LOCAL INDUSTRY.—No. 3

Otago Daily Times, Issue 605, 25 November 1863, Page 5

LOCAL INDUSTRY.—No. 3

If civilization is able to impart knowledge to the barbarous to ameliorate their condition and to teach them the useful arts, in its turn, it draws from them not infrequently hmries on which it. refines, and habits which with modifications it adopts. Many a product, now almost a necessary of life, has been thus appropriated by conquering or discovering nations. The history of the transaction may date far back in the past; it may like the story of Europa, have become a myth, or. the memory of it may have become lost in the lapse of ages, bo that in modern times it may rank as indigenous to the soil, or nation while in reality in the first instance, it was an exotic or an import. But within the period of recorded history, such events can fortunately be traced, and curious speculations sometimes arise from such antiquarian J investigation?. There are enthusiasts too who trace to the introduction of certain commodities, ameliorations in the condition of the nations of Europe and America. For instance, those who are loud in their praise* of Tea, c'sum for it the property of intensifying man's rower of thought by its.action upon the nervous system, and attribute to its influence the siaantie strides in art, science, and philosophy, which are the characteristics of modern times. They aysum? because (hose aiv.-nces have been post hoc that therefore they have been propter hoc; forgetful perhaps that other less uuiv rsalty aoproved commodities might lay an equal claim to the character of ciyilisers, if such a theory be admitted. Wiry not. attribute ti the influence of tobacco a ♦ i a 1" ,the ' Broat wovk tbus 'alloetcl to teal Are there not strange suggestive forms floating in that curling smoke which uses from the pipe or tl» cigar1? How many brilliant thoughts have b.-en mature! under their sobbing: influence? Who can tell us of the logical chain of reasoning that pass-d througft the roin.l of N.-wt:n while Win* his solitary _p,p fi <! Who shall say how much 0 "f bis J^rincipii ' was mentally c->rnposf>d or how far tue theory of gravitation was indebted to the quieting effect of to acco smoke ? DU not Robert Hall, too resort to it as to a "onsoler and find it a help when preparing- f.. r bis mighty pulpit efforts? Just so might we run on and tell how generals and admirals trom Bonaparte downwards, indulged in tobacco in one form or other, and thus nuke out a case in its favor weva we so inclined equally potent as is ciainrd-for the Ciiiaese le^if. \ curious story is that of tobacco. Right marvellous as to the rapidity oi its advancement in the public favor. No idea, however brilliant, or true took root in different nat, ons half so rapi-lly or spreul with aur-.h velocity over so"'large a surface as did the use of tobsc?.o. Thr^. hundred and fifty years ago its very existence was unknown 11 the eastern continents, nor was it until Hernando Curtez overran Yucatan that it was brought under the notice of Europsrins In the year 1519 it is sai 1 that the Spaniards became acquainted with it at Tabac>, a district in that province -Among the.n--»t:ve3 it was pu tto a variety of purposes and was thought so highly of as to be regarded with intense venerati- n It was smoked bythemas agreat luxury,taken by them asamedicine employed by them as a palliator of hunger and thirst in their hunting expedition*, and laid on their altars' *s the most acceptable offering they could make- to ' tueir gods. Impressed with a belief in its mysterious hygeienic properties, Cortes introduced it into Spain, to wnioh country is was confined for several-years • even the Portiuuese, nuar as they, were to their Spa-: nish neighbm. do not appear.to have.known ot it until iraprrtel from on of their own colonies. From Portugal, .it, wa-s diffused throughout Europe.' About the year 1560, it w=is introduced into France b? Jean moot of Nimes,.-French Ambassador to the-Portu-guese Court; and in honor "of him it-was named I ' Nicotiana." It soon attlined celeb:ity, on account of its supposed medicinal virtues. Like Morrison's, or Holloway's pills, it was belif ved by many to bVan universal specific—a tree of life, with heaiingin itsleaves. It formed the chief, or at least an important ingredient, m decoctions, solutions, essences, and pow- i ders, and so exalted an estimate was formed of'itoi virtues, that Catherine de 'Medicis, in order to add] lu9tre to her fame, order the name of Nicotiana to" Be discontinued, that the app >)htion of ■•■' Herba Regince'* mieht be sub.tituted. From France, it travelled inttf Italy, and was also indirectly introduced into Bu"si a ; Holland, the countries of rhe-Levant, the vast regions around the Persian Gulf and beyond the Indian Ocean On a small-soile,- it reached. England about 1570, hut was afterwards introduced':in larger quautitles about the year 1556. Between those two. periods ■ it apea<-s in our native land to have been little noticed but^ soon after the latter date Sir Water. Ra'eigh having seen a gentleman smoking, tried the 'flivor of ' the weed" himself, and charmed with its "soothing prop?nies be surrendered himself a slave to the pipe bir Walter's reputation example indeed smoking fashionable at the Court of Elizabeth, the example of the Court was followed: by the country and England, in addition ti its being a beer.drlnking, bscame a smoking nation. Reverently speaking of the tfoyal 'ady, she seems not to have been t: oubied with much conscientious self denial or lady-like delicacy. It miffht have been Curiosity—it might have bfe.i ta-te—but there is pretty strong ground for _ believing that Her Majesty indulged in an occasional " smoke."' fora writsr of that, peiod observes with regard to the practice of smoking.