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February 13, 1825.—Sydney Gazette reports:—The Australian Company announces having completed arrangements for the storage of New Zealand flax, sealskins, timber, and all other New Zealand produce, and for shipping same to the Home Country.

1826.—The trade record with New Zealand assumes detailed particulars. The Customs entries show that goods to the value of £30,000 were exported by New Zealand to Sydney, and £1735 from Sydney to New Zealand. Hogs are reported plentiful and cheap. During this and the preceding year a considerable oil and skin trade was done with the Macquarie, Auckland, and Campbell Islands, only a small proportion of which found its way into New Zealand lists. A considerable number of arrivals and departures are described as to and from the whaling grounds and seal islands, and it may be taken that description, for the most part, alludes to the south and south-west of New Zealand. Then again, a considerable number of vessels are reported to have called in at New Zealand as whalers in quest of refreshment.

1827 must have been a busy year in the New Zealand trade. Exports to Sydney more than doubled in value, the imports increasing from £1735 in 1826 to £4926 in 1827. So defective are its records, that this year's shipping list is not as full as the preceding.

1828.—The export trade with Sydney again more than doubles in value. The figures are £125,826, as against £63,000 the previous year. The imports from Sydney fell short—close on £100—the figures being £4845, as against £4926. The following operations were carried on from Sydney on the coast of Southern New Zealand, in and around Foveaux Strait, with the results named:—Three vessels, representing 690 tons, employing 15 boats and 76 men, obtained 415 tuns sperm oil, worth £16,600. Four, representing 637 tons, employing 60 men, got 600 tuns elephant oil, worth £9000. Eight, representing 706 tons, employing 246 men, got 18,500 sealskins, worth £9250—making a total of £34,850.—Gregson's Trade List (Hobart), December 22, 1828.

1829 is, so far as the records are concerned, almost blank. The export trade continues increasing, but the increase is not by any means marked as it was the three previous years. There appears less than £10,000 of an increase; the amounts being £135,486, as against £125,826 the previous year. On the other hand, the import trade from Sydney takes an astounding leap. It rises from £4845 to £12,691.

1830.—The following, being the produce of New Zealand and New Zealand waters, was imported into Sydney during the year:—Black whale oil, 482 tuns; sperm, 640 tuns; sealskins, 4448; timber (including spars), 208,700 feet; whalebone, 18 tons; flax, 841 tons. Declared values amounted to—Flax, £19,603; sperm oil, £31,750; black oil, £9450; sealskins, £3850; timber, £1687; whalebone, £1940—total, £68,280. We have thus for the year an export trade amounting to £68.280, or about 50 per cent. below that of the preceding year. The import trade, on the other hand, amounted to £15,597, being about 25 per cent. in excess of the year preceding.

1831.—New Zealand products imported into Sydney during the year:— 1755 tuns sperm, £91,000; timber (in deals), 45,595 feet, valued at £526; 1062 tons flax, £23,199; 4681 sealskins, £4441; 1134 oars, £441; 275,600 feet timber and spars, £2204; 19 tons whalebone, £2006; 491 tuns black oil, £9630 —total value for the year, £133,447. The following New Zealand produce was exported from Sydney during the year:—Flax, 616 tons 12cwt, valued at £14,766; oars, 1020 feet, £51; pines, 12,947 feet, £113; pork, 800lbs, £200— page 74making a total of £15,130. New Zealand fisheries produce exported from Sydney:— Sperm oil, 1854 tuns, £91,886; black oil, 430 tuns, £8519; sea elephant oil, 23 tuns, £460; sealskins, 6114, £5131; whalebone, 360cwt, £1975—making a total of £107,971, or a grand total for the year of £123,101. Prices current as on June 16, 1831:—Black oil, £52 10s; sperm, £80; elephant, £50; sealskins, 10s to 35s; whalebone, £210; cedar (pine), 3d to 4d; cedar (planking), 4d to 4½. Declared value of articles imported from Sydney to New Zealand during the year—£60,354, which is 75 per cent. in excess of the previous year. The trade of these outgoing vessels comprised 150 cases of muskets, besides bundles of pistols and cutlasses; 279 casks, 98 cases, 131 barrels, 89 kegs, and two bundles gunpowder; six casks of shot and bullets; two bags and 1000 flints; besides 1 ton 2cwt of lead for bullets. The intoxicants carried by these vessels amounted to 9hhds and 9 puncheons rum; 21 cases 2hhds gin; 37 casks, 9 pipes, and 5hhds brandy; 1 case 1 puncheon whisky; 3 cases wine; 3 casks 1hhd arrack; 4hhds 2 cases beer; and 2hhds porter. These appear to have been the staple articles of consumption. Te Rauparaha raids and other internecine wars were now at their height, which, no doubt, explains the excessive demand for firearms. There could not be less than 2500 muskets imported into New Zealand during this eventful year—every outgoing vessel being freighted with them.

