OSTRICH-FARMING IN NEW ZEALAND (LETTER BY MR. VICTOR NISSEN RELATIVE TO)

Appendix to the Journals of the House of Representatives, 1886 Session I, H-35

EL—35

1886. NEW ZEALAND.

OSTRICH-FARMING IN NEW ZEALAND (LETTER BY MR. VICTOR NISSEN RELATIVE TO)

Laid on the Table by Sir G. Grey, with the Leave of the House.

Mr. V. Nissen to Sir G. Geey, K.C.8., Wellington. Sik,— Auckland, 29th June, 1886. With your kind leave, I beg hereby to direct your worthy attention to the interview which you so graciously favoured me with when on your way through this city for the present parliamentary session, at which time I took the opportunity of laying before you my views with regard to the introduction into New Zealand of the ostrich, as a new industry. Feeling assured of the deep interest which the subject meets with from yourself, I beg now, in accordance with your kind advice, to address you on the subject, and state that I purpose, not merely as an amateur, to introduce one or two pair of birds, but intend in an unexceptionable, businesslike, substantial manner to enter upon the industry from the outset by importing some fifty to sixty ostriches direct from South Africa, which in itself cannot fail to claim the merit of being an absolute and powerful effort to establish the industry on no mean or insignificant basis. As you so opportunely observed, the introduction of the ostrich into New Zealand would he to lay at the door of every farmer an industry that would offer new sources of wealth and prosperity ; I must heartily join in the sentiment, and may observe that, while the importation which I purpose bringing will constitute a nucleus wherefrom to raise stock for the extension and distribution of the enterprise throughout New Zealand, it must be one of so much greater value, considering the heavy export duty of £100 per ostrich, and £5 per egg, which the Government of the Gape Colony has deemed it advisable now to impose upon every bird and egg exported from its territory. Allow me here to observe that I believe I have fully arranged my plans, so as to enable me to leave New Zealand for the Cape of Good Hope during the ensuing month, and hope (D.V.) to be successful in returning here with my charge before the expiration of the present year. While you so kindly, in expression of the sympathy entertained by yourself for the success of the undertaking, observed that you " thought it deserving of the Government support to the extent of £15 per ostrich imported from South Africa as a bonus," it is perhaps but a fair encouragement; and I trust sincerely that I may fain express my hope, that you will find an opportunity for realizing your generous anticipations by obtaining a vote for that assistance, as an encouragement to a colonial industry of note, which will prove a boon to the rising generation, while it, in view of the heavy excise-duty, cannot be thought but a reasonable one. May I, however, with your permission offer a suggestion that such a vote shall only apply to ostriches actually imported into New Zealand from South Africa, in order, firstly, to encourage the obtaining the very best, purest, and undegenerated strains of breeding-stock, which could not be secured from stock experimented with in the adjoining colonies, and, secondly, to operate as a preventive against speculators rushing in from Australia a number sufficient to entitle them to lay claim to the bonus, and, after securing same, again returning them to where they came from ? Trusting the above will convey the required data, and attaching my best hopes of success, I have, &c, Sir G. Grey, K.C.8., Wellington. Victor Nissen. [Approximate- Cost of Paper. —Preparation, nil; printing (L.250 copies), 15s. I

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