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Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XI, Issue 77, 18 March 1876, Page 2

Now for another matter altogether. I met in the street the other day an old friend who is interested to some considerable extent in hop growing* and his countenance was not cheerful to behold. He told me that he had been trying all day to Bell this year's crop, and had failed to procure what he considered a satisfactory price. It may have been tbat he was asking too much. I did not enquire what he wanted, not being well enough acquainted with the market prices to tender him any advice as to the sum he should accept, but in the course of his. grumbling he made a suggestion that did not appear to me to be by any means an unreasonable one. " Why," he asked, " cannot we have in Nelson regular auction sales of hops, as they have of wool in larger communities? If it were well advertised not only in this colony but in Australia that on a certain date a large quantity was to be offered for sale, surely we should have a number of purchasers from all parts, and so secure the real value of our produce." My reply was — "My good friend what's the use of growling in this way, and making suggestions to one or two of those whom you casually meet, in the street? Why don't you set to work in a business like way, and act in combination witb others who are engaged in the same line? In this way alone can you carry your theory into practice." He went away as though a new idea had occurred to him, and said he would think about it, and if he does, and takes action upon it he may secure what he wants.