THE AUCKLAND TOBACCO COMPANY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XX, Issue 6824, 1 October 1883, Page 5

THE AUCKLAND TOBACCO COMPANY.

Thk Auckland Tobacco Growing Association, which has been in existence here during the l last two years, was formed recently into a i company with the name which heads this notice. The capital of the company i« not 18 large,'but is sufficient to test the question as to to the amiability of this district for growing :k tobacco, and whether the article manues factured from the locally-grown leaf will re find a ready and profitable sale. If found ui peifectly satisfactory in these respects, it th will be an easy matter to increase the capital to to any exteut to meet the requirements of a tie profitable and expanding trade. The como- pauy is now in full working order, having is beea dnly registered as the law requires. ui The plantation is at the company's estate id near Pahi, K&ipara, where the planting.for i>e the season's crop is now well in hand, under id the charge of Air. L. Zambuhl, who has a- had experience in the tobacco trade in Switt. zerland and in France. From eight to ten acres Is have been prepared for planting, and the re appearance of the seed-beds is described as ," satisfactory. The seedling plants are looking r- healthy, and thriving well, and it is expected ai that there will be more tban enough for the t, company's requirements this season, after Df allowing au ainple reserve to make good any rt deficiencies that may occur after planting is out in the Held. It is intended to give any le surplus plants to the holders of adjoining is farms, so as to encourage the growth of > tobacco leaf by the settlers in the neighbourit hood. If this should become general, the re company will be prepared to purchase the id cured leaf from the growers in large or small i- quantities, and by this means the profits of is tobatwo culture will be. well distributed, and e a large supply of leaf will be furnished to the is company to enable them to carry on more d \ extensively the manufacturing branch of the i. business. The cultivation 0( tobacco giveß £ employment to a good many hands, and at e the request of the manager, the directors are ie sending up additional workers, to enable him p to overtake the increasing work in the planQ tation. o Buildings are now being erected for the Q purpose oi curing the leaf, manufacturing e the same, Jtc. They will be of sufficient 3 size to meet the large requirements for some o time to come, and should they be ultimately if insufficient, or it be found desirable or necese sary to carry on the manufacturing portion t of the business in the city of Auckland, the J buildings now being erected will Btill be i- requisite for the increased accommodation e of drying and curing the leaf as the cultiva--0 tion extends. The directors of the company e are at present in' negotiation with" the 1 Government, for the purpose of obtaining t the requisite license in manufacture the i cured leaf. It is to be hoped that the Goe verument will cause no unnecessary delay t over this matter, as the company have a quantity of cured leaf on hand which could be made into cigars, and thus be put in a position of being properly cured for consumption. Mr. Michaels has been engaged to carry on the manufacturing business as soon as the necessary license is obtained. This is the gentleman who prepared the cigars some time ago, when the company waa in course e of formation, and respecting which those skilled in the trade spoke so highly. It is the intention of the company to employ the 1 youths in the district to learu the different > branches of tobacco manufacture. This will 5 provide an opening for many youths in f the district, and probably for boys and girls 1 from districts some distance from the manub factory, and be an important feature in the i establishmeut of another iocalindustry. The f profits of tobacco -growing and manufacture s are considerable! the experiments already i made here have put the future prospects of i this company out of the region of doubt. The above plans fully carried out will distribute the profits widely among the settlers in the neighbourhood of the works, and we r hope the time is not distant when the capital 1 will require to be largely increased, and the 3 fame ot the Auckland cigars and tobacco be 1 known throughout the colonies.