THE Marlborough Express. SATURDAY, MARCH 27, 1869.

Marlborough Express, Volume IV, Issue 166, 27 March 1869, Page 2

THE Marlborough Express.

SATURDAY, MARCH 27, 1869.

*f GIVB me the liberty to know, to utter, and to argue freely according to conscience, above all other liberties.* •—Milton.

In pursuing the subject which we introduced to our readers a fortnight ago, our first duty will be to direct attention to the raw material which lies around us, only waiting the application of capital and skill to make it serviceable to man. In doing this, while we seek to promote the general welfare of New Zealand, we shall feel it especially incumbent on us to make our remarks as much as possible, applicable to the district we more immediately represent. Our persevering fellow colonists in other Provinces are awakening to the importance of Manufacturing; industry, and foremost among these stand the Flax ; Companies of Canterbury. In this Province there are hundreds of acres flax, already grown, and an almost unlimited supply of Water power; and if there is any truth in figures, we •have a better prospect of, working the Phormium Tenax profitably than our neighbours in Canterbury.; - The Lyttelton Times of the 22nd February publishes a lengthy and interesting report of the Flax Companies already in operation, and hot the least interesting portion is the fact that the machinery of the Halsewell Flax Company is driven by an engine of 14-horse power, made ; in the Colony. No argument of ours could shew ‘more- effectually than this fact, the healthy influence of such industries. Not only does this Company find profitable employment for 127 persons on their own establishment, but they have employed ar vast-amount of labor in other branches—smiths, engineers, millwrights, and masons. The Company is established on the principle of limited liability, and find the business sufficiently profitable to enlarge their mechanical power, and extend their operations. They have already shipped 78 tons of dressed •fibre to 'England, the averaged value of which would- appear to be £2,1*40, and they anticipate/-by the contemplated improvements, to produce an article.ofsuperior quality, the same quantity of which would realise considerably more than £3,000. . niT

The recent rush to the imaginary El Dorado of Mountain Camp Greek has afforded another to the many proofs, of the mischievous influence of ihe “ Gold Fever.” Men’s minds are unsettled, u&eful employment neglected, and the business of the town paralysed by-tho withdrawal of the ready cash, from local circulation, i Tf the withdrawal of a few hundreds can so materially affect our prosperity, and create a very unpleasant Vacuum; 'ut our tills and cash-boxes, might we not reasonably suppose that the iati’oduction iof .a) few thou-

sands,would be productive ol beneficial results at an equal ratio 1 It is worth the' trial,;and did our space permit we might cite several examples from both North and South worthy of oar imitation. The Auckland Herald, speaking of Flax-mills ih November last, calls it “a step in the light direction,” and we are convinced that the developement of steady productive labor, and the necessary impetus given thereby to local skill, is far more beneficial than all the “ Diggings” that have yet been discovered, affording employment to our artisans and laborers, and opening another door to “ our Sons.” •

We have the means of prosperity within our reach, and have only to stretch out a determined arm and grasp it. How — we shall endeavor to show in our next.

1 It appears to us that had our public men from the time of Separation from Nelson, been up to the mark—had they been harnessed for work instead of political scheming, and managed the affairs of the Province with the same zeal and prudence-evinced in looking after their own private interests— Marlborough would at the present time, have been second to no Province, save in size. Instead of being as she is, a byeword and a butt, she might have commanded the respect of the rest of the Colony. Profiting by the lessons to be learnt from the experience of the other Provinces, unincumbered with debt, clear of war, its alarms and disasters- producing much wool, some com, and some gold, one would have thought that Marlborough would not only have held her own, but compared advantageously with any of the larger, but more extravagant Provinces. The chance has however passed by ! Misspent time, opportunity, and money, have kept her, what she now unmistakably is, a Province in name only—- . not in reality ! Of so little consequence have we made ourselves appear, that no Judge beyond that of a District Court has ever sat in Marlbo-.. rough, and even he was~rimov(S’disy~means, into which we shall not now enquire. All our Bankruptcy cases, and all civil and military cases of any account, have to go to another Province to be adjudicated upon. As the saying is, * ‘lf there were no cowards, there would be no tyrants,” so, if there had been no maladministration on the part of public men in Marlborough, we should not nave been put upon and so hardly treated by the General Government, robbed of our Eevenue, deprived even of the rightful visits of a Judge, and such privileges as other Provinces enjoy. ' The above thoughts are suggested by the recent decision of His Honor Mr. Justice Richmond? that cases in Bankruptcy cannot be adjudicated upon in this Province. So it follows that bankrupts, trustees, and creditors, in bankruptcy cases; and plaintiffs, defendants, prosecutors, witnesses, police, prisoners, &c., in civil and criminal cases ; besides counsel in both—must make a pilgrimage to Nelson, to see the Judge’s face, and bow to his .fiats ! It is to be hoped that at this late period at least, when population, business, and legal complications accumulate upon our hands, that the necessity of a Judge visiting this Province periodically, even if but at long intervals, will force itself upon the attention of the General Government. If, as the Government holds, we have failed in showing that we could manage our own affairs, let them manage them for us, and let Provincial shams cease. What we now ask for, is simple justice. Our introductory remarks have extended to greater length than we contemplated, as we intended mainly to notice the hardship which has and is being experienced, as resulting from the upsetting of the bankruptcy cases, which were in course of adjudication by the Deputy-Registrar here. A number of expenses had been incurred, which now all goes for nothing. With whom, if anyone, the fault lies, it is not for us to say, or whether any disposition adverse to the amicable settlement of the cases was shown, which, pending a decision, might have been made, we are hot called upon to consider ; but we much regret the occasion that requires additional expenses being incurred in carrying these cases to Nelson, making the chance of the creditors receiving (in some'of them at least) a tolerable dividend, very small.indeed. We cannot but express'a hope that in these the creditors will consult their own interests by agreeing to take any! available dividend, and give a discharge, without carrying such small matters into a Court in another Province. ' As to the'effect of this decision in the future, we can easily foresee that-every facility will be thereby afforded for fradulent bankrupts to pass through the Court .with ease. This is not as it should be, and we sincerely trust the Government will be sufficiently alive to our position as to grant us the privilege of occasional visits by a Judge, even if but like those of angels, pro-, v-erbially said to be “ few and far between.”