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New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 5348, 18 May 1878, Page 2

While the people o£ Wellington may be very justly eulogised for their general energy and enterprise, and for the almost unprecedented strides they, have of late made in the path of progress, it may be observed that their energy, and progress are confined within the city boundaries, while the suburbs and the immediately surrounding country have been little utilised for either agricultural or horticultural purposes. JFrom its uneven character the land is no doubt best adapted for grazing, to which it is at present principally devoted; but we see no reason why fruit could not be produced, to very considerable advantage, to an extent far greater than at present; for notwithstanding the frequent high winds to which wo are subject, there might be found comparatively large areas of land, within a reasonable distance from the city, sufficiently sheltered and with a suitable aspect and soil for the production of several sorts of fruit, while the climate must be everything that can be desired for the purpose. Such an enterprise, in our opinion, could not fail to be profitable to those who may have the courage and energy to embark in it, while a full supply of good home-grown fruit would he an inestimable boon to our city population, who depend at present on a sea-borne supply, a large percentage of which even on arrival is in a semidecayed and unwholesome state. The same state of things exists to a greater or lesser extent in many other parts of the colony, the result of which on the whole is that we are forced annually to spend upon imports of fruit' the following sums :—Green fruit, £37,588 ; bottled and preserved fruit, £3583 ; jams and jellies, £12,223 — making a total of £83,399, while perhaps there is not a country and climate in the world better adapted to ’ tlxe production of all the more generally useful kinds of fruits than New Zealand. This we regard as a subject deserving the attention, not only of the enterprising people of Wellington, but of the whole colony. One of the obstructions to the profitable production of jam in this country—provided wo had the fruit—is the high price of sugar, as compared with the price in the Australian colonies. In Victoria, from whence wo obtain a considerable supply, the duty on sugar is 3s. per lOOlbs, as against Bs. ‘id. per lOOlba in New Zealand ; while the duty is considerably lower than with us in Tasmania, from whence we obtain our principal supply both of jams and green fruit. It is, however, possible that the present movement in connection with the production of beet-sugar in this colony may operate to turn the scale as to the price of that article in our favor, and thus enable us to compete in jam manufacture with our neighbors on more advantageous terms. To facilitate the production of fruit throughout the country, we are of opinion that the Government .might act more unwisely than by offering a small bonus for tho encouragement 'of fruit-tree planting. It would not only bo the means of retaining these comparatively large sums we are ‘ now ; paying for . imported fruit in the country, but be a source of em- , ployment and profit to numbers of our small settlers, whom it is the highest duty of , the State to assist by every means. It would, nt the same time, add considerably to the general charm and picturasqueness of the country.