In March, 1891, there were 6,966,218 acres under artificial grasses, being an increase of 441,169 on the corresponding acreage of 1890. Of these 3,250,543 acres had been previously ploughed and, presumably, under grain or other crops, and 3,715,675 acres had not been ploughed, a large proportion consisting of what had been bush or forest-land sown down to grass after the timber had been felled and burnt, or partially burnt.

It will be observed that the area of land under sown grasses is about eight times greater in New Zealand than in the whole of Australia and Tasmania. When compared in size with the colonies of Australia, New Zealand is relatively small—about one-thirtieth of their total size—but when the grazing capabilities are compared, the relative importance of New Zealand is much altered.

Australia is generally unsuitable, owing to conditions of climate, for the growth of English grasses, and the amount of feed produced by the natural grasses throughout the year is very much less per acre than that obtained from the sown grass lands in New Zealand—so much so that it may be stated that the average productiveness of the grass land in New Zealand is probably about nine times as great as that in Australia; so that the land of this colony covered with artificial grass may be considered equal, for grazing purposes, to an area of Australian territory about nine times as great.

It will be noticed from the decennial export table that wool is still the largest article of export, and with the increase in the number of sheep consequent on the development of the frozen meat trade, this export is likely to considerably increase. A large amount of wool is now used in local manufacture.

Frozen Meat.

The large increase in 1890 in the value of frozen meat exported placed that article in the second place in the list of exports for value. The growth of this export has been almost phenomenal. Ten years page 7 ago the project of sending fresh meat to England was regarded as impossible of fulfilment, and Mr. Haslam's statement that vessels would be able to carry carcasses of 10,000 sheep was considered visionary. The improvements made by him in refrigerating machinery have enabled his prophecy to be more than fulfilled, as vessels are now fitted to carry four and five times the number of sheep he mentioned. 1882 was the first year in which there was any export of frozen meat from New Zealand, the value of the export being then only 19,339l. In 1890 the value of this export had risen to 1,087,617l., representing the carcasses of 1,330,176 sheep, of 279,741 lambs, and beef weighing 98,234 cwts. The greatly improved prices of sheep, caused by the demand for this export trade, has much encouraged the farmers of the colony, and has caused increased attention to be given to clearing and laying down bushland in grass and otherwise improving holdings in order to increase the bearing capabilities of the land. Notwithstanding the large increase in the numbers of sheep exported in 1890 the sheep returns for May in that year gave an addition of nearly 700,000 on the number in May of the previous year, thus showing that, even with the present flocks, there is a reserve that might supply a much larger export than at present, and the further progressive increase in the number of sheep that may be looked forward to from the extension of clearing and improvements gives promise of a future export of a magnitude possibly manifold greater than the present. The markets of the civilised world are, having regard to the growth of population, without a corresponding increased area for food-production, practically unlimited. This export has had the effect of helping the colony through a period of great depression, and next to the production of wool, with which it is now inseparably connected, may be regarded as the most important factor in our well-being.

It would be an idle speculation to consider in what condition New Zealand would have been, had the process for meat-freezing now in use not been discovered, but there can be no doubt that it has been of almost incalculable value to this colony. The returns for the year 1891 show a slight increase on the year 1890, but it is asserted that for the current year the exports will probably show a slight decrease owing to a large local demand to stock the large amount of new country that has been recently brought into cultivation, which will, however, lead to an increased export in future years. The rapid growth of the frozen-meat export may be ascertained by reference to the following table:— page 8

Return of Frozen Mutton, Lamb, and Beef Exported from New Zealand since Commencement (1882).

Dairy Produce.

Butter has always held an important position among the productions of the New Zealand small farmer, but made by different persons and in different ways, it has not been generally suitable for the requirements of the English market, although considerable quantities have been exported to Australia and also to the United Kingdom; but the success attending the efforts made to produce butter of uniform superior character in dairy factories, and the fairly remunerative prices that have been realised for such butter in England, have caused great attention to be given to the increase of dairy factories for the purpose of supplying produce for the English market.

It is only in census years that any returns are obtained of the quantity of butter and cheese annually produced in the colony, and the returns then given by farmers can only be deemed to be estimates, as the majority of them do not keep accounts of their production.

