F.—No. 1

REPORT OE COMMITTEE

26

An oasthouse, Sec, large enough for ten acres could be erected for, say, £600; but even a building of this size would be required for one acre. We have, however, supposed that either ten acres are cultivated by one person, or that persons cultivating amongst them ten acres join in erecting the necessary buildings, when the cost would be reduced to £60 per acre, as above. The yield of hops, the first year, will be inconsiderable; in fact, it is never reckoned at all in England. We have, however, got as much as 6 cwt. to the acre. The second, and subsequent years, the expenses will be nearly as follows: — Interest on first year's outlay ... ... ... ... ... £21 0 0 Bent ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 5 0 0 Benewal of poles, &c. ... ... ... ... ... 20 0 0 Manure ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 11 5 0 Tieing ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 4 0 0 Cultivating ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 28 0 0 Picking, drying, and treading (including fuel) ... ... ... 35 0 0 £124 5 0 An average crop is 16 cwt. to the acre, or 1,792 lbs. ; so that the cost of production is about Is. 4|d. per lb. It must bo borne in mind that every piece of land is not suitable for a hop-garden ; and, although we have put down " Bent" as £5 per annum, we are paying as much as £15 for some of our gardens. It requires a practical experience to enable any one to cultivate hops successfully, whilst drying the hops is an art understood by few, even in the hop-gardens of England. The question of fuel, both for hop-drying and malting, is of great importance. As nothing can be used in either process which gives off the slightest smoke, we have hitherto imported Welsh anthracite for the purpose, and used it in conjunction with locally-burnt charcoal. The great expense, however, has recently led us to recently experiment with coke, both from the Grey mine and also made here from Newcastle (N.S.W.) coals. As far as we have hitherto gone, we are inclined to believe that coke may hereafter be produced from the local mines at such a price as to supersede the anthracite, and answer the purpose as well. At present, however, the price is too high; but, as the mines become more developed, doubtless this will be rectified, when not only will the capital expended in procuring anthracite from England be retained in the Colony, but a new branch of trade be opened, which will employ a largo number of hands in various ways. Fuel being a serious item to all brewers, anj'thing tending to reduce the price of coal will place the trade in a position to supply tho manufactured article at a lower price, and thus enable an export trade to be entered on with a greater chance of success than at present. The Collingwood coal is an excellent fuel for steam purposes, but the company appears to lack the capital to place the coal in the market, and possibly a little temporary assistance from the Government might enable them to surmount their difficulties, when the coal would come into large consumption here, at or under 20s. per ton, as against 31s. or 325., the price of Newcastle and Grey coals. Wo have endeavoured to reply to the various points of your circular, although we find it extremely difficult to do so ; but should the Committee wish further information on any point, it will afford us much pleasure to endeavour to furnish it. Wc have, Sec, Tho Chairman Joint Committee on Colonial Industries. Hoopee and Dodson. P.S.- —To show that this climate is suitable for malting purposes we should mention that we hold a medal from the London Exhibition of 1851 for malt. —H. and D.

No. 11. Sir, — Vulcan Lane, Auckland, 12th August, 1870. I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your communication of Ist instant, requiring information respecting the industry with which I am connected, and which I presume to apply to distillation. In reply, I may state that my plant is only now in course of erection, and will not be in operation for at least another month ; therefore, I am scarcely competent or in a position to give the information which you desire. However, I may say that the distillery which I represent has been called into existence solely by the protection afforded and promised by the Government, and without which such an industry would probably never have been developed. Tho greatest obstruction to local industry is the local prejudice against the home-made article, which is always finally overcome, but is so strong and deep-rooted as to deter tho most persevering from carrying it through its infant and early stages without the fostering care and assistance of the Government. I sec no difficulty at present standing in the way of the development of our particular industry ; indeed, the produce of the country is peculiarly favourable to it, while the large demand, which is at present supplied from England and Australia, provides an immediate market. All kinds of grain will be the raw material to be employed, and probably some description of roots, which the farmers will now find it to their interest to grow. The labour will bo obtained in Auckland, and the capital, including purchase of premises, will be £8,000. As regards supplying the foreign market, I can only hope that in time we shall so far progress and improve in our system of working that wo shall bo able to do so in fair competition. I have, Sec, W. J. Cawkwell. Tho Chairman of Joint Committee on Colonial Industries.