THE NEW ZEALAND ADVANCEMENT SOCIETY.

Nelson Examiner and New Zealand Chronicle, Volume VII, Issue 348, 4 November 1848, Page 143

THE NEW ZEALAND ADVANCEMENT SOCIETY.

A few weeks since we printed among our notices of Auckland news, an announcement that a society had been formed in that settlement " for examining and turning to account the natural resources of the colony ;" and by the papers we received last week we find that it has commenced its labours. As a society of this nature cannot well be wholly local in its usefulness, and as it may be of essential service to the colony at large if its object is perseveringly carried out, we think we canuot do better than quote the Anglo* Maori Warder's introductory remarks upon it : —

" It is refreshing to leave the hot and turbid atmosphere of politics, which are now becoming difficult to speak of even with patience, for the cooler consideration of what may be properly termed the domestic affairs of the colony. "Political discussion — necessary everywhere upon occasion^ and in New Zealand much too often — is nevertheless unproductive; it creates nothing: instar puerorum, as was said by Bacon of the Aristotelian logic, gui ad gar' riendum prompti sint, generare nonpossunt. "And the formation of a society — not yet christened, but which unless a more elegant name be suggested, might be called the New Zealand Advancement Society — for examining into the resources of the colony — has placed at our disposal the means of filling a portion of our. columns with matter of a more lastingly useful nature.

" It was high time that something of the sort should at last be done; that we should be awakened to the necessity of putting shoulders to the wheel — of producing for ourselves, instead of depending so entirely as we do upon the mother country for support. "In spite of the hard money that is fast accumulating in the country, we connot persuade ourselves that this colony is in a sound and healthy state, or that anything can be in a sound and healthy state which is unable to depend upon itself for support. For it is dependent, not upon its own production, but upon foreign resources, which might fail at any moment; upon the home subvention, and upon commissariat expenditure. Knock from under us these two crutches upon which we stand, burst the bladders on which we swim, and fall or sink we must.

" We believe the present appearances of prosperity to be deceptive in the highest degree, and even more dangerous than they are deceptive ; on account of the general carelessness and apathy which they induce. " This settlement is at present like a stall-fed ox, fattening visibly, but losing all energy and activity as fast; or, if you will, like the black king of Dahomey, too lazy to feed himself, but stuffed into plethora by a wife on either side. As has been wittily said, it is nured by the soldiers, and is sick of the scarlet fever.

"Nelson and Taranaki, to which comparatively little support from without has been afforded, are in a much healthier state than ourselves. And they deserve great credit for the determination with which they have forced their way through many difficulties. They are at their ease about the future, for they are conscious that they can support themselves. Nothing can hurt them ; a war in Europe, and a recall of the troops, may be there regarded almost with indifference, They are hardy plante; stunted a little, perhaps, but able to face any weather; whilst we, with all our luxuriance of vegetation, are no better than a hot-house exotic after all, which must perish if the fire in the stove be suffered to go out.

"Wellington is probably in a more unsafe state than even Auckland, the same causes operating to render it so more forcibly than even here. For a hotter fire is kept there in the stove; the Government expenditure is greater, while the natural resources of that part of the country are beyond comparison inferior.

• "It affords unmixed gratification to see that the northern province has been the first to awaken from, heavy Bleep, shewing Bigns at last of being willing to lead the way in a vigorous effort to place itself upon a sounder footing—to prove that it can fall back safely upon its own internal resources, which are abundantly sufficient to maintain it in health and prosperity if they be only realised and turned to account.

The formation of this society is the first great step in advance. It is composed of men of all classes, without exception, and numbers among its members many of the most active minded and intelligent colonists among us. That its influence upon the settlement should be immediate, or that direct or practical advantage should at once accrue from it, is hardly to be expected; the realisation of its hopes and project must be a work of time ; but the sooner they are mooted, the sooner they will be brought to bear. It suffices that ' the grain of mustard seed ' be already sown. "The society met for the first time on Saturday last. A report was read which took a general view of the whole subject ; calling attention not only to the importance of increasing our exports, but to the dimunition of our imports by home manufacture. "The principal natural productions of the country were mentioned seriatim, which it was agreed to distribute among the member! of the society, each selecting such as had come more particularly within his own observation and experience, with a view of communicating the r **«nn! ot jt at iU b««quent meetings. The great advantage of chronicling, not only