The figures for 1891 include 1,909,759 lbs. of butter and 4,390,400 lbs. of cheese made in factories. During the winter of the present year, a considerably increased supply of New Zealand dairy produce has been placed on the London markets. The quality has been good and the prices obtained such as will pay the producer, thereby giving the necessary stimulus to increased production. New Zealand gives no bonus on butter export as do the colonies of Victoria and New South Wales. With the large and certain market in this country, the colony offers great inducements for capitalists with the necessary knowledge to largely extend this industry.

The extent of land in cultivation (including sown grass land and land broken up but not in crops) amounted in March 1891 to 8,462,495 acres. There has been a large area of Crown land taken up for settlement during the year ending March 1892, as many as 3797 persons taking up 1,728,983 acres, being an average of 458 page 10 acres for each person, and at no time in the history of the colony has so much land been brought into cultivation by small settlers as during the last year. The following tables show (1) the acreage of land under cultivation, and (2) the different yields of crops in New Zealand and Australia for the year 1890-1891:—

(1.) Acreage of Land in Cultivation.

	Acreage of Land in Crop.	Acreage of Land broken up, but not under Crop.	Acreage of Land in Sown Grasses.	Total Acreage of Laud in Cultivation.
New Zealand	1,285,768	210,509	6,966,218	8,462,495
New South Wales	872,344	260,627	385,504	1,518,475
Victoria	2,031,935	385,572	235,241	2,652,748
Queensland	224,993	14,625	22,252	261,870
South Australia	2,093,515	534,152	21,431	2,649,098
Western Australia	69,676	52,356	23,344	145,376
Tasmania	157,376	158,738	201,060	517,174

(2.) Yields of Principal Crops.

This table shows the great superiority of New Zealand from an agricultural point of view. The yield per acre, given in the table, is the average yield for a period of ten years.

It will be observed that the oat crop in New Zealand comprised nearly 63 per cent., and the area under oat crop 56 per cent., of that for the whole of Australasia.

Turnips.

There was in 1891 a much greater quantity of laud sown with turnips and rape than in 1890. The low price of grain has caused greater attention to be given to sheep feeding, and as one of the results there were 402,184 acres under turnips and rape in 1891, against 352,903 in 1890, an increase of 49,281 acres. The facility with which root crops are grown is a most important factor in the future development of the pastoral products of the colony.

Fruit.

17,047 acres were returned as being in orchards in 1891, an increase of 1276. The success of the attempts that have been recently made to place fruit in a good saleable condition on the English market has given encouragement to cultivators, and fruits are expected in the not far distant future to take an important place in the list of New Zealand exports. During the recent season a large number of cases of apples have been sent to this market from Now Zealand. In the north of New Zealand semi-tropical fruits, such as oranges, lemons, olives, and figs, grow well.

Important as are the agricultural and grazing products, yet the future of the colony is intimately bound up with mining interests. The mineral resources are very great. In the past these have had a most important influence on the development and progress of the colony. Gold to the value of 46,425,629l. was obtained prior to the 31st December, 1890. The gold produce in 1890 was of the value of 773,438l, and for the year ending December 1891 the returns show an export of 251,161 ozs. of gold, valued at 1,007,172l. In the earlier years gold was obtained from alluvial diggings, but at the present time largely from gold-bearing quartz, which is distributed widely through several parts of the colony, and thus there is a much better prospect for the permanency of this industry than was afforded by the alluvial diggings. The amount of silver extracted to the page 12 end of 1890 only amounted to 134.997l., but recent discoveries of ore give promise of large production in the future. No iron ores are at present worked, although almost every known variety of iron ore has been discovered in the country, the workings being limited to the black sands which occur plentifully on the coasts, the best known deposits being at Taranaki.

Several companies have been formed both in England and the colony to manufacture steel direct from this ironsand. They have not, however, succeeded; but a partial success was attained by smelting in furnaces bricks formed of the ore with calcareous clay and carbonaceous matter, and recently the sand has been treated by a continuous process that produces puddled blooms. It remains to be proved, however, if it can be profitably treated in large quantities by this or any other process. Of other minerals the product to the same date amounts to 8,969,020l., of which Kauri-gum yielded 5,394,687l., and coal, with coke, 3,362,3632.

