Industries.

Turning to what are strictly the industries of Canterbury; by far the most interesting and important is that which has to do with the freezing and export of meat for the English market. Nothing could illustrate better the exceptionally favourable conditions of soil, climate and rainfall in Canterbury than the quality, regularity, and rapidly increasing volume of the exports of frozen meat. This industry commenced in 1885, with the factory at Belfast (Christchurch), and the export for that year amounted to 113,700 carcases of mutton There are now three factories in Canterbury—two at Christchurch and one at Timaru—and the total export for the ensuing years estimated at 500,000 carcases, for the ports of Lyttelton and Timaru The admirable equipment and working of the direct steam services have greatly facilitated the development of the New Zealand meat trade. The North Canterbury mutton commands the highest price of any frozen mutton that is sold in the English market.

With the extension of the frozen meat trade the business of fellmongering has assumed large proportions. Allied with sheep slaughtering, there are also manure and other industries that exist for the manipulation of the blood and offal. And experience and science have no doubt yet much to do in the way of turning to fuller account the parts of the animals now deemed of little value. Meat-preserving and bacon-curing are also important and successful industries, In dairy products, co-operation and machinery are now achieving better results in respect of uniformity of quality of both cheese and butter.

Manufactures.

In respect of manufactures, Canterbury is very far from being overdone, there is plenty of unbroken ground for the establishment of new industries, and for the further development of many already page 13 established. The railway now in course of construction between the Fast and West Coasts, which will have the effect of knitting Canterbury and Westland closely together, may be expected to give a great impetus to the manufacturing concerns in and around Christchurch, by bringing coal and timber close to their doors, and by adding a large and thriving district to their constituency. The large production of wool and grain has naturally given rise to numerous factories and mills for the preparation of these products into articles of clothing and food. The Woollen Factories and Flour Mills accordingly bulk largely in the subjoined list, and among these the most important are the Kaiapoi Company's Woollen Mills at Kaiapoi, with their Clothing Factory in Christchurch, and the Timaru Milling Company's Flour Mill at Timaru. The province is also fairly well supplied with engineering establishments (chiefly agricultural), boot and shoe factories, and breweries, while the recent development of the trade in flax (phormium tenax) has brought about an important revival in this industry.

The figures given below are based upon the last census returns of 1886; but great progress having been made in many lines during the last three years, and exact statisticts not being obtainable, they are not put forward as being absolutely correct. The total number of manufacturing establishments in the Provincial District is 450; the total number of hands employed about 5,000, and the approximate total annual output £1,750,000.

Commerce.

With the foregoing outline of the producing and industrial interests of Canterbury one should have no difficulty in judging of the nature of its commerce. The main business of the merchants is, of course, to find a profitable outlet abroad for produce, and to import id distribute commodities for consumption and materials for developing the resources of the district. The value of the foreign trade of Lyttelton last year (to 30th June) was £3,411,843, consisting of exports, £2,266,569, and imports, £1,145,274. At Timaru, the second port of Canterbury, the value of the foreign trade for the same period was £642,720, made up by exports, £566,429, and imports, £76,291 Those figures furnish an eloquent commentary on the wonderful expansion of the Canterbury export trade, in the fact that the exports represent 70 per cent, of the foreign trade. In other words, the relative values of exports and imports are as 7 to 3. In Canterbury: therefore, is presented the extraordinary feature: of a total population of only 124,000, having a foreign trade of £4,054,563 in valid Besides dealing with produce and merchandise the commercial interest in Canterbury has always been an important channel for the introduction of capital for promoting enterprise in the district. In concluding this sketch, it is due to the Canterbury Chamber of Commerce to say that it has always devoted its influence, with zest and with no small success, to the promotion, not only of what lay nearest to the commercial interest, but to every measure likely It promote the prosperity of the district as a whole.