—" It soon became of such vogue at her courte, that "some'of the great ladies, as well a? noblemen therein, would not scruple to blow a cloud sociably ;"and in one. of Lor 1 Somers Ttacts, entitled "A pleasnnte invective against Poets, Pipers, Flayers, Jesuits, and such" like Caterpillars of the Commonwealth." The practice of lad: es eraoHng i* also hiuted at- while Mr William Prynne in his '-• Histriomastrix " alludes to the f,ci> that among the refreshments offered'to ladies of his time. '• it was not uncommon to offer them" the tobacco pipe." On the death of the queen, howev»r, it fell into disrepute at Court—James published" his famms "Counterblast to tobacco," in which' he denounced it iv no meawed terms •• It is a custom," said the Royal libeller, 'loath-" some to the eye, hateful to the nose, harmful to the brain, dangerous to the lungs and. in the black sinking fume thereof, nearest resemWing'he horrible Stygean smoke of the pit that is bottomless." And farther he. affirms that " Tohacco. is the lively iina:e andpattern of hell, for it lath, by allusion, ii it a'l the parts and vices of the world. Secondly, it delighxe h them that take it; so do all the pleasures of the world delight the rutn of the-world. Thrdly, it makelh men drunken and light in the hea1 ;so do all the vanities of the world, nun are drunken therewth Fourthly, he that takefch tobacco cannot leave it; it dot i bewitch him; even so the pleasures of the world make men loath to leave Ih m;' they are, for the most part, enchanted with them. And further besides all.thisit is like hell.in the very substance-'of- it for it is r stinking loathsome thing, and so, is hell This infernal--idea .was still in.Qre amplified by his Majesty in the sketch of a repast that he'determined he vould set before the devil should heeler ha honored with his company at dinner. This wa? te consist oi three.courses—"first, a pig; secondly, a poll of ling and mustard; and third, a pipe ot tobacco for digestion." To save his people fiomt c dreadful eflft-c's of tobacco he increased the Customs duty from 21 to 6s 81 in the pound. Toe preamble of the Act whAoh was passed in 1604 is a curious specimen of the fatherly care: with which English statesmen have in all times" professed to regard the roprer classes, and of their pretended anxiety to pra^ent their failing into pernicious habits Whereas tobacco" says that legal document " being excessively taken by a number of ryotous and disorcerly.persons.of meane condition, whoe; cbntrar'ie to the use wh;sh persons of good qualitie do make thereof, do s^na' most of their time in that evile vani,tie, to. the evile example and corrupting of others, and also consume that wages which many of them get by their Jabor and wherewith their families sbould be relieved, not caring at what pryce thy buy that drug, but rather devising how to add/to it other mixtures, thereby to make it more de'ightfulto t'lie taste, though so much ■■ more costly, to, their purses: by. V fi. Sj;eataild immoderate, use of tobbacco, the health of a great number of parson's is impayred an 1 their bodies weakened and. made unfit for labor, and the estates of many mearr persons so decayed and consumed, as they are thereby driven I to. unthiifti© s'lifts only t. meynteya their gluttonous exercis» thereof, besides that also a great part of the trersure of the lande is consumed by thh only drugge so licentiouslyabused. by the meaner sorts," &c. Whether this absurd aot h?d the desired effect or not wo are: unable to say. No doubt the. consumption estimated by the Customs returns fell oft, but: so enormous a duty compared with the price of the article from thenatural sequence of events must have induced smuggling on a .large-scale.. While, therefore, from that period, the writt-h history of the tobaoco trade in England is a record o,f a series of fiscal regulations, imposing heavy import duties and exqise restrictions, the unwritten..and" partially known would dbelose a not uneqtertaining detail of ~the~varjou» : , expedients by which..the iiq posts'were evaded.-; h fow years a«o a Committej of the House of CommonsLwas appointed to investigate tin matter. Coast jsu'irjs, revenue" cutters. Custom Housi:OfSeers and iExoisemenwero found iasufficirnt to oheok the illiuit. importation of tobacoa, and in order to obtain the fullest information' as to the modes'by which the officers! had been hoodwinked witnesses -under, protection! gave entertain-' i;?g tvideno3 of their hair.. breatHh: e^caiies, of" cool, daring, ready wit, suco sjfui effrontery and mechanical ingenuity in evading t!ie diities. iTae utT^rTaTluf- eot high duties as a means-of preventing consumption was iuUy.deinonstrat«l. Not were these discouragements- to the : use of "toba-;c3~ lcon|ined • t~> rifsts, on': tlifi the European Continent, declared i£ smful. ,Pops Ui-ban Vllf; issue'dja.bull against it } " excommuqicating all peraotsfouDd giultyoftaSiog

