Ck—Mo. 4

APPENDIX TO REPORT OF

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7. All machinery. &c, intended for trial must be brought by the competitors, at their own charge, to the Saharunpore Eheea Plantation, and kept ready before the Ist April, 1872, to be there worked under their own supervision, or under that of their representatives, for a sufficient length of time to enable the judges appointed by Government to determine whether all the conditions named have been complied with. The prize machine is to be transferred, if required, to Government at 5 per cent, above cost price ; the patent right in any such machine to be also transferred, if required, to Government, on the latter securing to the patentee a "royalty of 5 per cent, on the cost price of all machines manufactured under the patent during its currency. 8. Arrangements have now beon completed for the supply of dried Eheea stems to intending competitors, both in this country and in Europe, to enable them to form a correct idea of the nature of the plant which their machinery will be required to deal with. Persons in Europe desirous to obtain small supplies of dried Eheea stems for the above purpose, should apply to the Secretary of State for India. Intending competitors in this country, desirous of obtaining supplies of the article, must submit applications to the Secretary to the Government of India in the Home Department, in the Form A,* hereto annexed, prior to the Ist of March, 1871; and those who are desirous of testing their machinery on the fresh Eheea at the Government Eheea Plantation at Saharunpore during the year 1871, must submit their applications to the same authority in the Form B, hereto annexed, prior to the Ist April, 1871. The former will have to pay the expenses that may be incurred in packing and despatching the stems. The latter will have to provide all labour and motive power necessary for, and to pay all expenses connected with, their experiments ; the fibre turned out by their machines during such experiments to become the property of Government. 9. In order to enable the Government to arrange for the provision of a sufficient stock of fresh Eheea stems for the purposes of the formal competition in April, 1572, it is necessary to ascertain beforehand the number of machines that are likely to take part in it; and intending competitors are therefore requested to submit, prior to the Ist May, 1871, and in the Form C, also hereto annexed, notices of intention to compete.

(No. 92.)—Mr. Mobeison to the Chaieman.—3rd May, 1871. In continuation of my letter No. 151, of the 15th ultimo, I have the honor to inform you that the following publications, "Technologist," vol. iii., and Royle's "Fibrous Plants of India," have been advertised for, but no copies are as yet forthcoming. Further inquiries will however be instituted, and the result communicated to you.

(No. 113.)—Chaieman to Mr. Mobeison.—7th July, 1871. I have the honor to acknowledge receipt of your letters (Nos. 151 and 166) dated 15th April and 3rd May respectively, informing of the efforts you were making to procure certain publications bearing on the subject of the cultivation and mode of preparation of Manilla fibre, and of your want of success up to the latter date, and enclosing copy of letter from Dr. Forbes Watson on same subject; printed papers respecting Rheea or China grass fibre; and market reports. I hope to hear soon that your continued exertions to procure the works referred to may have been successful. In the event of your being able to procure them, would it not be advisable to have an abstract made of those portions which give the particulars that would be of most interest and value to those engaged in the manufacture of New Zealand flax.

(No. 114.) —Chairman to Mr. Morrison.—7th July, 1871. Referring to my letter No. 40, of 29th December, 1870, in which I stated that the Commissioners were about to send home some seven or eight tons of different varieties of prepared flax, I have to express my regret that an unavoidable delay occurred in carrying out this intention. I now beg to inform you that bills of lading for twenty-three bales of New Zealand flax (shipped last week on board the " England " for London) have been forwarded you by Messrs. Levin and Co. The object of sending this flax is explained in paragraph 3 of the Report of the Flax Commission, Committee of 1870, as follows :— "That the agents shall .... ascertain —(1.) The market value of the fibre and the reason for the different prices obtained. (2.) To place in the hands of manufacturers supplies of the various kinds of flax fibre, with the view of ascertaining by practical tests to what purposes it can be profitably applied. (3.) .... (4.) To submit to makers of flax-machines in the mother-country samples of our prepared flax, and invite suggestions as to the improvements of the machines usually employed in the Colony. (5.) Generally, to ascertain what can be done to extend the use and increase the market value of the flax fibre." Specimen bales of each kind have been retained for future reference when a report is received relative to the value in the home markets of the fibres now forwarded ; the reasons for the difference, if any, in their values; and the opinions of those people who are qualified to speak on the subject. These fibres represent the best qualities now prepared by machinery in the Colony, and one of the chief objects which the Commissioners have in view in sending home these samples is that they may be placed in the hands of manufacturers who will be able by practical tests to ascertain to what purposes the fibre can be applied; and I beg that you will defray any moderate expenses incurred in making such experiments from the funds in your hands. * Omitted, as referring only to competitors in India,