The Poverty Bay Herald AND East Coast News Letter. PUBLISHED EVERY EVENING. MONDAY, JUNE 2, 1879.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume VI, Issue 708, 2 June 1879, Page 2

The Poverty Bay Herald AND East Coast News Letter. PUBLISHED EVERY EVENING. MONDAY, JUNE 2, 1879.

Wb have certain Government returns before us for the quarter ending the 31st March, 1879, which show that for the three months the exports from the port of Poverty Bay were £7,230, as against £9594 m the previous year, or a falling off of £2,264 m the three months. This information is not so satisfactory as could be wished ; but it lies before us on our table, m clear and unmistakeable figures. The imports for .the same quarter were £6,169, as against £10,875 on the previous year, or a decrease of £4706. The agricultural returns show that the amout m cultivation m Cook County m February, 1879, wwains — m wheat, 596 acres, producing 12,976 bushels 3 for green food or hay, 149 acres. The estimated gross produce of grain, was 6579 bushels. Only 16 acres were laid down m, barley, producing 465 bushels. Of potatoes, 108 acres were planted, producing only 202 tons, or rather under two tons to the acre. In other crops, 549 acres. The total number of acres under crop, exclusive of land under grasses was 1748. In sown grasses, for hay, there were 727 acres, the estimated gross produce being 1194 tons. In grasses, after having been broken up (including such as m hay) 6657 acres. Grass-sown land, not previously ploughed, 80,440 acres. For the March quarter, now past, we exported wool to the value of £5991, and £1239 grass seed. These were the only two exports which Poverty Bay had to boast of ; if we except a little honey; a few skins and hides, and a little tallow. There is nothing we know of which should prevent us converting our hides into leather, and our tallow into soap and candles ; but as yet, no such attempt has been made. We must hope that ere long enterprise will spring up and establish new industries which will give life and impetus to our local trade. We have imported ale, biscuits, butter, cheese, flour, barley, malt, oats, wheat, leather, preserved meats, potatoes, ham, bacon, and soap, none of which, we ought to have imported, and of which, m many articles, we ought to have sent away largely. We talk of the progress of the district, when the rasher of bacon provided for our breakfast table is imported, as also cheese, when for nine months m the year our grass is all but up to the bellies of the cows. So likewise, do we import tallow candles, and household soap, for the manufacture of which, we have abundant raw material. It is useless ; it is worse than useless, to disguise facts. We have, as hitherto, exhibited no indications of a spirit of enterprise within ourselves. There are the oil springs — what is being done with them 1 Has there been any methodised attempt to search for coal m a country, which an eminent geologist has told us, give all indications 'of its existence. Consider the gas emanations at Makai^ka. Does gas come from sand simple and pure? We think not. There is treasure m the bowels of the earth which sends forth the inflammable vapor to speak of its existence and invite enterprise to seek for it. We rub hands, and chuckle, and laugh, and say Poverty Bay is a great country, and what have hitherto been our I—wool1 — wool

and grass seed. We have made just one solitaiy effort to reach the oil which we known to exist — the same oil which has made millionaires m America, and has added hugely to the wealth of India ; but here- with petroleum bubbling from the earth of a quality undoubted, we simply let it bubble and never after the first trial have sought to give it free outlet from its imprisoned bed. We know that the town of Gisborne is comparatively young, but is it not high time that we should turn our attention to such enterprises as come within our reach. It is not a shame that every side of bacon and ham we consume should be imported from distant places 1 Can we do nothing for ourselves that we should send money away for the products of the dairy? We boast of our soil with good reason ;of our climate as being as fine as any m the most favored parts of New Zealand, which is quite true. Then let us look to ourselves, and ask, with such, advantages, whether we cannot do something more than grow wool and grass seed. Times are dull, and trade is bad, and money is scarce. Of course money is scarce when we send it to distant markets for what we should produce ourselves, and more shame for us that we do not. Times are no duller, and trade no worse, than ever they were. It is because we crowd m one upon another ; because we consume more than we produce, and if we continue to live as we have been living, times will be still duller and money still scarcer. It is as well the truth should be told, that we may not buoy ourselves up with false hopes as to what next summer will bring, or what the Government will do for us, or v/hat loans we may be able to raise. " The gods help those who help themselves."