TEA AND SILK FAEMING IN NEW ZEALAND. 247 



the essence of the enterprise lies in its mutually-co-operative and 

 reciprocally-supporting design. Once fairly started, even with a 

 very moderate capital, the twin industries would become so inter- 

 changeably combined and interlaced in labour, experience, and 

 results, that the one could scarcely fail to buttress the other at 

 all times, especially during periods of commercial depression in 

 either ; but, on the other hand, if launched with a capital and 

 staff commensurate with the importance of the undertaking, 

 Government aid in any form would probably cease to be an 

 element worthy of further consideration. 



With the leading points in this essay the New Zealand 

 authorities, through previous and present agents-general, have 

 already been made accpiaintecl. As the executive has hitherto 

 professed a willingness to promote and encourage new local 

 industries, the queries have been asked : — " Are you prepared to 

 give assistance of any kind to tea and silk farming within the 

 colony ? If so, iri what direction is such aid likely to flow ? " 

 So far the direct replies received have scarcely been of that 

 definite and substantial character which the actual existence of 

 an influential company would doubtless have elicited. The 

 officials are cautious, as all well-trained and properly-conducted 

 officials certainly ought to be ; and these gentlemen are not likely 

 to earn a reprimand from headquarters on account of being too 

 communicative ; nevertheless taciturnity in matters of this kind 

 may not always be the best policy. The government has evidently 

 missed the opportunity of taking the initiative in the inaugura- 

 tion of chasericulture in its territory, and the period will probably 

 soon elapse when it will be of any importance what steps are 

 officially taken. Some fear of this sort has apparently, according 

 to recent colonial newspapers, begun to stir in the Executive 

 mind. The Littleton Times of 24th May 1881 informs us that 

 the Hon. tbe Minister of Lands, in reply to the Industrial Asso- 

 ciation (of Christchurch) wrote : — " I am of opinion that with 

 proper care it (sericiculture) should be made a thriving industry 

 in this colony. In order to give the experiment a fair trial, the 

 Government has — at Mr. Federlis's suggestion — ordered by the 

 outgoing mail a number of silkworms' eggs, mulberry trees, seeds, 

 and cuttings. It is hoped the eggs will arrive early in October 

 80 as to give an opportunity of at once starting the industry 

 with the mull)erry trees which are immediately available in the 

 colony, leaving the better class of trees to follow from Japan at 

 the proper season. An order has also been sent to Sydney for 

 white mulberry trees (Mo)'us alba) to be sent at once, so that a 

 start may be nuide before next spring." The same newspaper 

 has a ])aragrupli, dated Wellington, May 25, as follows : — " The 

 Government sent by last San Francisco mail an order through 

 Mr. Crei'^ton for a large consiLjnment of silkworms' e^<?s nf the 



