430 
THE  TROPICAL  AGRICULTURIST. 
[Drc,  t,  1896. 
Mr.  W.  F.  Clayton,  Mr,  F.  Shnter  (acting  magistrate 
of  Stranger),  llev.  A.  F.  Howes,  Dr.  Jones,  Messrs.  If. 
A.  Clark,  W.  F.  Addison,  A.  F.  BAiss  (I'lerk  of  the 
peace),  Geo.  Stewart,  A.  E.  Jackson,  1'.  G.  Colon- 
brander.  E.  Essery,  B.  Balcoiub,  \V.  H.  HiaJson,  Geo. 
Nicholson,  Geo.  A.  Clayton,  L.  Moe,  Arthur  Bull,  Carl 
Weber,  Ac. 
Sir  Walter  Hely-Hiitchiason,  in  opening  the 
factory,  said  : — Ladies  aud  Gentlemen  — I dare- 
say some  of  you  will  remember  that  in  addres- 
sing the  members  of  the  Darl)iii  and  Co  ist  Agii- 
cultuial  Society,  at  the  society’s  dinner  at  Durban 
last  July,  I dwelt  at  some  length  o r the  duty  which 
rested  ou  the  cjlonist-i  of  Natal  of  continually  soek- 
ii.g  .tfeer  tire  adequate  development  of  the  resources 
of  the  country.  Taking,  a.s  1 do,  such  a lively 
interest  in  this  motti^r,  it  lias  hoen  a source  of 
peculiar  pleasuie  to  me  to  be  able  to  accept  M''- 
ffulott's  kind  invitation  to  Ire  hero  to-day,  and  to  1.  nd 
hiiii  ,vhat  coimtonance  and  nncouragemont  I c in  in  tlic 
enterprise  in  which  to-day’s  ceremony  marks  a new 
departure  f-’he  tea  industry  in  Natal,  of 
which  Kfiai'snoy  is  the  leading  exponent,  owes  its 
inception  and  its  promising  state  of  devol  ■pment 
mainly  to  Mr.  lluhtt’s  enterprise,  energy,  and  st-.-ad- 
fastaess  of  purpose  ; aud  ho  has  shown  that  he  pos- 
sesses ill  an  eminent  degree  those  qualities  which 
are  the  necessary  attributes  of  the  pioneer  colonist, 
and  have  given  to  our  nation  in  these  1 iter  years 
the  practical  monopoly  of  successful  colonisation. 
You  will.  I am  sure,  gladly  join  with  me  in  tyishing 
well  to  Mr.  Hulett’s  enterpiise,  and  in  anticipating 
for  him  and  for  his  firm  that  full  measure  of  suc- 
cess vhich  his  persistent  efforts  for  the  development 
of  the  country’s  resources  deserve.  This  fine  building 
in  sv  !■  di  we  stand  to-day  is  in  itself  a mouum.-mt  to 
our  host’s  tenacity  of  purpose.  Its  nre  le  ■ j -s-.-i  , 
which  was  on  the  point  of  completion  wlicn  I 
was  here  three  years  ago,  was.  as  you  ku  > .,  bur.it 
down  last  D.'eembcr  with  all  that  it  contained, 
but  its  ashes  were  scarcely  cool  before  a cable  was 
no  its  way  home  ordering  new  materials  and  machi- 
nery, and  a new  structure  has  arisen  within  ten 
months  on  the  ruins  of  the  old  one,  larger  I believe 
than  its  predece.ssor,  and  containing  all  the  most 
recent  improvements  in  machinery  for  the  manu- 
facture of  tea,  aud  fitted  to  deal  with  a crop  twice 
as  large  as  that  which  is  now  afforded  by  the  present 
plantatious.  The  year  18%  has  been  a trying  one 
for  Natal — drought  and  locusts  last  summer;  political 
trouble  in  the  Transvaal,  which  at  one  time  threat- 
ened the  peace  of  the  whole  of  South  Africa,  and 
has  arrested  its  development  in  many  ways;  terrible 
accidents  by  land  and  sea,  which  have  brought 
monrniiig  into  many  a N-ital  household;  rinderpest 
threatening  our  borders,  and  even  now  a dearth  of 
rain  which  promises,  if  long  continued,  to  do  serious 
injury  to  the  growing  crops.  But  the  colonists  of 
