THE Manawatu Times. SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER. 3, 1881. LOCAL INDUSTRIES.

Manawatu Times, Volume V, Issue 158, 3 September 1881, Page 2

THE Manawatu Times.

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER. 3, 1881. LOCAL INDUSTRIES.

" "Words are things, nnd a drop of ink foiling like dew upon a thought, produces that which, mokes thousands, perhaps millions think."

T?t?oh time to time attempts have either been made, or intended to he made, for t"he establishment of looal industries. In some cases they have succeeded, as instance, the Palmerstqn Elour Mill, Term's Sash and i)oor Factory, the Palmereton and Crown Breweries, Deards' Soda Water Factory, not to speak of the sawmilling interest ; m others they have faUed, as was the case with the Boiling Down, and. an attempt which

was made to manufacture candles and soap. The growiug of beetroot has been freely spoken of, but as far as wo are aware the intention has never been put into execution, although it is admitted that this district is admirably fitted for its culture. Again, we remember having been shown, a couple of years ago, a very excellent specimen of cabbage leaf, grown by Mr. Parker, of Kangitikoi Eoad, which m its dried state could not be distinguished from the American leaf. It will be seen that — perhaps with the exception of the flour mill which is tbe outcome of the growth of wheat — every one of the iodustries we have id eu tidied as having been successful are the result of manufacture. But there are many, very many, which might be carried on from the fruits of the soil with great profit, and foremost among these is the | growing of liusecd. AYe have been informed by the representative of one firm m Wellington that during the last six months they imported no less than niuety tons of linseed, j 1 Furthermore, that they are prepared to take an unlimited supply and j pay £20 per ton for it. Here, then, is | au industry which will well pay agriculturists to embark m. The growth of wheat or potatoes is an uncertain speculation, ©wing to the fluctuation of the market m the one ease, or the overstocking of it m the secoud. In the growing of linseed, neither of these contingencies can happen, for as we have said, the firm to which. we have alluded, will take an unlimited supply, and give tbe fixed price of £20 per ton. A couple of years ago, m the Peilding District, the settlers planted potatoes m large quantities, tbe consequence being that they wece a drug m the market, and could be had for a song. Next year they determined to be more cautious, and reduce their sowing, the effect being that there was a perfect dearth, and high prices had to be paid for those imported from the &outh. "We have said that £20 per ton would be given for the linseed, and m order to encourage its growth, the firm to whom we allude are prepared to pay the freight from 3?oxtou, if it be put free on boaid. We have also been been informed that beeswax is actually being imported into the colony, a thing so preposterous, that if the statement had not been verified by an undoubted authority, we could not credit it. For that commodity they are prepared to give sixpence halfpenny a pound, and threepence per pound for honey. We, therefore, think the growth of linseed well worth tfie serious consideration of our settlers, which would open up an industry which could never be affected by those fluctuations to which cei'eal and produce are subject, and become a permanent source of profit from their land.