The approximate total output of the coal mines to the 31st December, 1890, amounted to 6,456,674 tons. Extensive coal-fields exist in the colony, coal being found in various parts, and mines are worked in the provincial districts of Auckland, Nelson, Canterbury, and Otago. The abundant coal supply, added to the good water supply and temperate climate, render New Zealand suitable in every way to become the manufacturing centre of the Pacific. It will be noted from the table of industries given later in this paper that a considerable manufacturing trade is growing up in the colony.

The bituminous coal is of a very superior kind, being equal to, if not better than, the best descriptions used in any part of the world. It is especially valuable for the manufacture of gas, and is eagerly sought for gas works and iron foundries, even at an advance of 10 to 20 per cent, on the price of any other coal. Engineers of local steamers esteem it 20 per cent, better than the best New South Wales coal for steam page 13 purposes. The valuable character of this coal for steam purposes was shown when H.M.S. Calliope was, on account of using it, enabled to weather the hurricane at Samoa, which was so disastrous to vessels of other nations, and escape to sea. Sir James Hector has recently estimated the various coal-fields in the colony to contain, on the whole, 444,000,000 tons; but the incompleteness of the surveys necessarily makes the estimate a very rough, and probably very insufficient one.

Petroleum oils of good quality have been found at the Sugarloaves rocks, a short distance from the mainland near New Plymouth, at Waipaoa, near Poverty Bay, and at Manutahi, Waiapu, East Cape. The attempts made at Waipaoa to secure oil in marketable quantities have been so far unsuccessful, and it is still uncertain whether better results will be obtained from the borings now in operation at the Sugarloaves, Taranaki.

Kauri Gum.

Kauri Gum is an important article of export. It consists of the dried and solidified sap of the Kauri tree, a species of pine which does not exist in any other part of the world. The gum is found generally in places which have been in former times covered with pine trees, but which are now bare of forest growth. The gum is used largely in the manufacture of varnish, and the finest quality is also worked up for ornamental purposes much in the same manner as amber. The gum is used largely in the United States as well as in this country. The export for the year 1890 was 7438 tons, valued at 378,563l Gum digging employs a large number of people, and in the Auckland province it has become a standing industry.

Fungus.

The New Zealand fungus, known to commerce, is found on decayed timber. The export for 1890 was 8105 cwt. valued at 12,823l. The article is chiefly sent to China, where it is said to be used as a dye in the manufacture of silk, and also for making a kind of soup, for which dish it is much prized on account of its gelatinous properties and rich flavour.

There are some mineral products not enumerated in the list given which exist in the colony, some in ascertained considerable quantities—e.g. iron, copper, chrome, lead and zinc ores. The purest form of marble is found in many localities in the middle island, also a great variety of excellent limestones suitable for building and other purposes.

Manufactures.

The following table proves that the colony is able to supply from her own factories many of the wants of the people. It shows

Nature of Industry.	Number of each kind.	Number of hands employed.	Amount paid in wages.	Estimated value of land, buildings, machinery, and plant.	Estimated value of produce and manufactures in 1890.
			£	£	£
Printing, &c., establishments	142	2,569	214,185	341,683	354,559
For machines, tools, and implements	43	556	46,887	76,783	148,364
Coach-building and painting	108	678	52,601	96,225	139,660
Tanning, fellmongering, and wool scouring	104	1,196	92,442	153,592	1,026,349
Ship- and boat-building	37	145	10,831	10,172	35,847
Sail and oilskin factories	32	124	6,335	16,799	31,083
Furniture factories	94	585	42,743	96,543	131,314
Chemical works	8	55	5,754	23,766	41,568
Woollen mills	8	1,175	79,040	259,955	279,175
Clothing factories	19	1,290	52,754	59,735	166,579
Hat and cap factories	16	112	6,276	26,005	21,628
Boot and shoe factories	47	1,943	124,990	82,137	403,736
Rope- and twine-works	24	222	13,658	36,086	76,711
Flax-mills	177	3,204	116,168	146,792	234,266
Meat-preserving, freezing, and boiling-down works	43	1,568	138,459	476,151	1,464,659
Bacon-curing establishments	33	84	6,696	14,180	83,435
Cheese and butter factories	74	269	14,928	100,453	150,957
Grain-mills	129	499	52,384	391,828	991,812
Biscuit factories	22	331	17,199	48,960	127,147
Fruit-preserving and jammaking works	15	117	4,742	10,042	27,255
Breweries	102	476	54,825	236,825	66,764
Malthouses	27	87	7,875	42,442	80,341
Aerated-water factories	112	261	17,021	73,147	91,691
Coffee- and spice-works	17	81	6,562	30,850	64,024
Soap- and candle-works	19	209	21,391	74,443	155,714
Saw-mills	243	3,266	271,814	500,272	832,959
Chaff-cutting establishments	63	205	7,330	36,300	41,455
Gas-works	27	249	31,700	730,490	178,947
Brick-, tile-, and pottery-works	106	494	25,190	119,780	56,830
Iron and brass foundries	68	1,727	152,687	262,042	390,943
Spuoting and ridging works	12	100	7,981	29,670	33,140
Gold- and quartz-mining-works	135	1,971	183,582	241,715	278,893
Hydraulic gold - mining and gold-dredging	74	495	32,904	154,270	73,713
Collieries	95	1,655	173,538	155,671	279,777
Other industries	295	1,881	117,415	671,172	860,851
Totals	2,570	29,880	2,209,859	5,826,976	9,422,146

