South Canterbury Times. TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 1, 1881.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 2689, 1 November 1881, Page 2

South Canterbury Times. TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 1, 1881.

Among the Parliamentary papers ordered to be printed last session, one of the most interesting to the general public is that containing the minutes of evidence taken by the Colonial Industries and Tariff Committee. The bulk of the evidence printed refers to the introduction of the olive tree as a source of wealth, and some very interesting and valuable information was given on the subject by Dr Hector, Sir George Grey, and Captain Colbeck. The first-named gentleman had no professional knowledge of the cultivation of the tree or the manufacture of its produce, but from reading on the subject and his wide general knowledge he was able to give the Committee great assistance. Sir George Grey spoke from personal acquaintance with the subject, and by relating the success which had attended his own efforts to cultivate the plant under somewhat disadvantageous circumstances at Kawau, and the similar success which had attended the planting of the tree by others in different parts of the Auckland provincial district, he strongly influenced the Committee to report in favor of assistance being granted from the public means to those who would take practical steps to establish olive plantations. It is an unfortunate thing that the olive requires a long time to come to maturity—from twelve to fifteen years before they bear fruit in any quantity, and from thirty to forty years before they are sufficiently prolific to furnish fruit for a bona fide industry. The olive flourishes best on slopes of limestone hills, exposed to sea breezes, and Sir George Grey said he was of opinion that though the warmer climate of the North Island would be more favorable to its cultivation, there were several places in the Middle Island which seemed well adapted for it, mentioning the Oamaru district as one particularly well suited for it. The value of a considerable production of olive oil within the colony was well shown by him and by Captain Colbeck. Many manufactures require large quantities of oil in their processes, and this is especially true of the woollen manufacture, which is now firmly established and which it is hoped to see largely extended in the colony, and for this manufacture olive oil is not only the best, but is said to be the only one really suitable. The establishment of the olive industry in the North Island, or wherever it might be, would assist other industries to turn out better work, and would increase the internal commerce of the country. Sir George Grey said in the course oi his evidence, “ I believe greatly in internal commerce. Some of the wealthiest nations in the world are some of those depending entirely on internal commerce, such as Japan and China. What people easily forget is this : that wealth consists of things that have been produced ; and that if we have abundance of food, and also of fruit and other luxuries, also good clothing in quantities, that is wealth irrespective of money ; as money merely represents the power promoting the exchange of these different things.” The time mentioned as necessary to elapse before this industry could be established seems a great drawback, but Sir George Grey well said that the people should prepare for the future; should prepare “ prospective industries.” If useful trees were planted they would be growing, and when they began to bear fruit usefully, their value would be admitted, and in the meantime they would answer the purpose of improving a landscape as well or nearly as well as useless shrubs. The remark that we should prepare “ prospective industries ” is one that should be taken to heart by everyone who has settled down in the country, and if acted upon would go far to redeem a large portion of the people from the charge of “ living from hand to mouth.” The cork tree was menrioned by Sir George Grey as another which should be planted to furnish a prospective industry. This requires to be about five-and-twenty years old before the first strippings are taken, and it would grow anywhere on hilly ground. A number of other trees and plants were mentioned as having been proted to succeed admirably in different parts of New Zealand, which in longer or shorter times would contribute largely to the wealth of the country, which, to repeat, is not money, but “ things that have been produced.” Dr Hector spoke very hopefully of the cultivation of sorghum for sugar. This plant has been largely grown in the United States for the glucose or syrup expressed from it, which is similar to the syrup of the sugar-cane except that it could not be crystalised, and the chief use to which it could be applied was in the brewing of beer. Lately, however, Hr Hector informed the Committee, experimenters have succeeded in discovering methods of treatment by which a large proportion of the syrup as large or even larger than in the case of cane syrup, can be crystallised, “ This discovery,” he says, “ has created a lively interest in the growth of sorghum, and as it grows freely in the north of New Zealand, it promises to become of importance to this colony. ... It seems beyond doubt that beet and even cane sugar will be displaced by sorghum sugar in temperate climates.” Dr Hector believes the interior of Otago, wherej“,it is hotter than in any other part of New Zealand,” would suit sorghum very well. “It grows in Minnesota, and can survive during a severe black frost.”

The evidence taken by the Committee has no very direct bearing upon the progress of this neighborhood, perhaps, because the subjects enquired

of (with the exception of one or two, the cultivation of the wattle for tanning purposes for instance) were trees and plants requiring a warmer climate than burs. But theenquiry was very suggestive.- There are many large tracts in South Canterbury unsuited to the growth of grain,on which might be prepared a “ prospective industry ” that would give a better return than such tracts are likely to do if left in a state of nature, or only used for grazing. We are too prone to look only to the present, or at furthest a very few years ahead, and fear to make a long-dated investment. This diffidence should be overcome, and a firmer trust in the Nature of New Zealand acquired. The English capitalist, when he lent us his money for thirty years and upwards showed greater faith in the resources of this country than the inhabitants themselves manifest. But there are other directions in which enterprise can be shown besides that of planting for the future. There are mineral stores to be utilised in the production of things that constitute wealth, and stores of other materials, at present almost or quite useless,which the employment of labor upon would transform into valuable commodities. The producers of South Canterbury hare their eggs in but two baskets at present, and a smash in either of them would be ruinous. We ought to seek out and use another or two without delay, and if possible get a few more ready for the future.