The Ashburton Guardian. Magna Est Veritas et Prevalebit THURSDAY, JANUARY 31, 1884. Sericiculture.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume V, Issue 1065, 31 January 1884, Page 2

The Ashburton Guardian. Magna Est Veritas et Prevalebit THURSDAY, JANUARY 31, 1884. Sericiculture.

As is generally known, an Italian gentleman named Federli lias for some time past been carrying on a series of experiments in connection with sericiculture, and in this work he has received assistance from the Government. He is a great enthusiast, and believes firmly that the establishment of the new industry will be a source of good to the colony. As an expert of undoubted knowledge of the subject he has taken in hand, Mr Federli’s opinions are worthy of careful consideration, although his enthusiasm may at times cause him to view the matter through rose-colored spectacles. Making all allowances for this, however, there seems to be no reason to doubt that the climate of New Zealand, at any rate in certain localities, is well suited to the rearing of silkworms, as is clearly proved by the excellent display of cocoons in the Christchurch Industrial Exhibition. Even the inexperienced eye can see that the raw silk obtained from the worms bred here compares favorably with that from other countries where the industry has been established for centuries. And, as it happens, the present is a very opportune moment for discussing the question. It appears that since 1880 there has been a decided falling off in the quantity of raw silk produced in China, the country which has long been recognised as the principal place whence this material is exported. In the year mentioned the export was 84,000 bales, while it was estimated that the amount in 1883 would not exceed 30,000 bales. This enormous difference is due to the ravages of a disease called “ pebrine,” and is similar to the scourge which befell the worms in France some years ago, and bid fair to utterly destroy the silk industry in that country. China’s misfortune is, it is argued, our opportunity. The chief question regarding sericiculture, as with other sub-tropical cultivation, is whether labor can be procured cheap enough to make the industry pay. Mr Federli answers this in the affirmative, but we are inclined to doubt whether there will be found people ready to devote the incessant care and attention that the work demands for the small remuneration necessary to give an adequate return for the capital invested. While there remain fields of employment in which more money can be made, it would be idle to expect men to embark in such an undertaking as the rearing of silkworms. At the same time it must be remembered that what is required is not skilled labor. With a thoroughly practical man, such as Mr Federli himself, at the head of affairs, children and persons whose advanced age prevents them from taking part in active occupations could do all that was needed in the way of frequently changing the leaves upon which the worms subsist, winding off the silk, etc. Experience will alone prove whether the industry can be made to yield a revenue proportionate to the capital expended, and Mr Federli suggests that either a company should be formed or that the Government should establish a model farm. Of these two alternative we are certainly in favor of the former. The Government has already done its part in assisting towards making the necessary experiments, and if the enthusiastic advocate of sericiculture can prove that it will pay there need be no fear that money to carry the enterprise to a successful issue will be forthcoming from private sources.

Abbotsford Stalior, in the Wairatapa district, was sold by auo ion yesterday. The estate comprised 2,799 acres, and was purchased by Mr M. S. James Cattell for LB,COO.

The New Zealand Shipping Company, Limited, have received the following cable, dated London, 29th inst.lonic left Plymouth for Wellington on the 28th inst, at noon. The steamer was delayed by galea.”

The South Pacific bore is now down 400 ft, and ha s got beyond the papa rock, and into quartz which contains quantities of pyrites. The last 30ft oil is brought up in considerable quantity. Tho news causes some interest in Gisborne.

The yearly report of the Dunedin Coffee Palace Co shows an excess of expenditure over income of Ll3B 14s sd, which, with depreciation at rate of 10 per cent, throws the balance of L 603 4s 2d to the debit side of profit and loss. The Co therefore have to call on the prop-i tor of the building for his guarantee of LIOO per year.

The Victorian bowlers paid a flying visit to the Lake district on Wednesday. They reached Queenstown at 4pm., and at once proceeded to tho head of tho Lake returning to Queenstown at 11 p.m. At 4 o’clock yesterday morning they went over to Arrowtown, and at 10 o’clock were on their way back to Invercargill. They fortunately had tolerably good weather. To-day they play at Invercargill, and tomorrow return to Dunedin, en route for the North.