In 1832 the import trade exceeds the export by nearly £20,000—figures being £63,934 for the former, and £47,895 for the other. In a notice of New Zealand, from original documents in the Colonial Office, dated 1832, written by Busby, we read:—In New Zealand flax may be obtained in an unlimited quantity, and there is abundance of fine timber of all sizes and dimensions, for shipbuilding and other purposes. Thousands of tons of shipping may be employed in the flax trade alone; and the timber, which grows occasionally to a great height, and not infrequently six feet in diameter, may be procured in any quantity. The country is rich in mineral and vegetable productions; the soil fertile, and easy of culture.

Value of New Zealand trade with Hobart Town for the quarter ending January 5, 1834:—Exported to New Zealand, £756 9s 3d; imported from New Zealand, £435. For the quarter ending July 5, 1834:—Exported to New Zealand, £1097 2s; imported from New Zealand, £1018.

• In 1835 the New Zealand exports amounted to £35,542; imports, £39,984
• In 1836 exports amounted to £32,115; imports, £36,184.
• In 1837 exports amounted to £42,486; imports, £39,582.
• In 1838 exports amounted to £53,943; imports, £46,924.
• In 1839 exports amounted to £71,707; imports, £95,173.

Sydney Trade Circular, October 31, 1839, reports:—400 bushels of maize from New Zealand, of very fine quality, were sold at auction by Mr Blackman to Mr Holms at 3s 6d per bushel. Hobart Town Courier, January 18, 1839, reports:—Messrs Ramsay and Young received from New Zealand a small consignment of wool, the produce of these islands. It exceeds, both in length and staple, and firmness of texture, any wool ever produced in New South Wales. The beautiful manner in which it was washed and sorted sufficiently explains the superiority of the climate of New Zealand, and forms additional proof in support of the policy of the British Government forming a settlement there, to prevent its falling into the hands of the French, who are obviously on the lookout for a proper place to form a French settlement in the South Seas.

In 1840 the exports were £54,192, and the imports £215,486. Hobart Town Courier, February 14, 1840, writes re the Polynesian Company:—Messrs Horn and Hoskings will be resident managers and directors in Sydney, while Mr page 75Rolla O'Farrell will manage and direct affairs in New Zealand. From the information received as to the purposes of the company, we have reason to believe that it will be instrumental in promoting the interests of many persons leaving this colony to settle in New Zealand, in which case, there can be little doubt, the enterprise will be crowned with success. That old and enterprising colonist, Mr Pool, has been appointed solicitor to the company.

The following is extracted from an MS. letter in Hobart Museum dated March, 11, 1840:—I have attended many public sales since my arrival in New Zealand. Almost everything appears to be selling at Sydney prices. Cash is very scarce. Flour is fetching £30; bread, 27 per cent.; coir rope, 25 per cent., invoice prices.

In 1841 the exports to New South Wales amounted to £45,659, and the imports therefrom £114,980.