succesful, but unsuccessful experiments likewise, was dwelt upon, as saving others from wasting time and money in attempting any thing that had been already proved to fail ; on this principle, that if every wrong course be marked off, the right one only can remain. 'Si Ton manque le but,' says Dr. Gall, the phrenologist, 'il y a deja beaucoup de gagne* a savoir que tel chemin ny conduit pas.' "It was urged that no suggestion, through fear of its appearing wild or trifling, should be ever withheld ; that •we must not say, What good will this do ? For the use of everything will be found in its season.' An observation intrinsically of little value, may prove suggestive; it may stimulate the inventive powers of others. All may be turned to account, Bays the Friar in Romeo and Juliet : — For nought so Tile that on the earth doth live, But to the earth iome tpecial good doth give.

" If every good colonist would only contribute his mite — every idea without exception, which occurs to him, we should soon collect a mass of information from which something really valuable might be gleaned. " We confess ourselves to be sanguine in our expectations of the benefit that will accrue to the^colony from the exertions of this society. Every person present seemed to be deeply impressed with the urgent necessity of making a decided move in the direction indicated, and aware of the uncertain tenure of those advantages derived from the liberality of the mother country which we now enjoy; all volunteered their best endeavours, so far as in them lay, to bring about a sounder state of things, or at least to obviate the danger of our being taken by surprise, should the sources of this present seeming prosperity be cut off — of being forced to stand still in almost utter ignorance of those more legitimate resources which we should then be required to fall back upon.

" Walter Scott used to tell a story, how, when the last bullock which Auld Watt of Harden had provided from the English pastures was consumed, his wife — the flower of Yarrow, as she was called — placed upon the table a dish containing a pair of clean spurs ; a hint to the company that they must bestir themselves for their next dinner. Let us hope that the colonists of New Zealand will not be found so improvident or careless of the morrow as Auld Watt and his gang ; that they will not await in idleness the production of the clean spurs — a much too significant hint to be pleasant, but bestir themselves while there is still a piece of beef remaining in the lardoir."

We are glad to see our contemporary turning his able pen to so good an account, and, from the earnestness he displays in advocating the objects of this society (in the formation of which we imagine he has been mainly instrumental), we augur the best results. Ac all events, with one or two exceptions we heartily concur in all which he has said, and we would only suggest to our contemporary, in speaking for the future of the Southern settlements, not to be misled by idle accounts of our condition, nor judge of our present state by the opinions he formed on a hasty glance at us four years ago.

In the same journal of the following week (Sept. 28), the Pteport read at the first meeting of the society is given in a condensed form; and many of the hints it contains are well "worthy of consideration :—: —

"The subject before us, divides itself into two great branches ; the promotion of exports, and the diminution of unnecessary imports. These we will deal with separately, beginning upon the first, as the more important consideration. Let me first observe, however, that several of the suggestions which will presently be made may seem trifling, and totally unworthy of notice — mere drops of water in the sea, But that I believe to be a mistaken view. Our exports from this colony must necessarily be of a general nature, availing us more by their number and great variety than by the individual importance of any single one. For it is difficult as yet to see one's way clearly to any one staple export of the country, like Wool from New South Wales, or Tea from China, unless, indeed, the Phormium Tenax should become so. But every trifle seen at home with the New Zealand brand upon it, takes its part in bringing the colony into notice, and in keeping attention fixed upon us. Let it be observed likewise, that nothing so much tends to encourage immigration, as a tempting display in the mother country of our great variety of indigenous productions, the surest proof to intending colonists of the fertility of their promised land.

" The first and most important export, beyond a doubt, is the New Zealand Flax. For it is peculiar to the country ; it is secure from foreign competition; whoever wants it has no choice but to send here for it. And that importance will probably be infinitely increased should those attempts which are even now being made to grow the more valuable species artificially, and likewise should Mr. Whytlaw's experiments, with regard to finding a solvent for the troublesome gum that adheres to the fibre, prove to be successful.

" Upon this portion of the question it is needless to dwell, as it will form the subject of a specific investigation at our next meeting. It may be observed, nevertheless, that the root of the Phormium Tenax contains an exceedingly strong bitter, which might very possible be turned to account in dyeing. "The nest in importance, I conceive to be the produce of our fisheries. Ido not co much allude to the whaling; as to the curing fish, salted, dried, or smoked for exportation on an

extensive scale. China, Manilla, and the Western coast of America, would be the market.

