson's choice and Fitz Roy's adoption.? We have no doubt of the enterprise of our northern fellowsettlers had a fair chance been given them of exhibiting it successfully; but this continued and apparently studied concealment does certainty look like a consciousness on the part of Government of the ill-effects of persevering in its original mistake. On this day we respond to our cotemporary and we think we shall not only prove to him, but to the world, without any ungenerous disparaging remarks on other settlements, that the harbour and district first suggested by our great circumnavigator, Cook, some seventy years since, is the best for an European settlement, as it is also indisputably the nucleus of the various valuable indigenous resources of the Northern Island. It must be observed to those not deeply versed in statistical and fiscal accounts, that the total amount of exports does not shew the actual commercial condition of any port or colony, unless distinguished under different heads ; for, British and other foreign goods imported, can be exported — and their declared value, on importation, is again the amount registered at the customs on exportation.— We merely state this to shew, that unless the Colonial Exports are defined in detail, no deduction can be drawn of the advancement of any settlement — and, therefore, in the abstracts we have made, by the kindness and urbanity of the authorities of customs in Auckland, the Colonial Products are distinguished from the amoynt of mere re-shipments of previous imports. With these prefatory remarks we now subjoin a series oi figures which we trust will be most satisfactory, as well as conclusive, to our readers that the dawn of prosperity has at length risen at Auckland.

The Number 1 and Tonnage of Vessels Inwards and Outwards," WpM the three principal Ports of New' "Zealand. — From 1841 to 1842 inclusive.

Exports — Distinguishing Colonial Produce from Auckland, Wellington, and 'Nelson, for the quarter ending, sth July, 1845.

Number and Tonnage of Vessels that have been Registered at the different Ports, to 31st October, 1844-.

During the present Quarter, which will not terminate until sth January, 1846, there have been shipped New Zealand Produce to Sydney, Launceston, HobartTowu, and China,— the following cargoes, up to 15th November, 1845.

To the foregoing, statement we would add the valuable cargoes of the vessels leaving this week, with Colonial Produce. American Barque "Robert Pulsford," for Boston.

The recapitulation of these figures will shew that between the 11th April, and the 20th November, 1815, the amount and nature of Exports of New Zealand Produce at the Port of Auckland, were as follows—

Vessels in the Harbour op Auckland,— on the 22nd November, 1845. H.M. Frigate, "North Star," 26 guns, Captain, Sir Everard Home, Bart. " Sloop. "Race Horse," 18 guns, Captain Hayes. H.E.I. C. Sloop of War, " Elphinstone," 16 guns,

So much for the Commerce of the Waitetnate and the Port of Auckland. As soon as the official returns are complete, of the population, and of " an account of the cattle, sheep, aud crops of Auckland, and its dependencies,"—we shall not fail to give them plac#in our columns, and we anticipate, that if not convincing to our southern cotemporary, of " Nelson," that Auckland has been wisely chosen for the seat of Government; — such returns will satisfy those who have preferred the central harbour of Auckland, and its fertile surrounding district, to the isolated land locked Port of Wellington.

Auckland. Wellington! . Nelson. Year No. Tonnage' No. " Tonnage No. Tonnag< 1841 17 2,426 |39 " 9,688 \'-± - 1842 48 8,719 |80 17,336 | ;31; 31 '9,800 1843 33 6,065 41 9,020 29 6,895 1844 33 j 5,010 f27 "5,250 "20 3;630

IN-WA-RDS.

' Auckland. Wellington. Nelson. Year No. Tonnage No. Tonnage No. Tonnage 1841 8 1,606 26 6,678 I=1842 51 9,740 75 16,714 jls 4,323 1843 34 4,810 57 10,899 19 3.396 1844 34 5,327 24 -4,761 |16 2.803

OUTWARDS.

Colonial Produce. Tons. Value. Sperm Oil . . 17 . £350 0 0 Black do 30 0 0 Flax .... 18cwt . 12 0 0 Bricks, . . . 4000 . 8 0 0 Timber, . • . 500 feet 2 0 0 402 0 0 Re-shipment of British Goods, &c. 133 0 0 Total amouut of Exports £535 0 0

Wellington— from "12th May.

lolonial Produce. Tons. Value. Copper Ore . . 132 . £2,815 0 0 Kauri Gum . . 109 . . 1,060 0 Timber— s7,ooo feet ... 200 0 Sperm Oil & Whalebone . . 40 0 0 0 0 £*,U 5 0 Le-shipments of British goods, &c. 1,679 10 0 4 Total amount of Exports £5,794: 10 4

Auckland— from 11th April.

Imports. Exports. .uckl^nd from 11th April Wellington " 12th May [elson " 29th April .£6,732 3,953 233 1,802 176

Auckland. From sth July to 10th October, 1845.Exports — £7,131. Imports — '£19,050.

