WANGANUI STATISTICS.

New Zealand Gazette and Wellington Spectator, Volume IV, Issue 315, 13 January 1844, Page 2

WANGANUI STATISTICS.

Seaiohists, 28. "Quantity ofj land claimed by them, 6,000" acres'.', ; Quantity ;o£ land under cultivation, 80 acres.' . Value of horned cattle, horses, sheep,; and goats, ■ £2,500. Value of ' buildings, £3,000. Married heads of families, 172.1 72. , Adults ; . — males, \:48 ; females, ,6. ('Children: — rmales, 40; females, 26. "iTotal white population, 192. ; ■- ! : r- The most striking circumstance connected with this table, is, that in' an; Agriculural District, and a community professedly farmers, the. nominal possessors of six thousand acres, should, after a three years residence, 1 have' but * eighty '^cres under cultivation! This would evidence most culpable inactivity, were it not well known to be caused by the unsettled state of the native claims. There

is not any wher&a co^famunityf of equaljham-. ber more actiy^ in jlie pursuit of thei/objects, v more persevering, ipore cgpjabjl of 'directing their powers to a useful end^ than the Sectionists of the Wangonui District ; and had the inducements which prompted their emigration Been realized, had they been ■suffered to, tas^tlie'iV,, energies, the miserable • exhibition' oJFrri^ulttvated' rood here, and a $ew*£ktes'*\s£te", would not now reproach those, to whose impolicy and apathy is owing the present untoward state of things. William Holmes, alias Thomas Sparkes, supposed- a- native- of "Hampshire,' and-* a deserter from the 80th . Regiment, , was drowned in the Wanganui River,* on Sunday, the 17th instant. The unfortunate .man was very intemperate^ and probably when intoxicated mismanaged his canoe which swamped. His body was- recovered and interred on the 23rd instant.