D.—No. 23

10

CORRESPONDENCE RELATIVE TO NEW

PREMIUMS AWARDED BY BOARD.

* The machinery must be able to produce ten tons at least of paper, weekly. The quality to be good brown, wrapping, printing, grocer's or draper's papers. No pecuniary assistance can be granted until the goods are produced, which must not be later than the 20th December next. t There must be produced on or before 20th December next, not less than 5,000 yards of woollen tweed, of a good quality, fit for ordinary clothing, or not less than 2,000 pairs of blankets, of good average quality and size, it being understood that the quality of both or either production must be to the satisfaction, and subject to the judgment of the Board. % On production of one ton flax before 31st August next. It is to be regretted that the following applications only reached the Secretary subsequent to the Ist December. The Board were unable, in consequence, to consider the same for premiums. APPLICATIONS AITEB DATE, AND CONSEQUENTLY DECLINED. G. Tolhurst, Prahran. —Lithographing music. M. Murphy, Melbourne. —Portmanteaus. H. Robottom,* Melbourne. —Chasing. H. Venables,* Warrnambool.—Growing and curing madder, &c. George Heath, f Inspector of Distilleries.—Spirits made from saccharine matter extracted from grass-tree, and freeing the spirit from a resinous and offensive smell, which appeared in the course of manufacture. J. G. Miller.—Deep-sea fishing by galvanic currents. E. Geach, Richmond.—Gentlemen's ties, &c. J. M. Greathead, Carleton. —Bonnet shapes. S. Henderson, Melbourne. —Crinolines. The total number of meetings has been twelve, of which nine have been fully attended, and three have lapsed, owing to a majority of the members being connected either with Parliamentary or official duties. The duration of the meetings has averaged three hours and a quarter. The number of letters received has been 230, and the answers and circulars returned amount to 1,070. The number of visits of inspection made has been twenty-eight, of which eleven have been in the country districts. In the other cases, the Board has decided according to the samples sent in ; but in no instance have they given a decision without a visit of personal inspection, or a satisfactory exhibition of samples. The Board have now the honor to report their opinion upon the general result of the Government premiums, without touching upon the vexed questions of fiscal policy. The result of their experience is, that a considerable number of new industries and manufactures are rooting themselves in the country, which, in process of time, and at no distant date, will be self-sustaining. They may be considered under two heads. (1.) Agricultural or the Production of Baw Produce. —The tangible result shown in the growth of

* Mr. liobottom forwarded a well-executed piece of silver chasing for the inspection of the Board. Mr. Venables, of Warrnambool, claimed a premium for having grown and prepared the first crop of madder produced in Victoria. t A very excellent sample of spirits, made in July, 1864, hy Mr. Heath, Inspector of Distilleries, from the saccharine matter extracted from the grass-tree, was forwarded for inspection and the Board consider that Mr. Heath, who, it is believed, was among the tirst, if not the first, to make spirits from (until recently) this apparently useless tree, deserves great credit for the successful result of his labours.

Industries. X antes and Addresses. Premiums awarded. Paper* Woollens + Kenny, T., Melbourne ... Victoria Woollen and Cloth Manufacturing Company, Geelong McAndrew, D., Drysdale Dodson, G. E., East Collingwood Martelli, A., Lillydale ... > tions specified at £200 ) foot - £200. £200. Flax, &C.J .... Axles, male and. female Hemp, Russian wheat, and seedling mulberries Crockery, &e. Leather Organ-building, manufacture of metal pipes Stearine Candles Chesterfield Pottery Company, Footscray Farrell, J., Richmond Tannery Fincham, G., Richmond £100. £100. £100. Crockery, &c. Chemicals Crockery, &c. Flat ropes Leather Gold-leaf Flax, &c Pistol cartridges Galvanizing iron Perfumery Coach and railway carriage trimmings First to introduce musk wood into the manufacture of pianofortes Flax Preserving fish Canister fruits Glue Patent colonial ovens Crystallized fruits ... Blasting compound —a non-explo-sive Straw hats, &c. Straw-splitters Prangst, G. W., engineer and manager, the Melbourne Patent Stearine Company Steiling, G. P., Richmond Clark and Co., Melbourne Cornwell, A., Brunswick Donaghy, M., Geelong Douglass, A., and Co., Geelong... Evett, W., Emerald Hill Kidd, J. A., Eltham Miller, F. McD., Fitzroy Rowden Bros., Melbourne Watts, H., Warrnambool Beddison, Emma, Fitzroy £100. £100. £50. £50. £50. £50. £50. £50. £50. £50. £50. £25. Blazey, W., Richmond ... £25. Craig, J., Moolap Foi'dham, F., Melbourne Fordham, F., Melbourne Honnens, Vocklcr, and Co., Maldon ... Hutchison, W., Melbourne Locroissette and Bates, Melbourne Martin, J., South Yarra, Manager of the Australian Patent Blasting Compound Company Mealy, E. D. and E., Fitzroy Mealy, J. £25. £25. £25. £25. £25. £25. £25. £25. Connected with previous application, and considered therewith. £25. Crockery, &c. Rhodes, J. S., Brunswick