The Westport Times. AND CHARLESTON ARGUS. THURSDAY, DECEMBER 1, 1870.

Westport Times, Volume IV, Issue 744, 1 December 1870, Page 2

The Westport Times. AND CHARLESTON ARGUS. THURSDAY, DECEMBER 1, 1870.

A Select Committee of the Canterbury Provincial Council have reported upon the best means adapted to promote the establishment of new industries in that Province. As is by no means uncommon with persons who have been intrusted with the performance of important functions, the committee put forward, as an excuse for any shortcomings in their report, that the limited time at their disposal had been quite insufficient to enable such an investigation to have been effected as was desirable. The report, however, is interesting, not alone as indicating the various industries that it is believed might he successfully established, but as showing an earnest desire on the part of the Government to foster enterprise, and to raise the prosperity of the people of the Province.

With the exception of the planting; of timber trees, the desirability of which is recommended, in consequence of the special circumstances of the Province, nearly all the recommendations contained in the report may be taken to be applicable, to the condition of the Province of Nelson. Attention has been chiefly directed to industries connected with the cultivation of the soil, not requiring for their development a large proportion of skilled labor. The first subject referred to is the cultivation of fbx, in the course of which the beneficial efforts of the " Canterbury Flax Association " are acknowledged, and the sum of £2OO is recommended to be set aside to extend the usefulness of the society The establishment of factories for the manufacture of cheese on the American principle is proposed, and a bonus of 3d per lb recommended to the first person producing not less than twelve tons of cheese of approved quality. The growth of beetroot for the manufacture of sugar is suggested to be encouraged by a bonus of £lO per ton on the first hundred tons of sugar, produced from beetroot growu within the Province. With respect to this latter branch of industry, much confidence is felt that it can be very advantageously introduced, and is capable of considerable extension. The manufacture of sugar from beet is of comparatively modern date, and was introduced into France when, by the total stoppage of her commerce at the commencement of the present century, it became impossible to obtain this product, unless grown within her own territory. The manufacture of sugar from beet, as also the cultivation of the root, have since then formed large and flourishing industries in France. Passing over the culture of silk, in respect to which the committee suggest a bonus of £SO for the first hundred pounds of silk cocoons, or eggs, of the valueofnot]essthan£so,wefind n very earnest expression of opinion with respect to the development of the Malvern Hill coal seams. They notice with pleasure " that, with a view to establish the extent and character of deposits of this description existing in the Malvern Hills, a geological survey of that district has. at the instance of his Honor the Superintendent, been entered upon by the Colonial Geological Survey Department." Well knowing that, in the event of the investigation resulting satisfactorily, a cheap and expeditious means of transporting the produce of these coal mines to the principal centres of population, would be found, "The Committee think it unnecessary to press the question upon the attention of the Council, believing it to be already the subject of earnest consideration."

How vigorous and refreshing a contrast is this confidence in the Grovernment —the complete conviction that no effort will be spared, on their part, •to utilise the resources of the Province, when compared with the culpable indifference which, iu the past, has characterised the Nelson G-overnment in connection with this very same matter. Is it in consequence of nearly the entire available lands of the Northeast portion of the Province having passed into private hands, that the interests of Westport and the large area of surrounding country, capable >of settlement, should, be made subordinate to the interests of the landholders ? Is it credible that a small proportion of the expense, incurred in surveys and negotiations for the construction of a lino of railway from Nelson to Gobden, would not have sufficed to raise funds for the developjment of the Mount Kochfort coalfield ? jWe venture to think that, if the Council had approached the question iu a spirit of equity and had properly weighed the advantage that must, accruo to tho Province from the produc-

tion, in largo quantities, of a inost valuable article of export, ways and moans would have been readily forth coming to work the Buller coalfields.