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New Zealand Herald, Volume XXVI, Issue 9307, 9 March 1889, Page 4

No part of New Zealand, deserves the sympathy and interest of the people of Auckland more than Taranaki. It is our nearest neighlxmr, and we have had close connections with its settlers ever since the New Zealand Company commenced operations at that place. The misfortunes of Taranaki have been much greater than our own. Even at the worst times of the war Auckland had a large space of country where peaceful and profitable pursuits were never interrupted, and where industries were carried on which brought wealth to the city. But there was a time, lasting over years, when the settlers of Taranaki were cooped up within the town of New Plymouth, and when no one could go beyond a gunshot from Marsland Hill without the risk of being killed by the natives. At one time all the women and children were sent from the town, so great was the risk of living even there, and so small was the space within which the Europeans were confined. All this lias changed. The native difficulty is not yet extinguished, but only the embers remain. To Whiti is quiet, and will doubtless remain so, and there is no chance whatever of the resumption of activity by the political ploughmen. Even the trouble whicli arose from the extensive reserves for the natives, and their cumbrous management, has been greatly diminished, and the hindrances to occupation have rapidly decreased. It has been stated that there is more good land within the boundary of Taranaki than within the same area in any other part of the colony ; and we should think that this is correct. It is not to be wondered at that, while getting rid of many of the disadvantages which have affected it, the progress of settlement in Taranaki has lately been rapid. The Taranaki Herald,.in a recent issue, has compiled some figures showing the recent progress of the district, and some of these we may repeat. The following table gives a comparison between 1874 and 1887 :—

1874. 1887. Population 6,005 19.053 Land under cultivation (acres) .. 50,071 363,013 Live stock of all descriptions .. 75.282 236,003 Butter produce (lbs) .. .. 174,853 1,441,736 Choeae produce (lbs) .. .. 21,256 138,228 Anyone who has been in Taranaki, and has noticed the splendid grass which grows there, must see its infinite capabilities as a dairying district, and the exports lately have demonstrated this. In 1887, butter was exported from New Plymouth to the value of £2536, while in 1888 the export amounted to £52,403. This is a most astounding leap in one year. It is. stated also that considerable quantities of Taranaki produce have been sent to Auckland and Wellington, and this produce is sometimes shipped from these places. We have no doubt that during the next few years, if there are good markets for Taranaki produce, and if it can be shipped at reasonable rates, the progress of the district will be

pomtment. The land i in a most threatening w^ y forms a dangerous bank at + u DOw of the breakwater, whUe it £ J ?fi en <* ideal H the work'now will be effective in stopping tE-if? Thus it may eventuate that the expenditure which has been gone Older that Taranaki might have will prove abortive, and that New??? mouth will have nothing better ti 7 ' is liable to be cut off for weeks d U series of westerly gales. ThirtT 8 ? ways the certain drawback to the S even now that the expenditure that? been gone to for the construction of tk ß breakwater is a great burden tn tk whole district. Land carriage £ u? e ports of Auckland and WeIHnJL ; .tedious and costly, and ill-adapted J* the produce which Taranaki has to away. There is now through comnuS cation between Wellington and \" Plymouth, but unfortunately there 6 \ none between Auckland and New Pi mouth. The North Island Trunk It \ way is now stuck, and no one knowwhen maybe resumed a^a'" 5 The only thing in that direction which is doing is, that certain surveys a ! explorations are being made with th view of seeing if a road could be mJ* between the end of the railway \[ about the Porotarau tunnel n!i New Plymouth, and possibly' session we shall hear something ah* 7 this. That would of itself opi \m communication between Auckland a A Taranaki, which must be nmtu n beneficial, and would besides promote the settlement of a large district no completely closed. Meantime ifc Tsatisfactory to know that, at last after its many trials and vicissitudes *Tara naki is making steady progress in aeri" cultural settlement. °