A NEW INDUSTRY.

Westport Times, Volume VIII, Issue 1156, 6 March 1874, Page 2

A NEW INDUSTRY.

The Wellington Evening Post is responsible for the following:—A good story is told, on undoubted authority, as showing tho intense anxiety of the Agent-General to encourage tho establishment of new industries in thi3 Colony, and to provide a supply of skilled labor. Amongst the persons who applied to him Rome time ago as being desirous of emigrating were three men who described themselves as tooth-brush manufacturers. They inquired whether there was likely to be any opaniiig for a toothbrush manu. factory here, and were informed that a most brilliant prospect lay beforo them. Tho atmosphere of ]N T cw Zealand was stated to be highly detrimental to the duo preservation of dental appendages, and it was only by the most vigorous use of toothbrushes that people could possibly avoid availing themselves of a dentist's services constantly until they had not a stump left to operate on. Tho consumption of toothbrushes was therefore stated to be enormous and by no means confined to the white inhabitants, as it was as orted that Ihe Maoris were very pr< ud of the vhitcno sof their teeth, ;nd hid to ufje tooth brushes incessantly in ordOi'

to obviate tbo ill-eflecfs of civilised diet. A manufactory of tooth brushes was therefore likely to prove an iin. inense success, especially as the imported article was subjected to a heavy protective duty. [Fascinated by the brilliant prospects thus opened to them, the men came out, and are now doing pick and shovel work on the Hutt Hailway, while wc still have to depend on English manufacturers for a supply of tooth brushes.