page 15 the number of the principal manufacturing industries at the end of 1890, the number of hands employed, the amount of wages paid to them, the estimated value of capital invested in land, buildings, machinery, and plant, and the value of the products or manufactures in that year.

New Zealand Hemp.

New Zealand Hemp (Phormium tenax) is the manufactured product of New Zealand flax, as it is locally called, and is a valuable fibrous plant indigenous to the colony. The decennial table shows that the export has grown to large dimensions. The flax plant grows freely and re-grows quickly after the leaf is cut. The fibre is largely used both in this country and in the United States for the making of rope binder twine and for other purposes. The best quality is almost equal to Manila and superior to Sisal. The low prices ruling for Manila and Sisal have prevented the industry making the rapid growth that was looked for, but with the introduction of improved machinery, enabling the fibre to be prepared at a reduced cost, or should the supply of Manila fall off, the export would assume large dimensions. In the early days flax prepared by the Maoris in a special manner, involving much labour, had a very large commercial value, but not sufficient to pay for the labour. This shows, however, that the fibre can be worked up to a great pitch of perfection.

There are now 177 mills in the colony, and during the year 1890 the exports were valued at 381,789l.

Timber.

The timber trade of New Zealand has steadily increased. The forests are so extensive, and contain such a variety of valuable woods, that they must prove of enormous value in the near future. the kauri tree has the highest commercial value. The wood is very hard and takes a high polish, and is used for furniture making and ship-building. There are valuable woods, known as kahikatea, totara, puriri, rimu, rata, maire, and many others. The exports of timber for 1890 amounted to the value of 181,689l., and trade is now being opened up with Australia and also with this country. The Midland Railway Company of New Zealand, an English company formed for the making of a line of railway in the colony, has a most valuable concession of splendid timber lands, and is taking active steps to promote a large export trade.

Fish.

Some thirty years back New Zealand was an important whaling centre, but the decrease in the value of whalebone and the discovery of lubricating oils which have taken the place of whale oil, has caused the fisheries to decline. The coast-line of New Zealand is over 5000 miles in length, and the supply of edible fish is abundant. Little has been done, so far, to develop the fishing industry, but in the opinion of those most competent to judge, this industry will grow to very large dimensions.

During the last two years a trade in oysters and fresh fish has been opened up with Australia, and the large quantity and great variety of edible fish on the New Zealand coast only require the necessary skill and capital to enable a large export trade to be developed.

Having given a short statement of the productions of New Zealand, it will be interesting to see how the trade of New Zealand and the other Australasian colonies is distributed, and for that purpose I have compiled the following from the Statistics of New Zealand for 1890:—

Imports and Exports.

The total declared values of the imports in 1890 amounted to 6,260,525l., being a decrease on the total values in 1889 of 48,338l.

