TOKOMAIRIRO.

Tuapeka Times, Volume I, Issue 27, 15 August 1868, Page 3

TOKOMAIRIRO.

(From our own Correspondent.)

Tokomairiro, 13th August.

There is no news of importance this week in this district, every person' is complaining about -the dulness of trade, in fact, the predominant policy adopted here is curtailment of all unnecessary expenses, it even goea -so far as household expenses, it being a mattei for consideration where there is a family, i,o ourVnl ja I far as possible the necessaries or lue. To take a perspective view or the present and the future state of affairs, I think it looks very ominous indeed ; in the first place there is a surplus of labor here ; there has certainly be9n an outlet for a portion of the labor spoken of by the flax-dressing establishment of our enterprising townsman, Mr. James Forsyth, who has conjointly with dressing flax, established a mat manufactory, for which that gentleman cannot be too much praised. This branch of industry has given work to individuals of respectability who have set to work with a will and a determination to overcome all obstacles they have to contend with in learning the mat manufacturing businesa, indeed we were very much surprised by the efficiency they have arrived at in a couple of weeks. The mat makers pay Mr. Forsyth fourpence" per pound for the flax, and the mats find a ready sale as soon as they are manufactured. The more local manufacturing establishments there are in the various districts of Otago the better it will be for the whole community.. I might .with many, others ask why has the General Government delayed so long the distillation of spirits in. 'this, r colony T As long as people will imbibe whisky, why not make it in New Zealand '? There would then be more encouragement for the settlers in varying their crops more profitably for . themselves than they have been able to do "up to the present time. If we were able to produce all the whisky that Otago requires for consumption within its own boundary, consider the_ amount of money that would be kept in the country, instead "of the same being sent home to pay for the very article which we could so easily produce. I hope and trust that the whole of the inhabitants of Otago will in the first place take the bull by the horns, and rescind the Immigrration Ordinance from the Statute Book of the Province and sweep it away altogether ; after that let the Provincial Council devote the. same subsidy for erecting, or assisting in I forming .various manufactories, but at same time let them ehoo'se such manufactories that will do the»general public the greatest amount of good, for unless some steps of a similar nature be adopted; tvnd without delay. I pity others :u w*U as *myself,ithat ever woshonlilliavematle ihis our adopted pountry. hsoino.ina,y.3&y'it; )«o«. i are dissatisfied with the. oountry ; why, do you remain in it ? My answer lnUividually is very? easily given — BesC&uWl cannot conveniently leave i,V;fcheref ore necessity has no law ; when the shoe begins to pinch) we begin to think how and by what means relief can be had. I do' sincerely wish some abler pen would take the matter up, as you may depend the longer we sit smoking our Sipes quietly, the worse things" will get. ombined agitation and determination" will carry out any juit and beneficial plan, that would bt n«fit the public afc lwrge.