Natil  have  hiced  difficuhies  and  have  overcome  them 
in  the  past,  and  they  will  meet  the  present  difficul- 
ties in  the  same  spirit.  “’Tis  not  in  mortals  to 
command  success:  but  we'll  do  more,  Semprotiius, 
we’ll  deserve  it.”  These  words,  put  into  the  mouth 
of  a heathen,  might  well  be  in  the  mouth  of  a God- 
fe  'i’ing,  Garistian  man  (applause).  Providence  helps 
those  "^who  lielp  themselves,  and  I have  cliatf  Jlhin 
the  qualities  of  the  colonists  of  Na.tal,  amongst  whom 
our  host  is  to  be  reckoncl  as  one  of  the  phineers, 
that  I behove  their  con.l  u-t,  under  exi.sting  difli  'ul- 
ties  and  drawbacks,  will  be  snch  as  to  deserve  the 
success  in  tha  development  of  this  conn  ry  which, 
U'.idec  Providence,  they  will  in  the  end  nnd  .ubtediy 
achieve  (applause).  I ask  you,  ladies  and  gentlGinen, 
to  join  ms'in  wi  filing  all  succcs?  to  our  host  ( dr.  Hullet) 
ari'i  Ins  great  eiuerprise  (applause). 
Mr.  Hulcti  expresso  1 tha  pie ’.sure  it  gave  In  n to 
welcome  the  representativi'  of  ’.ho  Queen  on  an  oaca- 
siou  of  that  kind.  They  w, -re  all  iu  Ntial  1 y.il  sub- 
jects of  tho  Ihitish  Crown  (ipphtuse),  and  wiiatover 
tueir  position,  it  was  for  them  to  do  their  par;,  in  con- 
nection with  the  building  up  of  the  mightiest  I'hiipire 
in  the  world  (applause).  Tnero  were  some  amongst 
them  who  came  from  other  portions  of  Europe,  but 
they  were  all  there  as  Jfritish  subject^,  endeavouring 
to  assimilate  into,  he  trusted,  a large  and  mighty 
South  African  Empire  (applause).  However  that 
might  be,  it  gave  in  n greit  pleasure  to  welcome  them. 
He  was  an  old  coloni.st  now.  He  came  there  nearly 
■id  years  ago,  and  in  spite  of  difficultis  all  round 
them,  they  had  h.td  but  one  motto,  an  that  was, 
under  ati}'  circumstances,  alw.tys  endeavor,  if  any- 
thing happen  .adversely,  to  t ike  a step  forwrd  instead 
of  backward  (applause).  He  had  to  hank  his 
friends  and  neiglibouiM,  and  colonists  generally, 
for  the  largo  amount  of  earnest  sympathy  in 
their  serious  loss  10  months  ago.  Ho  hoped 
th.it,  de-mite  the  difficulties  surrounuiughc'.u  them 
at  t)ae  pre.sont  time  — tliero  ware  difficulties  arising 
fro.'ii  drought  and  locusts  which  gave  them  pause, 
and  to  as!t  .vhatber  after  all  they  could  overcome 
ih'.-m— t-i-’y  would  look  back  on  whatlitd  be  m over 
come,  aud  remsmbev  that  every  clmul  hod  it.s  silver 
lining  (appl.iusei.  In  conclusion,  he  tii  inked  .Mr. 
Miinav,  us  representing  tire  Governtnent,  for  b-'iug 
present  to  counten’ince  their  enterprise,  hatliinkeU 
His  Excellency  for  opening  the  new  factoi'y.  and 
his  niany  old  friends  for  their  presence. 
d.'ho  Hon.  Mr.  .Murr.ay,  in  refereao-c  to  ih 3 r-om  irks 
of  i\lr.  Hulett  in  regard  to  Mr.  Campbell,  said  they 
inn  t realise  that  tea  was  no  use  without  sugar.  It 
affo.  Jed  him  great  pleasure,  on  behtlf  of  (iovernment, 
to  be  pi’es.-nt,  an  I he  en  ior.sed  every  word  his  Ex- 
cellency the  Governor  had  said  in  regard  to  the 
industries  of  the  Colony.  He  had  done  his  little 
best  in  that  direction,  and  the  Government  would 
do  all  it  would  to  encourage  Colonial  industries. 
