H.—34

1873. NEW ZEALAND.

RECOMMENDATIONS OF INDUSTRIAL COMMITTEE OF 1872.

(Return to an Order of the House of Representatives, dated Vjlh July, 1873.) " That there- be laid upon tho Table a Return showing what practical effect has been given, during the recess, to the recommendations of the Industrial Committee of last Session."—(__>. o'Conor.)

Memorandum of action taken in accordance with the recommendations of the Joint Committee on Colonial Industries, 1872. Coal Fields. Kawa Kawa. —A grant of £1,000 has been made to assist the Kawa Kawa Coal Company to explore their ground, by boring at the spots indicated by the Geological Department in 18G6. Brunner Mine. —The exploration of tho portion of the coal field on the south side of the Grey Eiver has been proceeded with, and several additional areas of workable coal have been discovered. A portion of the Grey Coal Reserve has been leased to the Greymouth Coal Mining Company. The railway connecting the mines with the port is now in course of construction. Mount Bochfort and Ngakawau Mine. —The coal has been traced from Mine Creek on to tho plateau, where it exists in large quantity at 1,800 feet above the sea level. A coal seam at the Waimangaroa Eiver has also been explored for, but the result so far is not satisfactory. A preliminary survey has been made of the railway line and harbour works requisite for the development of the coal field. Explorations for coal have also been undertaken in the following districts : —Wangaroa, Collingwood, Kanicri, Southland ; and reports have been obtained relative to coal seams at Wangarei, "Waikato, Eaglan, Malvern Hills, Eangitata, Blueskin, Waikara, and Preservation Inlet. (See Papers relative to the Development of Coal Fields.) Iron. A bonus has been offered for the manufacture of iron, and also for the manufacture of steel (Appendix A), and notice has been received of the intention to claim the bonus from, — Pig Iron .-— 1. Messrs. H. J. Walduck and Co., 1, Market Street, Manchester, England. , 2. Magnus Manson, settler at Motupipi. 3. New Zealand Titanic Steel Company, Wellington. Steel .—■ 1. New Zealand Titanic Steel Company, Wellington. 2. Magnus Manson, Motupipi. Beetroot Sugar. A bonus for the encouragement of and manufacture of sugar from the beetroot has been offered on the terms recommended. (Appendix A.) The three varieties of seed imported for Government by Mr. Krull were distributed, with forms indicating the nature of tho information required; but as the seed, owing to some cause, did not germinate freely, the experiment has, on the whole, in consequence failed. (Appendix Bl and 82.) A quantity of the seed of the best variety of Sorghum saccharatum, a plant used for the manufacture of sugar, and also valuable as a fodder plant, which was ordered from the United States on the suggestion of a former Committee, has been distributed, but no returns can be received until next season. Paper. Tho bonus recommended has been offered (see Appendix A), and notices have been received of an intention to compete from Edward McGlashan, Dunedin; Joseph Mackay, Tokomairiro ; Eobert Stout, Dunedin ; W. T. Dowdall, Waikato ; but of these, the two last applications were made too late to comply with the terms of the competition. Fish. The offer of the bonus made last year is still in force (see Appendix A), and the period of the operation of the offer was ante-dated in terms of tho resolution (see Appendix C) ; but no application has been made for payments on account of the bonus. I—H. 34.