ST. HELENA

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2085, 10 January 1908, Page 2

ST. HELENA

FOSTERING THE FIBRE INDUSTRY. PEOPLE AT PRESENT VERY POOR. (Special to Times). WELLINGTON, Jan. ?. Mr. Fulton, the.fibre expert, in a letter to the A I'mister for Agriculture. states that the flax seed brought by him to St: Helena had not been a great success. It was treated according to his instructions by the Government forester, but after getting a fair start the young plants were severely attacked by the grubs. Other experiments were, being tried. Air. Fulton had occupied most of his time on the island preparing a mill site ami erecting a plant. Milling was to have begun in December. Transplanting was going on to some extent, but Air. Fulton predicted that it would be four years before the industry could be remunerative. Speaking of the condition of the people of Jamestown, he says twothirds of them are in a deplorable state, and that begging for alms is noticed on all sides. Alter the Boer war the garrison was withdrawn from the island, and consequently there was no assured market for the products of the island. Upon the fibre industry all eyes are now earnestly fixed, but to work a mill at high pressure would exhaust the present supply of leaf in twelve months. ‘‘l have never seen any-, tiling like it before,” says Air. Fulton in a concluding reference to the poverty of the people.