With  regard  to  the  many  difficulties  they  had 
to  encounter,  to  the  Government  those  d ffi- 
culties  were  f ir  greater,  f.ir  the  bind  ui  was 
upon  th-un,  a.Ju  mey  were  look-*d  to  t--  help 
tlicui.  Jhey  ui'.  try  all  the}  pos.sibly  could  to  le.=*sau 
tiijse  hurdcas  aud  prevent  further  Imidens  falling 
upon  them.  With  regard  to  the  seldom  affliction 
— the  terrible  plague  of  riiiderpast— tbreatening  the 
Colony,  he  assured  them  that  Government  was  doing 
all  it  could  to  prevent  it.  Should  it  come,  they  would 
do  e.veiythiug  possible  to  prevent  it  spreading,  and  to 
alleviate  and  assist  in  any  way  those  who  suffered 
from  the  plague.  They  trusted  to  everyone  doing  his 
hast,  for  it  rested  with  every  individual  in  the 
Colony  to  assist  Government  in  carrying  out  the 
duties  it  liad  to  perform.  It  would  be  useless  to  com- 
plain afterwards  unless  they  tried  to  help  iu  averting 
the  trouble  (apjil  iuse).  He  endorsed  all  hisE.xaelleney 
had  said  iu  reference  to  Mr.  Hulett’s  perseverance  and 
energy.  .Asa  politician  in  the  Colony  once  Slid,  he 
w.is  like  an  indiarubbar  ball ; the  more  he  was  kicked 
the  more  he  jumped.  The  more  he  had  to  contend 
with  tha  more  be  rose  to  the  oocasio’i,  to  contend  with 
it  in  that  spirit  they  all  admired.  Not  only  was  he 
assisted  by  Mrs.  Ilulett,  but  by  a family  of  sous 
and  daughters  vv  10  took  as  lively  an  interest  in  the 
tei  industry  as  jM-'.  Hulett  himself.  It  was  a source 
of  gratification  to  him  to  see  them  assisting  thoir 
father  to  develop  so  line  an  industry  (applause), 
Mr.  G.  Payne,  calleJ  upon  as  mayor  of  Durbin, 
pointed  out  tiiat  Durban  was  essentially  interested 
ill  ibis  indu-itr}',  for  wliat  proved  successful 
in  that  district  would  benefit  Durban.  ’Tiuirefore, 
tho  people  of  the  Port  were  interested  in  Mr.  Iluletfa 
enterprise,  and  he  wished  to  convey  to  Mr.  Hulett 
his  pei'sooal  congratulations  ou  the  evidence  bcfoie 
them  of  the  enterpri.ie'  he  had  shown.  This  w is  his 
first  visit  CO  the  locality.  He  h id  of.en  heard  of  the 
attractions  of  Xcirsnoy,  aud  he  could  truly  s.iy  that 
“ not  one-!ialf  h.ad  ever  been  told.”  Ifewas  cerlaimy 
mueh  iinpresse.I  with  the  lioanties  of  the  district.  Mr, 
Hul  :tt  liad  resided  nd  w n ked  there  for  a g.iod  many 
lean,  and  his  efforts  wore  worthy  of  tlie  fu'.lust 
admir.itiou.  Seconded  by  his  sous,  ho  liad  suecocdid 
in  i.iking  the  industry  beyond  the  experiment. tl  stage. 
He  had  dealt  witli  difficulties,  and  in  a manly  aud 
courageous  manner  had  erectei  a mill,  for  which  he 
hop  ill  Hulett  and  Sous  woull  bo  amply  rewarded. 
— W-i'rt/  Mercury, 