" As to the mineral wealth of the country, we do not yet know how great it really is. Copper — now much increased in value by the establishment of smelting 1 works in New South Wales — manganese, lead, tin (at Cape Colville), iron, the curious black sand found in such abundance on some parts of the coast, particularly at Taranaki, supposed to be .titanite of iron, and which has been already turned to account by Mr. Dawson in Sydney, are sufficient to indicate the importance of this branch of our colonial resources.

"Sulphur, which has been anxiously enquired after from Van Diemen's Land, where sulphuric acid is employed as manure, we have in abundance; fullers-e arth, pumice stone, and a vary beautiful porcelain clay. " Of spars there is little occasion to speak. They have been already made the most of, but still,, can hardly be rated as a permanent resource ; difficulty of dragging them out of the bush — as those which grow most conveniently are cut away — increasing year by year ; rickers, lumber, plank and scantling, on account of the greater facility of transport, may still prove an enduring source of profit. Fire-wood to South America will always find a sale, the precaution being taken of sending none but what will split readily, like the Manuka. It is burned there always in small billets, and a cargo of pohutakawa, for instance, would be utterly unsaleable.

" Furniture wood has been sent to England, and it must be allowed, that but little has been hitherto made of it. But when we look into the reasons for the failure, it will be seen to have been accidental only. The London Ca-binet-makers have always a large stock of wood on hand, the value of which might be depreciated by the general introduction of a novelty, and therefore found it their interest to set their faces against it ; not to mention the risk they must have run from the uncertainty of its endurance, on which account they very reasonably declined throwing away valuable labour upon material on which no certain dependence could be placed.

"From this we may learn the lesson, that the general introduction of any new commomodity is a work of time ; that it will not do in the matter of exports to wait until we are absolutely driven in self defence to make them, hoping then to be able at once to get rid of whole cargoes of whatever we may think fit to send, but that we must be early and' actively in the field to prepare the way, introducing our productions — providing for the future — sending away small quantities, even samples — more with the hope of eventual than of present gain.

" For gunstocks, spokes, and trenails, all of which might be exported ready made, we have several woods peculiarly adapted. ""Tanning bark, if any could be found of stronger quality than the wattle which is used in New South Wales, would be extensively used in that country. A large quantity was once sent to England, but for the same reason as that already given to account for the failure the furniture wood, it remains unsold, I believe, to this very day.

" Attention should be given to vegetable oils. Among others that might be mentioned, I may observe that the seed of the rib grass (plantago lanceolala) is in this country peculiarly oleaginous ; it is a larger and bolder seed than that produced at home, and in quantity more than three times greater.

"With the medicinal qualities of New Zealand herbs we are as yet but imperfectly acquainted. Yet the herbal of Apothecaries' Hall might be much enriched by our contributions.

"The mangrove ash, so rich in potass, has been already turned to account. The fibre of the ti tree, or tree flax, as we call it, about the preparation of which a paper will be presently read to you, is a better stuffing for mat trasses than even horse-hair. The fibre of the raupo root is as soft as silk, and of a very beautiful quality; it might be found available, in the place of gut, for fishing lines. Arrowroot in large quantity is separated from it in the process of preparation. " Of the orchilla weed a dye has been produced almost equal in brilliancy to that which is used at home ; which would possibly equal it, were experiments taken from the plant every month in the year,* so as to ascertain the true time of gathering. The search, indeed, for dyes can as yet be hardly said to have been made at all.

"Was will presently be produced in great abundance ; swarm after swarm of bees are now beginning to take to the bush, where they find in the flower of the manuka food which they are partial to. " It will not be supposed that this is intended for a complete list of exports ; it is merely as much as can be called to mind almost on the spur of the moment. If it only prove suggestive, and cheering to the prospects of the country, my end is gained. "Mention may here be made of the.discovery of lime-stone, one of the necessities of a civilized country — after having for so many years supposed it to be wanting; of marble, to be found at the Bay of Islands, of coal, of lignite in plenty, could we only learn how to make use of it, and of the very fine building stone, I believe not generally known of, between the island of Raqgitoto and Motutapu. Agate, garnet, and chrystal, it most be confessed, are hardly worth the mentioning.

