Moreton Bay Courier (Brisbane, Qld. : 1846 - 1861), Saturday 26 November 1859, page 2


MARYBOROUGH.

(FROM A CORRESPONDENT.)

MARYBOROUGH AND WIDE BAY COTTON GROWING ASSOCIATION. - A public meeting was held on Saturday evening, 5th instant, at the Court-house, Maryborough, for the purpose of considering the advisability of at once forming a Cotton Growing Association

in this district. Mr. James Buchanan, dis-trict surveyor, occupied the chair. The meeting attracted considerable interest, and was numerously attended. The chairman briefly explained the objects of the meeting, and called on Mr. James King, the proposed manager, who read to the meeting a very elaborate paper on cotton growing, and the benefits which cotton cultivation would con-fer on Queensland generally-quoting largely from recognized authorities on the subject, viz. : Dr. Lang, Edwin Hickey, Esq., of Osterley, Hunters River, and others, to prove the practicability of producing this valuable article of export in large quantities, and with large profits, in this extensive dis-trict, so admirably suited both by soil and climate for its unlimited cultivation. In illustration of what may be done, Mr. King pointed to the Southern States of America, whose rapid progress in wealth and import-ance had altogether arisen from the cultiva-tion of the cotton plant, but which were neither by soil nor climate so well adapted for this valuable production as the now colony of Queensland. He also adverted to the fact of cotton having been grown to per-fection both to the north and south of Mary-borough. At Brisbane, in the botanical gardens, under the able superintendence of Mr. Walter Hill, who has grown cotton there at the rate of 680 lbs. per acre during the last two seasons, which was valued in England at least at 2s. 3d. per lb., thus yielding £76 10s. per acre ; and at Port Curtis, Mr. Sloman had, by his energy and persevering exertions, succeded in producing different sorts of very valuable cotton, which have been highly approved of by the Man-chester Cotton Supply Association. Some two and a-half bales of cotton from Mr. Sloman's plantation sent to Sydney this season were sold by Messrs. Mort & Co. at public auction, and realized 6¼d. per lb. in the seed, being fully equal to 2s. 1d. per lb. for clean cotton ; besides saving the expense of ginning, thus yielding at the rate of £70 16s. per acre. Those facts were held by the speakers to be ample proof of the profitable nature of the undertaking ; and the results of the experiments on either side proved incontestibly that the Wide Bay district possessed the natural advantages of climate, while its soil was peculiarly adapted for the successful cultivation of the cotton plant ; the only requirements being capital and energy to make it one of the best and most productive cotton grounds in the world. Mr. King then laid before the meeting plans

for the formation of an Association to be called the Maryborough and Wide Bay Cotton Growing Association, capital £3,000, in 600 shares of £5 each. He estimates the profits would pay a dividend on shares of about 75 per cent, per annum. The Asso-ciation to be under the management of a Board of Directors chosen by the share-holders ; 100 acres of land to be purchased, and operations to bo commenced forthwith. -At the close of the address a vote of thanks was given by acclamation to Mr. King for his spirited exertions in bringing the matter forward. The formation of an Association on the plan proposed was unanimously decided on, and shares to the amount of up-wards of £1,000 were at once applied for. The meeting then resolved itself into a pro-visional committee of the whole, and agreed to adjourn till Friday evening, the 11th instant, for the purpose of electing a Board of Directors, and transacting other necessary

business.

The importance of this movement cannot easily be over estimated, and it is, I believe, intended to throw open the share list to all who are willing to become shareholders.

The want of a local paper is greatly felt, as for want of a press information on such matters cannot easily be given. There is, however, little doubt that, as soon as the necessary arrangements are completed, pro-per prospectuses will be published in the Brisbane papers and the inhabitants of Queensland generally be invited to become participators in tho undertaking. Should the results contemplated be realized, it will be opening a glorious future for our new colony, and that it may be successful is ardently to be wished for. The motto pro-posed for the Association expresses a senti-

ment to which all ought to respond-it is

"PROSPER QUEENSLAND!"

Wide Bay, Nov. 9,1859.

THE WEATHER.-The chango of moon brought with it chango of weather. For the last four or fivo days wo have had sultry days and nights, relieved by copious showers of rain. Thursday and Saturday nights we had heavy thunder-showers, which deluged some of our plains. Although they may have been partial in some fow instances, yot, on tho whole, wo believo those districts linve been greatly benofitied by the welcome rains. There is cvory appearance of more. This lins given a little hope to many of the sol tiers whose stations were rather overstocked, and who apprehended that thoy would bo compelled lo sell off some of their lean stock. Should more rain fall, of which thore is every probability, a large quantity of fatcatllo will bo forwarded to the Victoria market between

this period and February next. Very heavy rains havo fallon on tho Billabong, a district peculiarly subject io drought. We believe that the wliolo country of the Edward lias been fortunato in obtaining a fair bharo of