NELSON.

New Zealand Colonist and Port Nicholson Advertiser, Volume I, Issue 88, 2 June 1843, Page 3

NELSON.

NEW ZEALAND FLAX. To the Editor of the Nelson Examiner. Sir, —Being most anxious for the successful preparation of the phorminm tenax, as an article of export, for I have some property in the colony, whose value, I believe, chiefly depends upon it, I presume to trouble you with a few remarks connected with the subject of yesterday’s meeting about it. It is not my intention to discuss the qualities of the samples shown there. It would be a lengthy task to do so, for they were nearly as numerous as the hanks. However, speaking generally, those out of the bale handled well. But I would say a few words upon the present price asked. The estimate for the production of the flax, —for collecting, plaiting, boiling, pressing, dressing, &c., was 16/. per ton, to which was added, over and above the profits of those items, 25 per cent, for the manufacturers of it, and for some small extra expenses, making a total of 20/. per ton. Let us now proceed to

Thus, at 20/. per ton,, and §/* direct freight; yesterday’s mixed samples, of flax, if sold for

32/. lls. 2d. in London, would yield penny profit to the exporter. Let us next see what chance he has of getting that sum.

The following are the London market prices, which are above the average ones, of flax and hem|i, on Monday the 26th September, 1842 :

New Zealand flax is not quoted here. Let us see, .then, what Mr. Charles Enderby says, about three or four years ago, in his evidence before the House of Lords. He is a gentleman who would not cry it down. “ Q, New Zealand flax does nob fetch so good a price as other flax, does it ?—A. I think it does not; Thei greater part we have purchased, and. we have purchased extensively, varied from 17/. to 24/. per ton.*’ To conclude, let us take the highest price here quoted as that at which yesterday’s samples would sell in London, say—

Nelson, May 19. Linum.

Mr. Murray ha.d opened his saloon for dramatic performances, which had been very favorably received, and would consequently be repeated. The tent scene from Richard the Third was to be presented on the second evening to the lovers of the drama.

German Emigration. —We have been much gratified to learn that a party of German colonists, purchasers of land in the Nelson settlement, are preparing to take their departure shortly for the colony, and have chartered the St. Pauli, a fine vessel of about 380 tons, to sail from Hamburg on the 20th December next. They will muster about sixteen or seventeen in the cabin, and about 100 labouring emigrants in the steerage. This is the first result of the measures recently taken by tfye New Zealand Company to spread information in Germany respecting New Zealand; and we are informed that great probability exists that the emigration thence will be followed up with spirit next season. Mr. John N. Beit, of Hamburg, whom the Company some time since appointed its agent >n Germany, wrote a little pamphlet containing an account of the Company's settlements ; and many of the papers issued by the Company have been translated into the German language, and extensively circulated. A spirit of inquiry has been thus awakened; and the results are the purchase of land to a considerable amount, and the despatch of the first body of German emigrants to New 1 Zealand. Mr. Beit himself proceeds to Nelson, accompanied by a large family; and two clergymen, sent out by the North German Mission, will also form part of the expedition. We believe that the whole of the arrangements respecting the ship have been made by the parties themselves; and that the laboring emigrants have been carefully selected according to the regulations of the Company for English emigrants. Several vinedressers are of the number, and Mr. has expressed his determination to attempt the cultivation of the vine at Nelson. We hail with pleasure this commencement of a German emigration, to, the Company’s settlements. The number of emigrants who leave Germany annually, is about 22,000 souls, the greater part of of whom emigrate to the United States or Canada; and it has been calculated that these do not possess less than from 15/. to 20/. per head : many of these are of that “ intermediate class” which has just gone out in the fore-cabin of the Phoebe, and would be a most valuable acquisition to New Zealand. We have little doubt, from all we can learn, that a considerable stream of emigration will now be kept up, particularly when accounts shall have been received from this expedition. Messrs. De Chapeaurouge and Co., a well-known and most respectable mercantile firm of Hamburgh, have accepted the agency of thb Company, and have taken up the subject with great spirit; and we may look forward to the despatch of. another vessel in the course of next spring, with a fresh batch of settlers for Wellington or Nelson. —New Zealand Journal, Nov. 27.

particulars. £ s. d. 1 ton of flax, free on board at Nelson.. .. 20 0 0 Freight per ton, as promised by the Sisters 8 0 0 Primage 0 8 0 Dock charges at London — Landing Is. 9d., 3 weeks’ watching 9d. 0 2 6 Housing Is. 9d., sampling Is. 6d 0 3 3 Rent (say the flax sells in 4 weeks) at 8d. per week 0 2 8 Delivery 0 1 9 Duty, at Id. per cwt 0 1 8 Insurance, at 60s. per cent, on 307 0 18 0 £29 17 10 Brokerage, commission, and other charges, at 5 per cent 1 9, 10,} £31 7 8} Interest on money for 9* months, at 5 per cent, per annum 1 3 6} Total.£32 11 2f

Flax :— £ s. £ Friezland. u 35 0 to 48 per ton. Riga, P.T.R 40 0 „ 42 „ Dutch, Flanders, Riga, D.C. and Petersburg none. Hemp SUnn 15 ' ! ». 17 per ton. Manilla 23 o „ 24 Bombay 24 0 „ 25 Riga Rhine 33 0 „ 34 Polish do. 34 0 „ 35 Petersburg, clean 31 10 ,, outshot 30 ,, half clean 28 0 Jute 15 0 „ 16

£ s. d. . 24 0 0 Cost and charges as given above . 32 11 2 Loss to the exporter from Nelson, at 20/. V 8 11 2 per ton, and 8/. direct freight J I am, Sir, vour’s,