WOOL.

Wellington Independent, Issue 2, 5 April 1845, Page 3

WOOL.

To the Editor of the Wellington Independent.

Sir, —Permit me, through the medium of your paper, to call the attention of the settlers of this district to a subject I conceive of great interest to "the colony at large, the production of long wool, which can be done with more certainty and profit than in any country now in the possession of British subjects. The peculiar mildness and humidity of climate, coupled with the free nature of the soil of this country, renders it more prolific in the production of European grasses and clovers, than any country in the known world. The plains and undulating districts ate extensive, easilj c : eared, and sown to grass, as it is only necessary to burn off the indigenous productions in the. autumn, and sow the grass seeds thereon, simply harrowing them in. The pasture so obtained will feed four or five long woolled sheep per acre, and those produce 7f& of wool each, which will yield a greater return for iuvestment than Any other in this colony ; and, being an article of export to the mother country, is always sure of a market. I will compare this country with, the sister colonies, and afterwards with our native land. New South Wales and Van Diemen's Land require, on an average, three acres of land to each sheep, and yield therefrom 2 J lbs of wool. New Zealand requires only one acre to feed fonr sheep, and would yield therefrom 281b of wool. Again, compare the facts thus: New Sontli Wales requires 3,000 acres of pasturage for each 1,000 sheep, and produces therefrom 2,5001b of wool, -which, at Is. 3d. per lb, realises only £156 ss. New Zealand will require only 250 acres for each 1,000 sheep, and the produce I therefrom be 7,0001b of wool; which, at Is. i per lb, fetches £350, —besides a far greater ] produce of mutton and tallow, with the ad van- I tage of coming to profit at an earlier age. The j long wolled sheep is, in every respect, most j adapted for the climate and strength of the ' food produced by European grasses in this country, whereas the sister colonies cannot support long woolled sheep ; the grasses of this country increase by feeding upon, and the pastures of the sister colonies decrease, as the roots become exposed to the scorching sun of those colonies. Again, we have abundance of water to wash the sheep in, and every where water communication for the conveyance of wool to the shipping ports, instead of carting it 200 to 30j miles, which seriously reduces the returns. The expense of attendance will be much less here, in consequence of the limited extent of run required, and not having native dogs to guard against. These, with sundry other advantages, renders this colony far superior for that most independent, profitable, and certain investment to the colonies above spoken of. It is true, it is not in its state of nature adapted fof those sweeping speculations of 10,000 or 20,(00 sheep, but it is safer to make more hnmble beginnings, and far greater returs will soon be realised. Again, to compare this with the mother country, the fact of having pasturage all the year, instead of having to provide for the winter, and not having any check, to the growth of the wool, as is generally occasioned to nock* in England in the winter season, by severe snew stenns, &c, which throw the animal into a state of fever, the wool becoming jointed thereby; and the natural mildness of the climate, compared with that of England, will produce the wool of much finer texture, although of the same length of staple and weight of fleece, than can be produced from exactly the same description of sheep in the mother land. These, with the facilities of branching out establishments of whatever extent, renders this country superior to Old England for the purpose of wool growing. T.t is easily shown, by undisputed calculation, that capital invested in this way will, under proper management, very soon far more than double itself, besides producing a handsome yearly income. The purchase of land, and properly seeding to pasture, need not much exceed one year's rental of l«iui in England; and sheep breeding stock can be procured at about the same rate; the advantages will therefore be readily observed by practical meu, ' who wish to devote theiv time and means to i that object. It requires, on an average, £1,000 , for a tenant to enter upon a small farm oi 1.20 acres in England, and he deems himsell 1 well off if he realises £100 per annum as a ' return for his capital and labour. Now, £I,OOG judiciously laid out in sheep farming in this

colony will, under proper management, after the first.year, produce at least .£SOO annually . clear of all expences. * I have introduced this subject to our friends in the North, by means of the Auckland press, and it may consequently have been noticed by some few of your readers, but the importance I attach to the matter will, I trust, excuse my troubling you. In conclusion, I beg to observe, that I am practically acquainted with the subject, and have proved the correctness of the calculations I here advance. I remain, Sir, Your obedient servant, Rusticus. Wellington, April 4, 1845. —«» i To the Printers of the " Wellington i Inder-endent. Honured Zurs, —I sees by an advertisement in your waluable paper you wants a heditor. I'm no seholard. I can't quote dog Latin as i never larnt it, and as for scraps from Shakespeare, I nonothin auout him or bis scraps. But I'm a bit o' a poet, and I send you a specimin of what i can do; if it suits your colloms, i'm open to an engagement. My terms are £500 a year, paid in cash, quaiterly. I'll have nothing to do with them there things Debentures so don't attempt to palm (hem upon trie. ■ '■'.'■ Your obedient sarvant, RIGDUK FUSKIDOS. Partiklars contained in an advertsement, in No. 1 of your paper. Undersigned has on sale Bottled porter and draught ale, Port and sherry, bottled and in wood, Hocks sparkling, and champagne good; Brandy in casks, gin in cases, Rum, which '11 give you merry faces; Whiskey pure, canvas for sails, Candles made from sperm of whales ;' J ■ Matchless blacking for the boot, Tobacco, jam, and arrowroot: Chairs to draw around your tables, Anchors to fix on chain cables; Iron in bar 3, caddies for tea. Work boxes and boots fit for SEA; Shoes, clogs, and coats fresh from the tailors, A choice variety of slops for sailors ; . For all these goods, the price has fell, My terms are cash W. S. L.