F.—No. 1,
28
REPORT OP COMMITTEE
warmer than this. However, could not a few seeds be forwarded to Fiji, and form an article of commerce for importation in the future ? I have, Sec, The Chairman of Joint Committee on Colonial Industries. Benjamin Gittos.
No. 13. Sir, — Nelson, New Zealand, 4th August, 1870. In answer to your inquiries in your letter of 30th July, respecting the rise, progress, and present position of the industry with which I am connected, I consider that the rise and progress havo been very little, the present position being, if anything, worse than it was when I first came here. The impediments which have retarded its progress are, in my opinion, want of capital. The grape-vines wdiieh I have in my vineyard were imported by the Honorable Mr. Fox and the Honorable Mr. Stafford about twenty-five years ago, which vines are only of two kinds, and produce very small grapes, and are not of a kind suitable for making wine. The Colony is capable of producing this kind of grape, and also the kinds suitable for making wine. There is no difficulty in obtaining skilled labour required in my business. lam the oldest son, and have two brothers who thoroughly understand tho business, and all of us have families of boys growing up, some of whom are at the present time assisting us in our vineyards. The business of growing grapes and making wine could be greatly extended. I have recently purchased six acres of land in Brook Street Valley, Nelson, and which I intend to make a vineyard of, and I consider it to be —from its position, and having the sun upon it from sunrise to sunset, and sheltered from winds —a far better spot than my present vineyard, and I have no doubt that, were I in a position to do so, I could purchase six acres more adjoining ; but, not having funds at my command, I am unable to import, from Australia, vines which I should like to see introduced to this Colony, and which yield grapes such as are suitable for making wine. I and my two brothers have had, for several years, about an acre of vineyard, and the capital required for working it is from £50 to £60, which would realize about £180 to £200 sterling yearly ; and were I in a better position, I could produce wine from 4s. to ss. per gallon, which would be made -entirely from the juice of the grape. Could the cultivation of vines be extended I consider it would benefit the Colony at large. I have, Sec, The Chairman of Joint Committee on Colonial Industries. Jacob Frank.
No. 14. Sic, — Baglan Brewery, Nelson, 6th August, 1870. I have the honor to acknowledge yours of the 30th ultimo. The raw materials used in brewing are, malt, hops, and sugar. The former is Nelson produce, as also the hops. The sugar is imported. All fuel used is the produce of Nelson. Brewing in New Zealand may be looked upon as a local business, not likely to extend beyond our own shores, but would increase with influx of population and public works. The capital required to erect and carry on a steam brewery ought not to be less than £10,000. I think that the import duty on foreign manufactures has been the principal means by which this branch of industry in New Zealand has been fostered. I have, Sec, The Chairman of Joint Committee on Colonial Industries. W. C. Haeley.
No. 15. Victoria Steam Carriage Factory, Sic,— Auckland, N.Z., 11th August, 1870. In reply to your circular of Ist August, we would state that the in dustry of carriage-building has made rapid strides in our Province during the past six or seven years. Previous to that time, nothing better than a dray or spring cart was manufactured. At tho present time we turn out carriages, buggies, &c, of equal style and finish to those manufactured in other markets. What we need, as manufacturers, is to be able to import our unprepared materials free of duty, and a slight duty on the manufactured goods, in order to enable us to compote with other markets, where labour is cheaper and machinery is employed. Hitherto we have not experienced the same difficulty with the best class of work as with the plain, common work. Our opinion, after throughly testing many of the native woods, is, that we have almost if not all that arc requisite for carriage-building in our forests. Hence the necessity for a slight duty on all prepared imported timber for coach and wheelwright purposes. Felloes, spokes, naves, shafts, Sec, in many cases are shipped as dunnage, and landed from the Australian market at the original cost. Junk timber should be free. The American prepared timber for wheel purposes, namely, bent rims, morticed hubs, turned spokes, buggie shafts, &c, should be dutiable goods. In answer to questions— No. 1. Iron, spring steel, springs, axles, bolts and nuts, hickory and ash plank, enamelled leather, American cloth, trimmings, carriage cloths, lamps, mountings, and prepared woods for wheel purposes, shafts, &c, from England and America; and cedar, iron-bark, red gum, blue gum, and sawn felloes, from Sydney and Hobart Town. No. 2. Difficulty in obtaining good hands in the following branches : coachsmiths, body-makers, coach-painters, coach-trimmers. Common hands plentiful.