FLAX COMMISSIONERS.

23

Ch^No. 4,

(No. 43.) —Hon. Seceetaet Canterbury Flax Association to Chaieman Flax Commission.— April 13, 1871. I have the honor to acknowledge receipt of your letter No. 62, of the 21st ultimo, applying to this Association for assistance in collecting samples of flax fibre, &c, for exhibition at Wellington during the next Session of the General Assembly, and, in reply, I beg to state that the Committee have anticipated the wishes of the Flax Commission in the matter by advertising for samples to be sent into the rooms of the Association, for transmission to Wellington, not later than the 17th May next. The Committee will only be too happy to afford the Flax Commission every assistance in their power in successfully carrying out so laudable an object, if the Flax Commission will from time to time make known its wishes on the subject.

(No. 58.) —Circular Letter from Chaieman to Messrs. Caegill and McLean, Dunedin; Messrs. Kineoss and Co., Napier; Messrs. Bates, Sise, and Co., Dunedin ; Mr. E. C. Quick, Dunedin.— 20th March, 1871. The Flax Commissioners are desirous of obtaining specimens of the different kinds of Phormium fibre that are exported from the Colony for the flax exhibition which is to take place at Wellington during the next session of the General Assembly, and are making arrangements for procuring those from the different shipping ports. May I request your assistance in securing a small sample, with full particulars attached, say a single hank, from each parcel that is shipped at Dunedin. I believe this may be done without difficulty, and the Commissioners will be glad to defray any expense that you may incur for this purpose.

(No. 53.) —Circular Letter from Chaieman to Major Maie, R.M. Opotiki; Mr. Baestow, R.M., Bay of Islands; Mr. Bullee, R.M., Wanganui; Mr. Paeeis, CO, Taranaki; Mr. Campbell, R.M., Waiapu ; Mr. Woon, R.M., Wanganui River. —21st March, 1871. It was determined by the House of Representatives during tho last session of the General Assembly that Flax Commissioners should be appointed to carry out certain Resolutions with reference to the flax industry ; and amongst other things it was directed that there should be an exhibition of all varieties of flax fibre prepared in the Colony and in England. In furtherance of this object the Commissioners are desirous of collecting from the Natives specimens of all articles which they make from the flax, and request your assistance in procuring these things from the district in which you reside. As the funds at their disposal are not large, they must limit you to an expenditure of £5, which sum is now enclosed to you. Of course it is not intended that such things as the paipairoa, kaitaka, or other costly mats should be purchased, but I give below a list of articles, amongst others that you may be able to get, that should if possible be represented : — Singlo specimens of rough capes or mats, such as taupo, pureki, pake, or ngeri; floor mats and sleeping mats; thread, twine, cord, lines, ropes; baskets or kits of various patterns; fishing nets and lines, and eel traps; sails ; samples of prepared flax showing the various dyes used by the Natives, and of the bark or other dyeing material. The Commissioners think it likely that there may be valuable mats and other things made from flax in possession of Native chiefs which they would be willing to lend for the purpose of exhibition ; they beg that you will use your influence to obtain these, and you may inform the owners that every care will be taken of their property, which will be duly returned to them when the session has terminated. P.S. —A list of the varieties of flax that are cultivated by the Natives in your district, and of the particular uses to which they are severally applied, is much desired.

(No. 72.) —Chaieman to the Hon. the Colonial Seceetaet.—27th March, 1871. The Flax Commissioners think it desirable to bring again under the notice of Government, the question of an Exhibition at Wellington, during the next session of the Assembly, of all varieties of flax fibro prepared in the Colony and in England, as recommended by the House of Representatives in one of their resolutions of the 3rd September, 1870, and which Exhibition will be necessary to illustrate the experiments they are now making, and to show the general progress of the industry. There has been already published by the Government, in a Gazette, a notice (which by mistake was printed with my signature) which was drafted by the Commissioners for your consideration, inviting manufacturers to forward, through the Superintendents of their Provinces, specimens of fibre and of all articles prepared from it. The Commissioners, in furtherance of the action thus taken by the Government, have also requested a number of official and other persons to assist them in procuring samples of textile fabrics from England —of all flax exported from the Colony —and complete series of specimens of Native manufactures, and are incurring some expense in promoting these objects. They further think it desirable that various machines now used in the Colony for stripping and preparing the fibre, should be represented at the Exhibition ; but all this will require considerable space, and they have no room or building in which the numerous articles they expect to receive can be arranged so as to afford information to those interested, or even to be accessible to the members of the Legislature. I have therefore the honor to lay these matters before you, in order that some place may be fixed upon with as little delay as possible.