To the Editor of the Marlborough Press.

Marlborough Press, Volume I, Issue 10, 9 March 1860, Page 3

To the Editor of the Marlborough Press.

Sir—ln tbe absence of any political excitement in our new province, a line or two from my weak efforts (by your permission) is tendered, in a charitable spirit, to one and all. The commencement seems to offer a little difficulty, therefore I must beg the liberty of borrowing from the poet to Scatter the germs of the beautiful In the temple of the heart, But gather around the hearth the gems Of nature and of art. The art of commerce has caused the blessing of civilization to be generally diffused, and the treasures of knowledge and

science to be conveyed to the remotest corners of the earth. Its humanising influence is, in this respect, most important; while by making each country depend for for the means of supplying a considerable portion of its wants on the assistance of others, it has done more than anything else to remove a host of prejudices, and to make mankind regard each other as friends and brothers. Our friends at Picton begin to find (or at least they should do so) that commerce is the only available source as a starting point to opulence. “ The hand of the diligent can alone make rich.” I would earnestly persuade them not to trust entirely to the support of Government; or, what is still worse, the fair promises of place-seek-ing men for Government offices. It is a mere delusion to talk about boiTOwing money for a railroad when a donkey and a pair of panniers will convey for the present all that is transferable, and will be so for years to come, excepting our friends at Picton bestir themselves. Ability is conspicuous ; energy is wanted. Why not begin by bolstering up a company for a woollen manufactory —a matter of primary importance. “ Unity is strength. (Words used by our Governor when amongst you. Let the owner of woods make use of them ; every facility is offered by nature for ship building. The owner of claypits to the making of pottery. Your beautiful sound teeming with fish, but no fishermen. Begin once to arouse from your lethargy; and avail yourselves of all the peculiar facilities of production given by providence, and numerous other natural advantages for art. Begin Avhen needful to demand your right of communication by the formation of a bridge over the Wairau river, to supply your need of farm produce, which must be required from your ultimate increase of population. You arc justly entitled to the import and export trade from your superior harbour; and when enriched, as you must yet be, with arts and science, a much brighter intercourse will open to your view than could ever be accomplished by the chances of probably a weak and changeable Government.

Should the Government determine on advancing Picton, or even raising themselves in the scale of progressive nationality, I am bold enough to recommend that something like the following be adopted, viz.:—That a bonus of £SOO be offered for the first ship of a certain tonnage built at Picton ; £SOO for the first piece of woollen cloth manufactured at Picton ; £2OO for the first rope maker, of New Zealand flax; £2OO for the first anchor and chain ; and so on, in proportion, to create a start for the enterprising artizan.

The question may be raised, oh, this money will be sunk. I say no. On the contrary, Government will be compensated something like 300 per cent, for her outlay, by the increase of her import revenue. Nothing in a state enjoying great facilities of communication is isolated and unconnected. All is mutual, reciprocal, and dependent. Every man naturally gets into the precise situation that he is best fitted to fill; and each co-operating with every one else, contributes to the utmost of his power to extend the limits of production and works of art.

It then becomes obviously the duty of the legislature to give it every proper encouragement and protection. This duty will consist less in the framing of regulations than in the removal of obstacles, and in getting the steam up to a proper pressure to start the machinery. In the meantime it is sufficient to observe that the encouragement which a prudent and enlightened government bestows on industry will equally extend to all its branches, and will be especially directed to the removal of everything that may in any respect fetter the freedom of commerce and the power of individuals to engage in different employments. Yours, &c., Disquisition.