Original Correspondence.

New Zealander, Volume 1, Issue 47, 25 April 1846, Page 3

Original Correspondence.

To the Editor of the New-Zealander.

Sir,—We had all to acknowledge that during Captain Eitzroy’s Governorship much real improvement was made in our streets and thoroughfares,— which contributed, not only to the comfort of the inhabitants, but likewise enhanced the value of property., by rendering it easy of access, in both Town and Suburbs. ■■ With the very small means at his disposal,.certainly that officer did great things by way of'public road and street improvement. But how do matters, in this respect, stand now ? At present there is no real, beneficial, or lasting improvement going forward. It is disgraceful in the authorities to permit such a chasm as that in Queen Street—dangerous to man and beast—to remain in its present state. A stranger arriving on the.beach, and leisurely loitering along, scrutinizing every object as.he passes,, would naturally enough stop short at the mouth of this crater—and enquire had we been visited by an earthquake ?—or, in this volcanic land, had an eruption lately here broke forth ? But when he is tqld that some months ago, a flood carried away the banks of this celebrated canal t and burst asunder the ponderous beams and pillars of the bridge thereon erected—and that since that time no effort has been made to repair it, so as to preserve the lives of the numerous passengers—he will no doubt exclaim—Shame upon the narrow-minded, false-sighted policy that actuates the authorities of Auckland I Our present Superintendent of Works should look after this break-neck guiph. Much of his former popularity has been earned by the planning and construction of this water-course—and it is his duty not to allow it now to fall into dilapidation. But, however willing this officer may be to effect improvements, he is deprived from so doing by the unwise curtailment of funds for this department of our Public, really serviceable, service. I am, Sir, your’s, &c., Pfiß AMBULATOR.

Auckland, April 23rd, 1846.

To the Editor of the Nevo-Zealarder.

Sir, —I noticed a short time since a letter in your columns bearing ths signature of “ Dusty Miller,"and I quite agree with the ideas and suggestions of this worthy individual. It is certainly almost incredible that so little should have been done, in Auckland, since its formation, for the encouragement of farmers and settlers, who ..must be the bone and sinew of the community j for be it remembered, that although in all old and populous countries, there is an endless variety of occupations, and means of gaining a subsistence, —in all recently settled countries generally, and in the early stages of a new settlement in particular, there is properly speaking, but one j namely,—the cultivation of the land, and the raising sufficient produce from it, to enable the community to subsist without foreign aid. The neglect of this simple and self evident truth has been the cause pfso much misery and disappointment in other colonies; that it is extraordinary, that means should not be taken to avert the inevitable consequences of such neglect. As a general proposition it may be stated that the two great desiderata in all new settlements are good roads and good mills, —the former being works of general utility, should and generally do constitute the care of the executive government, and should proceed as much as possible the colonization of a country; but the latter must be supplied by private capital and enterprise,— and it is to "this point that I wish particularly to draw the attention of your readers. The weekly consumption of Flour in Auckland is computed to amount to from 10 to 12 tons, or from 600 to COO tons per annum j . I think it will be found on reference to the Custom-house returns, that we import annually not less than 500 tons of flour frdm the neighbouring colonies of New South Wales and Van Dieraan’s Land The cost of this flour- to the inhabitants of Auckland cannot be estimated at less than £ls per ton on an average, and thus the large sum of £7,500, in hard cash, is annually sent out of this wheat growing country, to go into the pockets of our wealthy neighbours, and chiefly of Sydney Millers ! I say hard cash,—for ■ 1 believe the amount of New Zealand produce, that goes as a set off against this, is quite inconsiderable} a little timber, sawn stuff, some'flax, less wool, and much of that miscalled commodity, Kauri Gum, forming the principal ’items. And why I ask, should not this large sum of £7,500, be kept and spent annually amongst ourselves, instead of going to enrich our wealthy neighbours in Sydney and Van Diem an’s Land ? All classes here would benefit by it, but especially the Agriculturist. According toithe calculation which appeared in your last week’s paper, there were 605 acres of wheat in crop in the Auckland district, in the last season of 1845-6. The quantity is certainly not very great, but these 60S acres, at a moderate calculation, say 25 bushels to the acre, should ;give 15,125 bushels of wheat, which when converted into flour, would give fully 300 ions fine flour. But where is it to be ground? aye, there’s the rub. Not at Epsom certainly, with only one pair of stones of 3 feet or 3 ft. 6'inchCs in diameter, iind with a wind-mill which appears to be perversely determined to be'continually out of order} nor at the water mill in Mechanic’s Bay, where for the last six months there has. not been water sufficient to turn the wheel for more than a few hours in each week,. —the consequence is, that all, oi ; nearly all the wheat grown here must be sent to Sydney to be ground, and returned here in the shape of flour L Au.excellent thing, no dotfbt/-for the owners of Sydney trading vessels, and far, Sydney Millers, but not for the inhabitants of Auckland, and its vicinity. And yet how easily this could be prevented, and the present lo,ss by this system, be converted.into a jjjain. An efficient steam engine of ,15' or 16 horse power, driving three pair of-stones of 3 ft. or 4'feet diameter, would grind and dress 150 bushels oflrwheat per diem, with ease, i. e., in 100 working days ordess, it would grind all the wheat now grown dn the district. But we are not to suppose.that the quantity grown is jto continue stationary : at present, it is true that 'the farmers,finding no market for their wheal, are laying,down their farms to grass, and cbn.verting.their,arable lands into dairy farms. But this would not be the case were the “ Auckland Steam .'Mill," in operation. An impetus would 'beimmediately given to Agriculture, and instead of a paltry 600 acres of Wheat, we should see

