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Poverty Bay Standard, Volume I, Issue 44, 16 April 1873, Page 2

The London Times on the Maobis.—Five short years ago (writes the Timet) this ruthless savage was hovering about our settlements with his tomahawk, and so terrifying the colonists that an army of British troops was thought all too little for their protection. In 1869 the !ast regiment of the Imperial garrison was recalled, and New Zealand was left without a single red-coat. Our readers can hardly have forgotten the outcry or the dolorous prophecies of massacre and ruin, combined with no little menace of retribution, which then crowded our columns. Well, the step, was taken; the consummation occurred, and what are now the results, as shown by actual experience ? Since that tune “ there has not been anything in the nature of rebellion.** New Zealand ware have already become things of the past, and “the position of affairs has continued to improve.’’ There is nowjhardly a Maori to be seen, except, indeed, in the Colonial House of Commons. Abroad in the country he is scarcely to be recognised, save by his skin. He has become an industrious, money-making subject of the Queen, clever at making a bargain, thoroughly tip to the advantages of a ’good contract, and wanting only a Trade Union to put him on a level with the most hraauiaed of artisan*.

In the Scott man, February 4th, we find the following : —“ His Excellency Sir James Furgusson, Bart., who recently returned to this country from South Australia, on a visit, previous to his assumption of the governorship of New Zealand, met with his tenantry, on the Kilkerran estate at Kilkerran House, Ayrshire, yesterday. The tenantry numbered about seventy. _ Sir James expressed the pleasure he felt at being once more in their midst, and said he wished to address them briefly on general matters in which he and they were interested. He did not intend to speak on political questions at all. In connection with the question of hypothec, however, he thought it was more a question which concerned the tenantry than the landlords, and he had no doubt that if the tenantry wanted it abolished, it would be abolished. He wished more particularly to speak to them on the question of cottage accommodation. He thought there ought to be better accommodation for laborers on all estates than there was at present, and it was his intention to provide such improved accommodation on his estate. He- intended to provide good cottages for the farm laborers, giving to each of them a bit of ground, and in some cases a cow’s grass, and by this means the laborer’s condition would be bettered. He intended to do all this in co-operation with his tenantry. At the close of his address, three cheers were given for Sir James and his family, and the company were afterwards entertained to luncheon.”

New Zealand hemp (says the Home Newt), despite the general depression of the fibre market, and the consequent dullness of prices, still maintans its hold on the market. The article is now better understood by the trade, and is every day coming into closer competition with the fibres tliat have so long taken first £lace in the market. As a proof of this it may e mentioned that recently no less than three companies have been or are being formed here, for the especial purpose of developing this industry. First of all, there is the Colonial Fibre Company, of which Messrs. Nichols, of Bishopsgate-strect, are the managers, with a capital of £lOO,OOO (one-half subscribed), whose operations on a very extensive scale will shortly be commenced in the colony. This company proposes to clean the phormium fibre by a new mechanical process, for which they have secured a patent in the colony, and the prospectus that the cost of production by this means will be scarcely more than two-thirds of that quoted by the existing mills. Next, we have a company just formed at Liverpool, with a capital of about £50,000, under the auspices of Mr. Tinne, who recently came from the colony for that purpose, and whose scene of operations will be the Kaihu valley (Kaipara), in the province of Auckland. Thirdly, we may refer in general terms to another company now in course of formation, having for its object not merely the production of the fibre from the raw material, but its conversion on the spot into textile fabrics, &c., and the utilisation of the so-called “refuse-tow” for manufacturing purposes. Of this company we may have more to say on a future occasion. There is no reason why the colony should not manufacture all its sacking and woolpacks, to say nothing of finer fabrics ; and the importance to the country itself of developing native industry of this kind cannot well be overrated. Mr. C. Thome has proved, beyond all question, that the New Zealand phormium is adaptable to even the finer kinds of fabric, such as towelling and sheeting, and the value of the fibre for roping purposes enables it to compete fairly with hemp, Russian and Manila. We, therefore, look forward with much interest and very confident hope to the revival and permanent establishment of this trade in New Zealand hemp, of which the imports into England for the year have been less than usual.