G.—No; 4.
22
APPENDIX TO REPORT OF
the offer of a bonus on production, the following rewards are offered, subject to the undermentioned conditions: — To any person or persons who shall manufacture, within the Colony, from New Zealand Flax— For the first 500 reams of printing paper, a sum of £400; and a further sum of £250 for the first 500 reams of packing paper ; and the like sum for the first 10,000 yards of scrim cloth, suitable for covering flax bales. Conditions. The required quantity of each article to be completed before the 30th June, 1872. The weight of each ream of printing paper to be not less than 30 lbs ; of each ream of packing paper, not less than 40 lbs ; and of each piece of scrim cloth, of 100 yards in length, and double width, not less than 30 lbs. The rewards will be paid on the certificate of an officer, to be appointed by the Government, that the above conditions have been complied with. W. Gisbobne. (No. 21.) —Chaiman to the Hon. the Colonial Seceetaet. —Sth December, 1870. Referring to the Bth Resolution of the House of Representatives, affirming the desirability of exhibiting samples of flax in Wellington during the next Session of the Assembly, the Commissioners beg to recommend that the Government should request Superintendents of Provinces to procure samples for this purpose, and would suggest that a notice to the following effect should be inserted in the General and Provincial Government Gazettes :—" The House of Representatives having resolved that there should be au Exhibition in Wellington, during the next session of the Assembly, of all varieties of flax fibre prepared in the Colony, manufacturers are invited to forward to the Flax Commissioners through the Superintendent of their Province, samples of tho fibre, ropes and sackings, or any other material prepared by them from the New Zealand flax. The samples of fibre should not be less than twenty pounds in weight, and ten or fifteen fathoms of each kind of rope will be sufficient. It is desirable that a statement of the processes and estimated cost of manufacture should accompany the samples." (No. 18.) —Undeb Seceetaet to Chaieman.—26th December, 1870. I have tho honor, by direction of Mr Gisborne, to acknowledge the receipt of your letter No. 21, of the Bth instant, and to inform you that a copy thereof has been forwarded to the Superintendents of Provinces and to the Chairman of the County Council of Westland, with a request that they will concur in the suggestions contained therein. The notice embodied in your letter will be inserted in the JVew Zealand Gazette.
(No. 53)—Chaieman to Mr. W. K. Hulke, New Plymouth.—l6th March, 1871. A part of the duty that devolves on the Flax Commissioners is the collection of samples of all kinds of flax fibre, and of articles manufactured from it, to be exhibited at Wellington during the next session of the General Assembly. They are aware that you have iu your possession a small collection of Native dressed and other fibre that is of considerable interest, especially in showing the value that has been placed upon the flax of different qualities in England, and that you also have a series of plants in pots of the varieties most esteemed by the Natives. May I request that you will kindly allow them to be included in the Wellington Exhibition ? If you consent, I will arrange for their transmission by the " Luna " or other steamer, and will undertake that they are properly looked after, and duly returned to you at the termination of the session.
(No. 62). —Chaieman to the Hon. Seceetaet Canterbury Flax Association.—2lst March, 1871. The Flax Commissioners are required by the resolutions of the House of Assembly, amongst other things, to collect samples of all varieties of flax fibre, &c., for exhibition at Wellington during the next Session of the General Assembly ; and are desirous that as complete a series as possible of the fibre, and of all articles manufactured from it, should be got together. Every locality has probably some special modification or variety in the process of manufacture and improvements that have not hitherto been made known or adopted elsewhere in the Colony, and the collecting of these in one place for inspection, comment, and comparison will be a means of affording much information as to the progress that is being made in this industry, and will offer valuable suggestions not only to those who have the opportunity of inspecting them, but, by a descriptive catalogue, will be of service to all interested in the pursuit. The Commissioners, therefore, have no hesitation in applying to the Canterbury Society for assistance in this matter, and request that you will be so good as to inform them whether they may calculate on the loan of such specimens and samples as have been collected by the Association. If these will be lent for the purpose of exhibition, arrangements will be made in due time for their transport to Wellington, and I should be glad if you will inform me at once what space would be required for them. Samples of all flax exported from the Colony are easily procured, and will be of considerable interest, and arrangements are being made to secure them from the other ports. May I request that you will obtain these at Lyttelton for the Commissioners, who will be glad to defray any small expense that may be incurred.