snuff when in Church. The Sultan Amuratb. IV* SSMS9^* a.capiW oflenoe. ft. ifiKft „ and inthfC °f f h pa™ g.theßoSecut °*> 1681 a ?m £?.- of Bern. c« in Swltz riand,-In bacco was p n 7 lnb'tlon a^insl, smoking toments Z& c A m? ng the ten commandments, tue offence being ranked iriMrh-ii^ s the .^e of the proscribed weed spread overall Kurope, the northern parts of Africa and among the nations of Asia, and now it is c. Sed by many m these far off lands without let or hindrance save the payment of a very heavy customs duty. But let not any one imagine that little labour and skill are cKfVnrf Pr6pa.re iC *? USe" Expensive machine?? . cap to], and m»c!i. work are necessary, and it isiSJhwn?, rini 13 enwged in the raanufacti.ro of tabasco and snuff. We allude to the faetoiv of Mr John Simps,,!,. i« George street/wh\> allowed us to fnspeoHlie various processes through which the -!e if passes bororoit is fUtel for consumption; At present i Ammann^tobacco is |)riucipally used, simply because a su&ment «ippy of colonial K rown is not obtainabk •, :Ino elmiate of all these rout hem colonies is, howver. suitable to tbosrrovylh of the plant, and as attention lias been prominently drawn to' it in consequence -f the increase of price resulting from the Americai. •war, ltismoret.lun probable that a few y.wsnnli •• render us independent of foreign sunplus Most persons are fmniliur with the mauher in which it'is packed, m hogsheads. The. first process which ' . undergoes on being taken thin-e is to lav it on a floor in layers, so 'as not only to open' the leaves but thoroughly to moisten them with-- a liquor calculated to indues a species of feruiGut»tiou nrthem on which in some degree the flavor of the 0.H13C0 dqponds. They are then technically said to be prepared for the bench," to which they are taken, where every leaf .is unfolded, examined, stripped, ■and appropriated to the various purposes for which flttl 9! T?}t lv adaptedl A wheeI ' lurne(l by r^? P K c a r,°?°, make>-'- wheel is used'or making ermedo u an^'T lnCh f^^ds cat into what erined ounce plugs, and plao din a p'ess T.i this it is formed into cakes, each cake beingmlde ud sena rat ß lyhyi ts e]f befove it is subject I pVss"? e P?t was with some surprise that we learnt that in order toprodu C! a good article it was necsssary to LeZ those cakes.under pressure for six weeks or two months. The precis* nature of the chemical process undergone, m the press we are unable to state" b?t the effect is to render that descriptiofi of tobacco aore palatable to the consumer. There ia also a machine for cutting the leaf, so as to >rerareS a" once for the pipe; .and pccordins to the degree of .fineness of the strips, it is designate* byvlrious name,, such as-Duth cut," a d "others f/nX °S all smokers The tobacco in thn machine is preyed • closely and by means of a feeding scre<v is at .pleasure div!ded by a cutting knife into froni twelve to onehuaand fifty cuts to the inch.. The litter guaa e is dom or perhaps never used in the colony, : a s it ia not Thf? &*?* l A°Vf- E0 fi^ly..cut as tint, .mis .knue a-»d_ ferdmg. screw are ; worked by machinery which is at present set in motion by hand but m nee J, can oasily he attached to any motive power^that may be provided.. The last,branch ot manufacture earned on in George.street, is, that of snuff, of. which there are three.different sorts, allexcelent of theuv kind:- This department also in. yo yes considerable labor: an I care- and like the cultm^maohi.ne, the^millaUhough:ai.preseht turned by hand: is capable ; of,-bemg fitted to" a steam engine, or^other -power. ; is. ; gratifying -to know-that b^ l^pMee^nd,quality,: the ; cJlpnie 3 are^ble to corap.te with the .mother country;; ih the productic-r; ot-tlwsewidely conEumed luxuries.V arid that we are no longer dependent x .upou Barrel t' for- tbbw'o, nop ;on_ Lundyfoot■ or r 7ad!y. for^hrilr"«HigK-^Hed^ ', *r™?™ .:Mt*toe'v °* '-■ -X.oudon'Bfbwn"> snvifi., bit that ; all are produced within >.our- awn borders, .The, factory has not- lot> 8 -been/established,: but the pra, .pnetpr .feels confident 'of the" success'which he, desevves^ especially if the attention.of; airiwlturisia xs-turned; toward the production, and '.-uring "oi tobacco within the.'colony,-which heiassurleaus/wVuld prove a ive^hjpl«>ymeiit for; capital,.^ JJirtil this ia dj,nie ci^ara.will not be.profitably..man.ufactufed here, .butasthe;tp^acco plant is: hardy and' ; capable of beinff cultivated inMnuH latitudes a.fe^;years'will, no doubt, render the cofenyoltoga her ■ independent of foreign supplies/in every branch:.of;,the biisinesSi