The Pamphlet Collection of Sir Robert Stout: Volume 40
Other Resources
Other Resources.
One of the exhibits forwarded to the Exhibition is a bale of flax, from Westland.
The flax plant ( Phormium tenax) is found in all parts of Westland, the moist climate being very favourable for its growth; yet nothing has been done to utilise it On the banks of the rivers, and in the swamps, flax grows luxuriantly. Samples of the only kind dressed by the Maoris have the appearance of delicate glossed satin. Another kind, the tai, is remarkable for its length of fibre and great strength. The making of flax into rope and all kinds of cordage could be carried on advantageously in Westland, as the supply of flax is inexhaustible. If properly cultivated, and by stripping only the outer leaves of the flax plant twice a year, each acre of land would yield more than two tons of marketable flax.
In other parts of New Zealand, where the climate is not so favourable for the growth of flax, swamps have been drained, and, immediately after, the plants that had a stunted growth of two feet commenced growing till they attained a height of nine feet or ten feet
All the rivers of Westland, and the bays in its southern parts, abound with fish. If parties of men would organise, and settle in the southern parts of the district, they would find fish-curing a profitable occupation, more especially if they fitted out boats for whaling and seal-catching, as whales are frequently cast on our shores, and seals abound on the rocky parts of the coast; at seasons when fishing may be dull the settlers could prospect for gold, as the whole of the coast is auriferous. There are men scattered in the southern parts of this province who, for the last five or six years, have been gold-mining and doing nothing else. These men will not leave the district, preferring to remain there, notwithstanding the difficulties and expense of obtaining provisions. There are blocks of land set apart for special settlements, and immigrants can easily obtain homesteads in the southern parts. Bruce Bay and Jackson's Bay, both well sheltered, are good localities for the establishment of fishing stations.
Sites with water frontages to any of the rivers can be easily obtained, and a supply of bark being at hand, tanneries could be cheaply worked, and would probably give good returns, as the demand for leather is very great, most of the population being engaged in mining, in the bush, or other heavy work. If tanneries were established boot factories would soon follow.
Brickmaking is another industry which might be entered upon much more extensively than it is at present, if capital and labour were more abundant There is a good supply of good brick-clays, and also of fire-clay of first-class quality. Several varieties of good building stone exist, and a fine marble of close grain is obtainable at Caswell Sound. Lithographic stone exists at the Abbey Rocks, and a sample of this may be seen in the New Zealand Court of the Exhibition.