The Taranaki Herald. NEW PLYMOUTH, FEBRUARY 23, 1853.

Taranaki Herald, Volume I, Issue 30, 23 February 1853, Page 2

The Taranaki Herald. NEW PLYMOUTH, FEBRUARY 23, 1853.

NuiwiTiisTANDiNU the fluctuating and often mifavoiable slate of the weather during the "last three weeks, we have to congiatulate the settlement on the highly satisfactory accounts received of the hanest throughout

these disliicls, and the success which in most cases has atlciuUd the endeavouis made to secure the ciops in the face of difficulties of no oidinaiy character. The fanners here are uniform in characteiising the crops of this year as far exceeding tho^c of several pieceding years and as approaching to those of Ilie cailier yeais of the settlement which secured to Taiauaki the happy cognomen of the " Garden of New Zealand." The wheat crops are especially spoken of as vciy fine, the grain being laige and plentiful in the cai. After Piovidcnce, no doubt much of this favorable state of nfliiiis is altiibntablc to the intelligence and impioved practical experience of the farmer with the incieasc of stock throughout the settlement. Barley, oats, and indeed all the oidinaiy crops, arc said to be exceedingly promising, and the ngiiculluiist may this year find in the quality and abundance of his produce ample remuncialioM for the labour and anxiety attendant on his arduous, and to some extent piecaiious occupation. The want of labour has unfoitunatoly been much felt, and should any of the crops be lost this will in all piobability be the cause ; wo do not, however, fear much mischief, seeing that the laco to which our settlers belong arc ever most stimulated to exertion by opposing difficulties. The natives too have been laigely employed ; but being themselves great growers of produce, the amount of labour at the disposal of the settlement lias been necessarily controlled ; besides which the albut univeisal pievalence of Influenza amongst both settlers and natives has operated vciy materially to delay the woik of the haivcst. The weather during the latter pait of the week has been very unpiopilious, but a few more days of sunshine will see the ciops on the open land well cared for. In the bush theic is jet much to do, and up to this time they do not appear to have suffered. This season, then, thanks to an all bountilul Providence, beyond seeming to oui population all the blessings of abundance through the year, well .sustains ihe favour cblc chaiactet the settlement has ever held as the most feililc and advantageous disliict that New Zealand boasts for agiiculluial puisuits.