"Value of Exports arid Imports, jbr the "Quarter endine sth July, 1845. 8

From Ist Jan. to Sept. 1844, . From 11th April to 15 Nov. 1845, J\o. 185 204 Tons. 3,238 4,667

Coasters Inwards at the Port of "Auckland.

oickland, . No. 30, Tons. 4,828

Vessels Inwards Foreign at the Port of Auckland, from sth July to 12th November, 1845.

JNo. .uckland, from 11th April 11 Wellington, " -12th -May 4 telson, » 29th April 3 Tons. 2,066 452 229

Vessels Inwards Foreign, at the Ports of Auckland,. Wellington, and Nelson, for the Quarter endinjr sth July, 1845. 6

.uckland, from Wellington, " felson, " 11th April 12th May 29th April €534 133 114 3 9 2

From July sth to Oct. 10th. .uckland, £2,266 8

On account of the Abolition of Customs, in September 1844, the receipts commenced at different periods, for the Quarter ending sth July, 1845.

Year 1841 1842 1843 1844 Auckland ' 995 ' 5,961 14,963 - 8,150 Wellington £. . 13,986 15,445 29,645 14,988 I Na elson jlson "£. 504< 994

Value of Exports from Ist January, 1841, to September, 1844.

Colonial Produce, , Value. Timber ... - 26,127 feet £62 0 0 Flax .... 5 bales 30 0 0 Wool .... 7 bags 20 0 0 £112 0 0 Re-shipments of British Goods, &c. 64 5 0 Total amount of Exports £176 5 0

Nelson — from 29th April.

Colonial Produce. » £. s. d. Kaun Gum, 341| tons . 3,237 0 0 Copper Ore, 75 " . . 1,110 0 0 Timber — 50,000 feet . 200 0 0 Sulphur, 26 tons . . . 250 0 0 Tanning Bark, 10 cwt. . 6 0 0 Flax, 18 ton 210 0 0 Wool, 400 lb 20 0 0 Oil. black, 32 tons ... 495 0 0 "Whalebone, 15 cwt. . . 80 0 0 £5,608 0 0 Re- shipment of British Goods, &c. 1,529 7 0 Total amount of Exports £7,137 7 0

"For the Quarter ending 10th October, 1845, we can only give the return for Auckland.

Ports No. Tons , Auckland Russell "Wellington Nelson 24 6 21 6 1,160 353 CIO 96 Total 57 2,219

Kauri Gum, 329 tons, c Copper Ore, 60 tons Sulphur, 25 tons Flax, 4J tons Cimber Black Oil Wheat, 400 bushels declared value « a st tt « u (C (( (I (C <( tt £3,106 1,200 200 61 350 100 59 Total value £5,076

[auri Gum. 280 tons ?lax, 20 bales 'aiming bark, 5 tons lam pies £3,yye o u 33 0 0 5 0 0 2 5 0 Total declared value £3,136 5 0

Inglish Barque "William Hyde." for London, Kauri Spars, 74, from 62 to 84 feet in length ' . £1,070 0 0 Kauri Gum. 803 cases, containing 78 tons . . 1,000 0 0 Maganese, 100 tons . 100 0 0 Wool, 12 bales . . 120 0 0 Total declared value £2,290 0 0

English Barque " Regia," for Sydney. lopper Ore, 100 tons . £2,000 0 lanrie Gum, 40 tons . 400 0 lil, humpback, 4 tons . 80 ' 0 Total declared value £2,480 0

Schponer, "Star of China," for Sydney. Timbers' and Plank, 60,000 feet £250 0 0

Declared Value. Copper Ore, 367 tons . . £7,125 0 0 Kauri Gutn,l,l7Btons . 11,899 0 0 Kmber— Spars, Planks; Boards 1,670 0 0 Manganese, 100 tons . 100 0 0 Dil— Sperm, 6 tons,— Black. 37 715 0 0 Whalebone, 15 cwt . 80 0 0 Sulphur, 51 tons . . 450 0 0 ranningßark, 6 tons . 10 0 0 Flax, 25 tons . . 304« 0 0 Wool, 1,600 lbs. . . 140 0 0 Wheat, 400 bushels . 59 0 0 Total declared value £22,558 0 0

Capt. Young. Jarques, "William Hyde," Stewart, Capt. (tons) 53: " "Haidee," Marshall '• " 33; " " British Sovereign," Milne " 35; " " Louisa Campbell," Darby " 27; " " Caernavon," whaler, Irving " 221 " " Regia," Morrison " 18 icheoners, '' Cheerful," Patrick " 18! " " I Don't Know," Thompson " 7i Besides numerous Coasters.