The following table shows the value of certain principal articles imported in each of the years 1888, 1889, and 1890; and for the year 1890 the value of such articles imported from the United Kingdom:—

Groups of Principal Articles Imported.	1888.	1889.	1890.	Imported from the United Kingdom Id 1890.
	£	£	£	£
Apparel and slops	236,707	330,304	319,235	312,671
Boots and shoes	145,742	117,907	127,371	116,706
Cotton piece-goods	266,646	330,534	312,935	308,993
Drapery	508,558	360,226	315,169	309,380
Haberdashery	80,376	74,513	88,945	63,987
Hosiery	55,617	57,992	68,807	68,232
Hats and cans	37,459	53,854	48,927	45,606
Linen manufactures	23,464	44,914	42,605	41,754
Millinery	31,749	22,336	21,384	21,005
Silks	32,694	75,248	76,807	74,908
Woollen piece-goods and blankets	91,001	125,622	150,555	147,777
Totals	1,510,013	1,593,450	1,572,740	1,511,019page 17
Agricultural implements	11,922	7,740	9,602	7,895
Cutlery	13,502	17,883	16,786	16,137
Hardware and ironmongery	140,572	149,207	165,158	134,764
Iron rails and railwaybolts, &c.	13,943	14,016	40,700	36,646
Iron, other—pig, wrought, wire, &c.	248,948	380,897	330,727	319,350
Machinery	164,462	190,676	195,467	137,532
Nails	24,256	24,182	27,408	21,488
Railway plant	23,926	13,161	12,131	10,106
Sewing-machines	10,281	24,981	23,531	2,098
Steel and steel rails	18,214	40,086	50,989	50,029
Tools, artificers'	27,758	38,972	42,930	34,092
Totals	697,784	901,801	915,429	770,137
Sugar	350,637	398,527	383,610	18,354
Tea	186,217	137,925	154,057	1,595
Totals	536,854	536,452	537,667	19,949
Beer	47,852	54,323	54,164	52,015
Spirits	154,594	182,740	144,914	118,250
Tobacco	106,246	105,402	103,064	24,596
Wine	42,407	47,214	50,435	29,403
Totals	351,099	389,679	352,577	224,264
Paper	94,614	107,885	111,896	94,066
Printed books	94,423	110,874	105,344	69,953
Stationery	58,543	66,219	66,793	58,564
Totals	247,580	284,978	284,033	222,583
Bags and sacks	152,140	178,727	59,892	2,083
Coals	98,431	114,053	102,166	4,629
Fancy goods	64,806	69,448	59,745	49,554
Fruits (including fresh, preserved, bottled, dried)	113,311	83,317	108,610	34,114
Oils	121,159	121,232	111,720	43,332
Other imports (excluding specie)	1,536,873	*1,707,446	1,824,316	1,335,802
Totals (excluding specie")	5,430,050	*5,980,583	5,928,895	4,217,466
Specie imported	511,850	328,280	331,630	3,804
Total imports	5,941,900	*6,308,863	6,260,525	4,221,270

There was an increase in 1890 in the value of the imports from the United Kingdom to the extent of 83,193l., or nearly at the rate of page 18 2 per cent. The increase in the value of imports from Germany amounted to 31,3392.—a comparatively small amount, but very large having regard to the value of imports in 1889, which amounted to only 18,9642. The increase in 1890 was thus at the rate of 165 per cent.—another evidence of the enterprise of the German merchants, which has been very noticeable in recent years. The principal increases in imports from other countries were in those from Belgium, the United States, and the Fiji and Pacific islands.

The value of all the exports in 1890 was 9,811,7202l., against 9,341,8642l. in 1889, an increase of 469,8562l. The exports in 1889 were of greater value than those in 1888 by 1,571,940l. The value of exports in 1890 was thus greater than that in 1888 by 2,041,796l., an increase for the two years at the rate of over 26 per cent. The value of New Zealand produce exported in 1890 amounted to 9,428,761l., being at the rate of 15l. 3s. 5d. per head of population. In 1889 the value of home produce exported was 9,044,607l.

The total value of the external trade in 1890 was 16,072,2452., equivalent to 25l. 17s. 9d. per head of the population, excluding Maoris.

The trade with the United Kingdom amounted to 11,622,620l., being an increase of 896,627l. on that in 1889. This trade comprised 72.3 per cent, of the total trade in 1890, against 68.6 per cent, in 1889.

