tea and silk farming in new zealand. 243 



The steps which have been taken. 



The queries propounded at page 181 being no longer in the 

 way, the reader may now welcome any information we may offer 

 touching the steps which have been taken to emancipate the 

 contents of this essay from the unsubstantial realms of suggestion 

 and place them on the rock of accomplishment. 



On the 3rd July 1879 a correspondence was commenced with 

 the New Zealand Government through the Agent-General in 

 London, in the course of which an epitome of the proposed 

 enterprise was from time to time sent as it became developed. 

 During the following year it was deemed necessary that the 

 public both here and at the Antipodes should also be made 

 aware of the scheme ; accordingly several letters on the subject 

 appeared in the columns of the Glasgmo Herald and New Zealand 

 Fuhlic Opinion, last year articles were printed in Chamhers's 

 Journal, TJie Colonies and India, in The British Trade Journal, 

 and on the 31st January 1882 a paper in advocacy of the estab- 

 lishment of chasericulture in Xew Zealand was read before the 

 Society of Arts, London. Thus there has been a degree of simul- 

 taneous action in the attempt to excite public interest in both 

 hemispheres. Several objects were sought to be attained by this 

 method of procedure. The proposal to cultivate tea and silk as 

 a combined industry in New Zealand being a novelty, it was 

 felt that every possible source of information available ought to 

 be probed and utilised, and that following the approaches to the 

 New Zealand Government there should be appeals to the general 

 public, so that a wholesome action and reaction in the shape of 

 favourable and adverse criticism might result. The plan answered 

 every expectation, many useful suggestions were elicited, neither 

 propitious nor antagonistic analysis were withheld, although by 

 far the more important expressions of opinion, both as regards 

 number and weight, have hitherto been eminently friendly, and 

 some even enthusiastic. In the early stages of publicity not 

 much was expected from the colonial authorities beyond infor- 

 mation and a little moral encouragement, l)ut a great deal was 

 anticipated from intelligent colonists, many of whom were in 

 this country at the time, who might stamp the scheme with 

 their aj)proval, should it seem to them to possess the elements 

 of success, or subvert it with their adverse criticism if found 

 unworthy. Here, again, no disappointment was experienced as 

 the Agent-General undertook to communicate on the subject 

 with his Government, and many returned colonists responded 

 to tlie calls for their candid opinions with the utmost ])rompti- 

 tude and in the most favourable terms. Still, something was 

 looked for from (Jovernment, if not at an early stage, a little 

 further on, in the promise of support, pecuniary or in kind, after 



