DISTILLATION.

TO THE BDITOR OP THK LTIIELTOH TIMES. S»,-I obsirve by your paper of to-dav that the General Assembly, in fixing the duty on spirits manufactured in the colony, rejected the proposition to make it a fixed duty certain for a given period. 1 1 look upon this as a heavy blot and great discouragement to commencing a manufactory of that kind. It may be said that any one may send to Sydney for a wash still and rectifying still, and make your spirit from sugar. This is not advisable, as spirit made from sugar is coarse and unsuited for the requirements necessary to make the venture successful; moreover, we do not want a manufactory here to consume an imported article. We want to assist our farmers by converting their corn into that which is largely consumed here, and must be properly made to compete with importations, and also be an article for exportation, which the province so much requires to make it prosperous. To effect this, it is necessary to erect a corn distillery, and the heavy ;part of the plant, such as backs and stills, must be obtained from England. You will see, therefore, that a long time mu*t elapse before you could get things in working order, entailing a heavy outlay of capital, and the probability is, that just after you have commenced to work, the Government having an empty exchequer would pop up the duty, and thereby seriously affect your position, after expending a large amount of money. The advantages of a manufactory of this kind would be generally felt, as it creates work for many different trades, and I regret the Government hag not deemed it wise to offer an encouragement to such an undertaking.

Your obedient servant, E. B. BISHOP. Chrietchurch, Sept. 2,1868.