The trade with the Australian colonies and Tasmania in 1890 amounted to 2,721,841l., against 3,252,803l. in 1889, a decrease of 530,962l., which was chiefly caused by a contraction in the value of exports from New Zealand to those colonies to the extent of 511,423l. The trade with New South Wales amounted to 1,261,561l., of which the exports thereto amounted in value to 885,737l., which included New Zealand produce to the extent of 770,679l., or to more than double the value of all the imports from New South Wales, which amounted in 1890 to 375,824l. The trade with Victoria amounted to 1,157,585l., a decrease on the amount in 1889 of 201,852l. The exports thereto amounted to 567,727l, in value; of these, the value of New Zealand produce was 440,569l., including gold of the value of 290,674l.

Of the 142,071l. exported from New South Wales, 86,453l. was the value of the coal sent. Of the 147,998l. exported from Victoria, 110,000l. consisted of gold coin minted in Melbourne.

The trade with Fiji made again an advance in the year. In 1888 it was 149,839l.; in 1889, 170,181l.; and in 1890, 184,684l. The trade with the other Pacific Islands and Norfolk Island increased from 127,727l. to 135,592l.

Of the exports to the United States in 1890 the value of New Zealand products amounted to 478,594l., the principal items being the following: Kauri-gum, 262,213l.; Phormium, 138,416/l.; gold, 63,681l.; sheepskins, 5040l.; and sausage-skins, 4756l. No wool was exported thither in 1890.

The trade with India decreased from 217,346l. in 1889, to 137,389l. in 1890—at the rate of 37 per cent. The value of imports fell from 204,373l. to 132,847l., and that of exports thereto from 12,973l. to 4542l. These exports in 1890 consisted mainly of three items, viz. horses, of the value of 3050l.; cheese, 538l.; and preserved meats, 631l.; leaving only 499l. for distribution among minor items.

Ceylon and Burmah are included in the term India, but the imports from Ceylon increased from 10,227l. in 1889 to 19,264l. in 1890.

The following table gives the value of the imports and exports of the Australasian colonies for the year 1890:— page 21

Colony.	Total Value of		Excess of
		Imports.	Exports.	Imports over Exports.	Exports over Imports.
	£	£	£	£
New Zealand	6,260,525	9,811,720	..	3,551,195
Queensland	5,066,700	8,554,512	..	3,487,812
New South Wales	22,615,004	22,045,937	569,067	..
Victoria	22,954,015	13,266,222	9,687,793	..
South Australia	8,262,673	8,827,378	..	564,705
Western Australia	874,447	671,813	202,634	..
Tasmania	1,897,512	1,486,992	410,520	..
Totals	67,930,876	64,664,574	3,266,302	..

The following statement shows the relative importance of the Australasian Colonies as markets for the productions of the United Kingdom:—

The exports of home produce to other countries did not in any case amount to 3,000,000l.

The amounts given as the value of exports of home produce from the United Kingdom to the several Australasian colonies differ widely from the values given of all imports into the colonies from the United Kingdom, because the latter include more than British products, and the twelve months for arrival into the colonies of those exports would not correspond with the twelve months during which they were exported; the time of transit must be allowed for.

The Australian colonies as a whole, with a population under 4,000,000, thus takes third place in importance as consumers of British produce, the exports thereto being about two-thirds of the value of the similar exports to British India, with its 285,000,000 inhabitants-

The principal productions of these colonies will, for a lengthened period, consist of those arising from pastoral, agricultural, and mining pursuits. The immense areas of land capable of improvement and more beneficial occupation, and the large mineral resources only partially developed, forbid any expectation for a very considerable time of such an increase in manufacturing industries as would enable colonial to page 23 supersede English products to any very material extent. The consumption per head of the population may be somewhat less in the future as the proportion of adults decreases owing to lessened immigration and increase by births; but the relatively high rates of wages, and the absence of causes for any extensive pauperism, will make the proportionate consumption of products for a long time high. The rapid growth of the Australasian population may thus be expected to largely increase the demand for British products, and the future of the trade between the United Kingdom and the Australasian colonies will probably be such as to make them by a long way the principal markets for those products, and very important factors in the progress of the Imperial commonwealth.