The Hawaiian gazette., 1884-10-08
Queensland Sugar Industry.


About I'VE miles distant from Mackay. on the
Nebo road Is the Ts Towli estate. one Of the
pioneer plantations Of The district and portion OF
the property Of the Melbourne and 4Iackay Sugar
Company. j his company owns the following
estates IN the Macksy district besides the one
mentiJned:-Ihs Palms, about 100 acres in area;
Alexandra, about 80 acres IN area; Peri about
no acres IN area Bsansc1mba, about 1850 acres
IN area and NebiA about lt3U acres IN area.
These two latter estates are worked as one. OF
course these areas do not represent the cane land
under cultivation, but only the total extent OF
land IN each estate.
At the time Of my visit to lie E0vai the mill
had lust commenced crushing. and the cane draws
were bringing N the produce. All was hustle.
HERE group OF kanakas spreading out the me-
gass or carrying II to the furnaces for fge there,
string OF boys and "marysn carrying bundles
OF cane 20 the mill, where the huge rollers made
the cane crackle and crunch like the sound OF a
discharge of fireworks kanakas, stripped to the
waist and IN tue midst of a cloud Of yapour were
stirring up tue boiling Juice In the batteries
with long handled pans White men we're busy
testing the density % the Juice, and engaged IN
all the necessary skilled work Of a large sugar
mill IN the crushing season The area OF the Te
hOTai plantation Is l5fh acres. Of which 1859
acres are under cane this year. The machinery
plant Is not quite Of the latest pattern, nor quite
as extensive a that OF lev other plantations in
the district but II has been improved from time
to time and Preparations had been made this
year 10 erect still more efficient machinery a
portion Of ground having been cleared Of all bail
dlngsi &c, and quantity Of machinery actually
deposited upon the place, but the uncertainty Of
affairs has made the COMPANY hold its hands till
the political horizon becomes more clear. Last
year the company worked at this mill tue Icery
Erhmann Bernhardi process. bat as tine mill mac
hinery could nOt very well be adapted to its re-
quIremeDis It had 70 be given up, and 30 this year
the old process will be used
In addition to the mill tlsl5 Il a TuIa distillery
Hum distillerIes, IRON what have seen Of them,
appear to disti anything tdat comes in their way.
Ihe material they get 10 work on j. the refuse
molasses out Of which 10 more sugar can be OBJ
tanned, added TO tlis are the sweepIngs generally
The rum when 1t comes from the skill Is quite
white bat II has 70 be colored With burned sugar
TO suit the various markets. Melbourne people,
for example, ike a darkcolOrsd run; whereas
for the sydney people. who are fastidiO1s, and
insist upon having pare Jamaica rum" it is
less highly colored-
Large stables are, Of course, necessity on su-
gar Estates, and the buildiug at the Kogai Is 70
exception 10 the rule. Ii contain ~ stalls with
sadtleEy TOous- DC II IS Oh a veil drained site
Is substantially built ard comfortably fitted.
As Ee rode through the plantation, Of conrse
the conversation very naturally had reference d
the staple industry Of the district.
The crops IN the district said the manager
will all round shoE a considerable falling-of pei
acre this year; but the prospect for next season
| i better tnan the prospects have been any pre-
VlOus seasons for sone years past II the iab0i
/ question we're settled, Il would give a great dea
more coundeuce 70 investors IN sugar. At present
that L 70 say, under the present regulations
kznaka costs about go a year. first cost, Eati0ns
| housing and all considered Before thess nes
restrictions / calculated the cost al et2 a rear
50 far as l am concerned, ! would rather have
kanaka az los week than q white man for no
| thing"
There are 30 kanaaa aud aboai % white mel
employed On the plantation The kanakas, re
eeiFe the regulation wage Of s. year, With "a
tons, clothing, housing, &c. This rsfers 10 wha
are called By their brethren new chums." Re
engaged kanakas get about 1Gs. q weak with "a
tions- Then to white labor, ordinary hand,
-isboFers-TeceiTe 5)s- a week, plOngnmen -
a week; mill hands, such ~ engineers from 81
to el3 month, With double rations, ordinary "a
tiOns being given in every case. sugar-bOiIeu
receive 60 blacksniths -, and cooks the SAINT
per month The eost Of . white mans ratiOns PEI
week Is estimated 1t los, ald that u the kanakal
about half the SUM, not including IL either cass
the interest or outlay ~ houses, &c
| Last year the output from The mill v1s 80 ton
Of sugar; but It was YeEy bad season, principally
b. reason Of the want u labor 10 keep this uesd'
under The crop this year. however, loOks better
and during nde through ths plantation, ot.i
could see several portions 81 f.s, healthy upsta1d
/ ing cane which vas he beiIsFed EDald yield OTei
two tons Of sugzr 70 The scfe.-Speci1i Car Sy'f
/ Aey Herald
4