fully three times that quantity in less than 18 months. We should then be independent of the sister colonies, as far as flour was concerned, and this I consider, would be the first step towards real prosperity and independence. In this respect we are sadly behind our neighbours at Wellington, who, if I am not misinformed, have an efficient Steam Flour Mill} also ! at Nelson, where I believe ! there is an excellent Water Mill; and evenat Taranaki, they are enabled to grind all their wheat, and send their surplus flour to Auckland. In order that a speculation of this kind should be a profitable one 1 to the parlies concerned, it must be commenced on a sufficiently large scale, and it would be necessary to estimate correctly the cost of a steam engine and boilers, with mill work and machinery } also the cost of the necessary buildings and land requiredand having had some experience iri these matters, I am able to state that the whole might be done for little over £2,000: my estimate formed on cost prices, is as follows—- • , £. s. d.

A 15 horse power condensing steam 'engine, Of the best construction, two boilers, (one spare,) and all the requisite fittings and mountings, as ■ - furnace, grate bars, dead plates, dampers, safety valves, discharge cocks, water guages, &c,, delivered .at Auckland . . • 750 0 0 Three pair French burr stones, of 4ft. diameter, hung upon steel centres, and fixed on a strong timber frame, arranged towork together, or separately . . . 240 0 0 Dressing machinery, smut machine, and connections . . . 130 0 0 Duplicate parts and extras . . 20 0 0 Total machinery £1,140 0 0 Buildings required for the above— Scoria house, engine and boiler house ...» 800 0 0 Brick chimney in shaft, do. in boiler setting . . . . 100 0 0 Granary, 30ft, by 40, for storing wheat and flour . . . 250 0 0 Total buildings £650 0 0 Land—an allotment in Auckland with water frontage, in good locality, say 250 0 0 Total expense £2,040 0 0 Thus for the sum total of £2,040, or less 1 ban one third of our annual expenditure for flour, the inhabitants of Auckland would have the inestimable benefit of an efficient Steam -mill at their doors, of power sufficient to grind three times the present quantity of wheat ;grown in the district, and would retain in the colony the sum of £7,500, annually sent out of’it, for the purchase of flour. I need not dwell furthet on this subject at present, Mr. Editor, but will conclude by observing that I shall be happy to receive any suggestions or communications upon the subject from parties who may take an interest inihematter« I am, Sir, &c., &c., ENGINEER. Auckland, 16th April, 1846.