"Dismissing the question of export*, let vi see what can be done towards doing away with unnecessary imports. Is this, of coarse, the encouragement of Colonial manufactures is involved. Mr. Pitt once said, that the colonies

had no right to manufacture any thing at all — not even a horseshoe nail ; that the mother country must be considered as. a kind of universal patentee. His dictum is now of less value than it was half a century ago, and is at all events openly challenged by certain enterprising follow-colonists of our own, who have given it a practical refutation. I allude more especially to our Auckland tannery, to the soap and candle manufactory, to the rope walk, to the breweries, and to the paper mill which is to be, the machinery having been already ordered from England. This is by no means a bad beginning for a place which at home would rank as a tolerably large village. A blanket manufactory we may hope presently to see, and the wool supplied by the Natives themselves. As to distilleries, even were they permissible by law, I should speak as yat with some hesitation, not being able quite clearly to see my way. Yet there is no doubt that the saving to the country in that single article, and the advantage to the producers of grain, would be enormous.

"With regard to agricultural production, I do not touch upon wheat farming, for there is little chance of its remaining permanently profitable. The Natives will advance with us, pari passu, and must necessarily undersell us, because their time is of little value to them, and their living costs them almost nothing. But there are many other productions of the Northern hemisphere which give good promise, some of which have been acclimatized, and others which ought to be, in the growing of which the European would not for years to come be interfered with.

" There is the European flax, of which Lord Stanley's mention may be remembered, the success of which is supposed to be certain ; yet I can call to" mind the time when Messrs. Brown and Campbell procured a quantity of the 'seed, which they offered at invoice price, without being able to get rid of a single pound. So at least, it was currently reported. "Garlic and onions might even constitute articles of export. The vine, the fig, and the" olive, which may be said to constitute the fat of the land, have been all three too much neglected. For Maori winter stores, the two first are invaluable. And here let me observe, that there has been hitherto among us a carelessness in such-like macters that is very inexcusable. Seeds of edible plants, selecting such as will take care of themselves, should have been long ago disturbed in the bush, by every one who had occasion to go up the country. Had every traveller carried a few seeds in his pocket, the face of the country might have already borne a different aspect."

In the following week, the Warder gives the bansactions of the second meeting of the society. On this occasion several of the productions of the colony were produced, either in a raw or manufactured state. Among them was a sample of the orchilla seed of New Zealand, and a dye which had been extracted from it. The orchilla, used for dyeing purposes in Europe, brings £80 a ton. A report was read on fish curing, showing the best time and mode of preparing the fish, the probable markets, and many other interesting particulars. This has always appeared to us aa a branch of the productive trade of the colony capable of being turned to great account; and although we have not room to give the report referred to this week, we shall do So on an early occasion.

The New Zealander, with a praiseworthy emulation, also seeks, to contribute its quota of information to the general stock, and shows that an export of great value might be got up in hog and goat Bkins. For the glove trade of England, there are yearly imported 400,000 goat skins, and 600,000 skins of kids, while the importation of hogskins for saddlery is also considerable. Looking at the facilities which exist 1 in New Zealand for rearing immense numbers of these animals, and the profits which would result from the tallow and lard, as well as from the skins, our contemporary thinks, with the currier in the fable, that " there is nothing like leather."

As we take a real interest in every measure which seems to us calculated to promote the welfare of the colony, we shall watch carefully the progress of tfie New Zealand Advancement Society, and shall be ready at all times, as far as the means at at our command will afford, to render it every assistance.

The Power of Pjbrsevkbanck. — All the performances of human art, at which we look with praise or wonder, are instances of the resistless power of perseverance. It is by this that the quarry becomes a pyramid, and that distant countries are united by canals ; it is therfore of the utmost importance that those who have any intention of deviating from the beaten roads of life, and acquiring a reputation superior to names hourly swept away by time among the refuse of fame, should add, to their reason and their spirit, the power of persisting in their purposes — acquiring the art of sapping what they cannot batter — and the habit of vanquishing obstinate resistance by obstinate attacks. — Johnson. „_" Siz* o» th« Fimalb "Waitst.— Women ought ' to measure from twenty-seven to twenty-nine inches round the waist, but most femalesJ3o not prtmit themselves to grow beyond tweaty-fo*r; thous- ; and* are laced to,,tw.enty-two— seme ta. twenty (% inches ; and thus.br meat of wood, whalebone, and *tee),the chest is often reduced to one half it* proper size. • - * .