New Zealand Spectator, AND COOK'S STRAIT GUARDIAN. Saturday, June 22, 1850.

New Zealand Spectator and Cook's Strait Guardian, Volume VI, Issue 510, 22 June 1850, Page 2

New Zealand Spectator, AND COOK'S STRAIT GUARDIAN. Saturday, June 22, 1850.

We have often directed the attention of the public to the flax trade, from a conviction

of the advantages likely to result to the community from an increase of the trade, from the profitable employment it would afford the natives. Various experiments have been made from time to time, by means of solvents or machinery, to lessen the cost of production, but none of these attempts have hitherto succeeded so as to supersede the native method of preparing the flax. Until, therefore, some other and cheaper process is devised, we must depend upon native labour for its production. But here a difficulty arises in inducing the natives to work if the market is fluctuating and uncertain ; as long as the price is remunerating and remains steady, and the demand continues constant, the natives will be found to engage in it readily, for the preparation of flax is an employment of which they are fond, and we believe that at present, up the Manawatu, at Otaki, and in the adjacent districts, they are busily engaged in preparing it. A certain quantity of the flax thus prepared is always in request at Syddey, but the chief demand exists during the wool season, not only at Sydney, but throughout the Australian colonies, where it is preferred for wool lashing, and where, with a little management, in the present state of the market, a virtual monopoly may be secured. The only article which formerly competed with the New Zealand flax at Sydney was the Manila hemp, and this from its present high price has ceased to be imported by the Sydney merchants. The following information of the price of this article, (furnished by one of the first houses at Sydney,) for which we are indebted to Mr. Ludlam, will show the limit to be obtained for wool lashing of New Zealand flax. In 1 845 the price of wool lashing, including insurance, commission, exchange, &c, was £17 10s. per ton at Manila ; since then the price of hemp has risen in Manila from 20 to 25 per cent. To this must be added a further sum of £3 per ton freight to Sydney, together with an ad valorem duty of 10 per cent, and landing expenses such as cartage, wharfage, &c. The present cost of Manila wool lashing (1850) is about £26 per ton in Sydney, and in consequence of this high price the export from Manila has censed. The market therefore remains entirely open to New Zealand, and to show how inadequately it has been supplied, we have been informed that during the last season, owing to the scarcity of wool lashing, in some instances at Port Phillip hoop iron was used. We think from what .has been stated there is an encouraging prospect for the flax trade, and we hope during the current year to see it considerably extended, • _

We are glad, in noticing this entertain* merit, to refer again to an event which cannot fail to be productive of good results in this community. We have now, not merely a Governor of the Southern Province, but one who, we doubt not, will seek to avail himself of the opportunities afforded him by his new position as a married man to strengthen the bonds of social intercourse, and by his influence and example promote -

sentiments of mutual good will among those who are under his government, and not only claim the respect of the settlers as the representative of her Majesty, but receive that ribute of personal regard accorded to private worth and to a disposition to identify himself with the social interests of the community over which he presides.

H.M. Steamer Acheron arrived on Thursday from Otago after a two days passage. We have received by this opportunity files of the Otago News to June 8, from which we have made a few extracts. A meeting of the friends and supporters of Mr. Graham the Proprietor of the Otago News had been held, at which a subscription of £80 was presented to him as an inducement to remain in that Settlement another twelve months, by which time it was hoped the settlement would increase sufficiently to allow of the Paper being well supported.

An examination of the boys at Mr. Marshall's school, Thorndon, took place on Wednesday afternoon, which was attended by their parents and friemls who appeared very much interested and gratified at the progress made by them daring the halfyear. Several prizes were afterwards awarded to those boys who had, shewn the greatest proficiency and application to their studies. We are glad to find that the number of scholars at Mr. Marshall's establishment is rapidly increasing.