The Ashburton Guardian. Magna est Veritas et Prævalebit. TUESDAY, APRIL 30, 1889. TOBAOOO CULTURE IN AUCKLAND.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume VII, Issue 2122, 30 April 1889, Page 2

The Ashburton Guardian. Magna est Veritas et Prævalebit. TUESDAY, APRIL 30, 1889. TOBAOOO CULTURE IN AUCKLAND.

Among the many new industries said to be capable of being successfully carried on m JNew Zealand is that of tobacco culture and manufacture, but latterly we bave had very little information indeed as to the progress of either. Tobacco has for many years been successfully grown m this island for Bheepwash purposes, but the instances of its culture for this or aoy other purpose have been few and far between. For the production of the finer qualities of leaf, Buch as are required for manufactured tobacco, the climate of the (South Island is, we believe, not sufficiently genial, but we have seen many very excellent samples grown m different parts of the North Island, especially about the Bay of Islands, Napier, and the north of Auckland, In Auckland city there is a tobacco factory upon a considerable scale which turns out some very creditable goods m the way of tobacco oi all sorts and cigars and cigarettes ot very presentable quality, and which ought to be a very flourishing concern. If it be not, it is matter for surprise, as there is an enormous demand m the colony for manufactured tobacco m all forms, and the heavy duty on the imported article should be a sufficient protection to render the manufacture profitable, even at the higher price of labor m New Zealand as compared with that ruling m other tobaooo growing and manufacturing ponntries. Presumably the Auckland factory is a success, for, as we shall see presently, it is stated to be open to purchase any quantity of leaf; and that the growth of tobacco is certainly not abandoned we have evidence before us, for we have just come across an interesting letter m the "New Zealand Herald" from its Lucas Creek correspondent m which the writer describes a visit recently paid by him to a tobacco farm and curing establishment carried on by Messrs timith Brothers at Long Bay. There he found Captain bmitu and his sons busily engaged m cutting tho ripe leaf. This season they have about five acres planted m tobacco and next season the area is to be increased to twelve acres. They were late m getting a start this spring, but nevertheless expect to obtain fully a ton of the dried leaf. Ihe varieties they have under cultivation are the Golden Leaf, James iliver, Virginia, Kentucky, and Donneoticutj and "experts consider the Golden Leaf growing at Long Bay to be much larger and liner than any ol the game variety ever grown m America." ibis is apparently conclusive evidence of the suitability of the soil and climate ot that part of JSew Zealand, at any rate, to the growth oi the the plant, and as the Auckland Tobacco company has entered into a contract with Messrs (Smith to take any quantity of the dried leaf for tho next five years at fixed rates of prices, the venture m which they are engaged appears to be a sale one, while that there is room for still more ex tended cultivation appears from the further statement of the correspondent quoted, that he understands the Company are prepared to take any quantity of good leat from anyone. With a market thus assured we ought to hear of more attention being paid by the settlers ol the North Island, to the cultivation of what would appear to be a highly re munerative crop.