414 



NEW ZEALAND. 



Many spars are now exported to England, where, however, the 

 smaller sticks are not as much esteemed in proportion as the larger 

 ones. Several government vessels have recently obtained spars for the 

 Royal Navy at the trifling cost of a few blankets and muskets. The 

 latter, in particular, are a great inducement to the chiefs, who are 

 willing to devote much labour for the purpose of acquiring the means 

 of rendering themselves powerful. Besides guns and blankets, gun- 

 powder, lead, coarse blue and white cottons, whiskey, rice, sugar, and 

 molasses are the articles most in request. These now bring enormous 

 prices, in consequence of the demand caused by the number of immi- 

 grants ; but the effect of these prices is to render labour proportionably 

 dear. 



NEW ZEALAND IHU AND WEAPONS. 