A man named Watson has been sentenced at Wellington to twelve months’ imprisonment for indecent exposure to thiee young ladies, who were driving through Carterton. This is his second conviction for a similar offence, and Watson has been a nuuance to the town for some time. He was also charged with assaulting a lady, who was riding home in the evening, but the evidence was not conclusive, though ho was seen near the place after the assault was committed. The first day of the Napier Ram Fair was held yesterday. Partly owing to the enormous number of sheep from all parts of the colony which were yarded, and partly, perhaps, to the scarcity of money, the prices obtained were not equal to the average of past years. The top price was 75gs, for a ram bred by Mr Tanner. One of Mr Heardy’s brought 60gs, three 50gs, and one of the New Zealand and Australian Land Company’s 42gs. Locally bred sheep were in the ascendant, but Messrs Menlove’s and Fred. Sutton’s Southland sheep will not, be sold until to-day. At the inquest on the bodies of John Harris, cook, and John Moore, his assistant, the victims of the tiro at the Kaipara Hotel, the jury returned a verdict of accidentally burned to death. The evidence showed that the tiro originated in their bedroom. Harris had had some beer, but was sidd to bo aide to take care of himself. He is said to have had a considerable sum e.f money in the Bank. His real name was Oooksley, formerly of the 40th Kegimeni, and also served in Major Robert's division against Tilokowavu on the West Coast. Mooney was said to be generally half muddled, but is said to have been sober on the night of the lire. Quite a novel feature in the educational difficulties cropped up at New Plymouth yesterday. A few days ago Seabtook and Arnott, builders, got three judgments against the Education Board for arrears for the erection of school buildings, for which cheques had been given five months ago. Besides this, they are owed by the Board L 320, some of it having been owing twenty months. All this work was publicly tendered for, and 75 per cent was to be paid in progress payments, of which the contractors received nothing. For several days attemots were made to put th« bailiffs in the Education Board offi;es, and take possession of the books and stationeiy, but without avail, and yesterday the bailiff walked into the State School, and now a man is in possession, the children being sent home early in the afternoon. The contractors waited upon Sir Osborne Gibbes, the reapresentative of the Government sent to the coast on this matter, and he says that he could not promise the debts would be liquidated before Parliament met, and then they would probably have to waiu another five months. Besides all this, these contractors now have contracts in hand for the Board amounting to LGOO. At the Wesleyan Conference yesterday afternoon, the annual report of the N.Z. Wesleyan Committee was read by W. Tinsley, and adopted. The thanks of the Conference were presented to the Rev John Crump for his services as Editor, and the Rev W. J. Williams was appointed Editor for this year. The Committee was thanked and re-appointed. It was decided to change the name of the paper to the 2T.Z. Methodist, and the Committee was recommended to take steps for the weekly issue of the paper. At tne evening sitting reports of the Committee on the draft of the Book of Discipline, and district meeting recommendations on the basis of the Methodist Union, were presented and adopted. The R-v Mr Oliver was appointed to deliver the next Conference lecture, the subject to be “ Inspiration.” The following ministers and laymen were elected to the position of representatives to the next general Conference to be held next November in Christchurch : —Ministers—President and Secretary ex officio. Revs Reid, Berry, Bavin, Oliver, Kirkwilliam, Lewis and Lae ; Laymen—Messrs Buddie, Hobbs, Moxham, J. Manchester, G. Peryraan, Prime, Harris, King and J. L. Wilson. Theological Institution affairs were reviewed, and the balance-sheet toad and adopted. The Revs Bavin, Reid, Cairn, Watkins and Taylor were appointed lecturers on theology, hermeneutics, ecclesiastical history, mental and moral science. The question of probationers who have resigned having unfulfiled liabilities for College training was considered, but no resolutions were adopted, the consi lera.ion of the matter being postponed till today. The form of agreement to be signed by all students entering the College in future was agreed to. The Conference is expected to close to-day. Thai weakness and lassitude so frequent in fast-growing children may be easily remedied by a few doses of Hop Bitters. Read,— Advt.] Thick Heads, heavy stomachs, bilious conditions —Wells’ May Apple Pills—anti-bilious-cathartic. 5d and is. Moses, Moss and Co., Sydney, General Agents. i