FLAX COMMISSIONERS.

35

G.—No. 4.

I find from the instructions issued to the Flax Commissioners, that a portion of their duties will be to visit the chief districts in the Colony where flax fibre is prepared; and as I presume Canterbury is comprised in their programme, the Commissioners may rest assured that every attention will be paid to them on their visit here by the Committee of this Association.

(No. 34.)—Chaieman to Hon. Seceetaet Canterbury Flax Association.—27th December, 1870. In reply to your letter of 19th instant, I have to inform you that no reward was authorized to b e offered for removing the gum from the flax; the suggestion to that effect, to which you refer, having merely been made in debate. With regard to the latter part of your letter, the Commissioners intend that one of their number will visit the Canterbury flax districts during the summer, who will be glad to avail himself of the assistance kindly offered by your Committee.

(No. 90.)--Hon. Seceetaet Canterbury Flax Association to Chaieman.—l9th June, 1871. As the Committee of the Canterbury Flax Association have leased one acre of land for the purpose of experimental flax growing, which it is proposed to subdivide into four equal sections, one-fourth of which it is intended to plant with fiax, the produce of this Province, and the remaining three sections with the best fibre-producing plants procurable from other districts. I have the honor to request that the Flax Commission will assist the efforts of the Association in this matter, by furnishing them with a sufficient quantity of plants of the best known varieties suitable for the purpose. Whatever steps the Flax Commission may think proper to fake in the matter, it should be an instruction to have the plants very carefully lifted, and properly packed for transmission to Lyttelton. Trusting that this request will receive early attention.

(No. 108.) —Chaieman to Hon. Seceetaet Canterbury Flax Association.—23rd June, 1871. In reply to your letter of 19th instant, I beg to inform you that the Government are now concluding the purchase of a flax nursery afrNew Plymouth, and if you will be good enough to inform the Commissioners how many plants you desire to have, and at what time you will be ready to receive them, they will have great pleasure in directing their shipment from Taranaki to your address at Lyttelton. No. (93.) —Hon. Seceetaet Canterbury Flax Association to the Chaieman. —30th June, 1871. Referring to your letter of the 23rd instant, I am instructed by the Committee to make application for about 300 or more flax plants, and also to convey their thanks for the readiness with which the Flax Commission has complied with their wishes on the subject. I presume due notice will be given of the shipment of the plants.