Account of the Settlements of the New Zealand Company (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1842 edition. Excerpt: ... there is abundance of vege tation, and as the soil is favourable to the purpose, I believe it is the intention of the enterprising proprietor to burn off the natural vegetation, and introduce artificial grasses--a course which I have no doubt will prove successful. A great number of sheep have also been imported from New South Wales and Van Diemen's Land, and they have thriven well. I learn that some New Zealand wool has already been sold in London, at prices about equal to those of Australian wool, and I have no doubt that considerable exports of wool will take place. Several persons in Port Nicholson are about to turn their attention to the keeping of flocks, and I cannot see any reason why it should not be a considerable source of prosperity, unless indeed more profitable occupations should take up the exclusive attention of the Colonists. The business of establishing the settlement, the choosing of the Town Sections, and getting the population housed, have hitherto very much confined the agricultural operations of the Colonists. Enough had been done, however, in the way of experiment to prove that agriculture will rank high among the resources of the Port Nicholson district. The wheat grown upon the banks of the Hutt from seed obtained from the Cape of Good Hope yielded well, and was of excellent quality; and barley grown from some seed which I brought from New South "Wales, where it had been raised from Cape seed, also turned out remarkably well. Oats yield abundantly, and Indian corn or maize is universally cultivated by the natives. Potatoes are produced in great abundance, as the climate admits of two crops in the course of a year. The native potatoes are very good, but those which have been raised by the settlers are as fine as...