11

H.—l2

No. 30. The Agent-General to the Hon. the Colonial Secretary. 7, Westminster Chambers, Victoria Street, Westminster, S.W., (Memo.) 24th January, 1873. It is requested that letter No. 21b, of 9th January, 1873, forwarded by last San Francisco Mail, may be withdrawn, and the annexed (of the same No. and date) substituted for it, as it was forwarded by mistake, without having certain corrections made therein. I. E. Featherston, The Hon. the Colonial Secretary. Agent-General.

Enclosure in No. 30. The Agent-General to the Hon. the Colonial Secretary. (No. 21, 73.) 7, Westminster Chambers, Victoria Street, Westminster, S.W., Sir,— 9th January, 1873. I have the honor to report, for the information of the Government, that in the hands of Mr. Youl, the salmon ova business is making very satisfactory progress. As already reported, it was found impracticable to make the shipment by the " Lutterworth," and I accordingly arranged with Messrs. Shaw, Savill, and Co. to lay on another vessel of good sailing qualities, and I fixed the date of departure for the 15th instant. The owners have since applied for an extension of time, and as Mr. Youl had grave doubts whether, owing to the flooded state of the rivers, the ova could be obtained by the time specified, the date has by mutual consent been altered to the 19th instant. The vessel chosen for the purpose is the " Oberon" (1193 tons register), and Mr. Youl reports that she is in every way admirably suited to his requirements. I may add that the ice-house, measuring 13 ft. 10 in. by 9 ft. 10 in. by 8 ft. 6 in., constructed on the principle used on board the P. and O. steamers, and capable of holding 25 tons of solid ice, has already been erected, and that a number of experienced fishermen have been sent into the salmon districts for the purpose of taking ova. I have again to acknowledge the ready co-operation which I have met with from the various Boards of Conservators, and to bear testimony to the great value of Mr. Youl's experienced services. I need hardly say that no effort shall be wanting on the part of myself, or of those acting under my direction, to make this experiment a success. I beg, however, to call your attention to Hon. Mr. Sewell's letter of the Bth October (No. 2,686, 1872), and to point out that he is in error in supposing that the sum at my disposal for this purpose is £900. It will be seen on reference to Mr. Gisborne's letter of the 13th March (No. 564,1872), that the amount originally authorized was only £900, namely, £500 voted by the General Assembly, and a further sum of £400 guaranteed by the various Acclimatization Societies. Mr. Sewell's letter (L.C.) apprises me that the Otago Acclimatization Society has declared its inability to contribute £100, as originally proposed ; and that the amount of funds available is accordingly reduced by that amount. Mr. Youl, who has had experience of no less than four shipments of salmon ova to the antipodes, pronounces the sum at my disposal quite inadequate. But as he will give his services gratuitously, and as the strictest economy will be observed in the whole matter, I have no intention of exceeding the amount authorized, payment for freight included. I have, &c, I. E. Featherston, The Hon. the Colonial Secretary, Wellington, N.Z. Agent-General.

No. 31. Mr. G. S. Cooper to Mr. Butts. Sir, — Colonial Secretary's Office, Wellington, 27th March, 1873. Adverting to my letter No. 162, of the 14th instant, I am directed to transmit, for your information, the accompanying copy of a letter, with its enclosure, received by the last mail from the Agent-General, reporting the satisfactory shipment of salmon ova on board the " Oberon," which vessel left London on the 21st January last. I have, &c, E. D. Butts, Esq., Secretary, G. S. Cooper, Southland Acclimatization Society, Invercargill. Under Secretary.

No. 32. The Hon. W. Fox to His Honor J. Macandrew. Sir, — Colonial Secretary's Office, Wellington, 27th March, 1873. Adverting to my telegram No. 160, of the 25th instant, I have the honor to transmit to you, for your information, the accompanying copy of a letter and its enclosure, received by