Trade With Japan.

My long connection with and interest a the New Zealand fibre trade suggested in me the desirableness of sending, some years ago, several samples of our "phormium tenax" to Japan. The report was far from encouraging. No hope was held out for future sales, and the gloomiest future was prophesied. Having undergone similar experiences in the establishment of the frozen meat trade of Marlborough in 1882, and also in the inaction of direct shipping from Picton to London, I was not discouraged by the reports from Japan, and I continued my efforts. Replying to my friends' several communications, I remember adding that nothing succeeds without effort, and that although there might not appear to be any immediate prospect of trade in New Zealand hemp, there was an old saying, "That it was always darkest before the dawn," which I had so often replied to my London friends whose unfavourable reports upon New Zealand produce of all descriptions were so frequently reversed long before their letters reached me by mail. This is, I am sure, the experience of every merchant long engaged in the export of New Zealand produce, and it is with pleasure I have to announce that for some time past regular orders for New Zealand hemp find their way from Japan. This brings me to say that I read with exceeding pleasure the recent interview in Wellington with Dr Nishikawa, a representative of that country, who gives us further encouragement for extension of our trade, by telling us that in that land there is a good outlet for New Zealand wool. With a population of 40,000,000 who can say to what extent trade with Japan can be developed, especially if they become regular buyers of our staple products, wool and hemp? This will, in some measure, depend upon the shipping facilities which can be secured for the producers, and 1 am in accord with the gentleman who contributed a very valuable paper last year on the same subject, when he emphasised the importance of securing some connection with an Eastern steam service, such as the Japanese mail. Indeed I go further and say that with reasonable proposals and proper subsidies we should be able to induce the Orient and P. and O. Companies to include some New Zealand ports in their Australasian shipping trade.