15

H.—34,

In reply, I beg leave to state that after making inquiry, and taking the mean of the same, I think the following will be a near estimate, viz. : — Say rural lands ... ... ... ... ... ... 3,000 acres. Native lands ... ... ... ... ... ... 2,000 Abandoned confiscated lands ... ... ... ... 5,000 ~ Confiscated lands... ... ... ... ... ... 10,000 „ Total flax-bearing land in the Province of Taranaki ... 20,000 acres. I have, &c., Feed. A. Caebington, The Hon. the Colonial Secretary, Wellington. Superintendent.

APPENDIX G. No. 19. The accompanying circulars were sent to the following persons:— J. Stewart, Waikato, Auckland ; S. Harding, Kaipara; A. C. Turner, Tauranga; W. N. Hales, Wanganui; O. Carrington, Taranaki; J. T. Stewart, Manawatu ; A. Munro, Masterton ; E. N. Bold, Napier; A. Dobson, Picton ; C. J. o'Conor, Hokitika; W. N. Blair, Dunedin; W. Brunton, Invercargill.

Enclosure in No. 19. (Circular.) Sm,— Public Works Office, Wellington, 27th September, 1872. It having been suggested that the officers of this department should co-operate with Dr. Hector in the collection of information respecting New Zealand timbers, I have the honor to request that you will endeavour to obtain information respecting timbers in your district, and forward the results to Dr. Hector, Colonial Museum, Wellington. To assist you in this object I enclose copy of Parliamentary Paper G. 16, 1872, and Dr. Hector suggests that specimens should bo sent in accordance with the direction on page 5 of that paper. I also enclose printed letter and "Notes of particulars for sending specimens of Native Timbers."' Copies of these should be forwarded to persons engaged in the timber trade in your district, and to any others who may take an interest in the subject. Dr. Hector being now engaged in making a collection for the exhibition at Vienna, it would bo convenient if you were to forward triplicate specimens to him. I have, &c, John CAEErTiiEits, Engineer-in-Chief.

Public Woeks Department. Sic,— IS7 . The Colonial Government is at present making a collection of Native timbers, for the purpose of investigating their properties; and I have been requested to take steps towards getting specimens from this Province. I therefore take the liberty of enclosing you a copy of " Particulars for sending Specimens," with the request that you will kindly contribute towards the collection. Should you have any specimens to send, and give me notice of it, ] will arrange to get them conveyed here. , I have, &c, • Engineer. Particulars for sending Specimens of Native Timbers to Colonial Museum, Wellington. Obsotabt specimens of new timber to show an average section of a full-sized tree, not less thau 2 feet long, and of the following thicknesses: —Trees under IS inches diameter, full section; from 18 inches to 3 feet, half section; and above 3 feet, quarter section, the bark being left on in all cases. Samples of sawn timber of each tree should also be sent, showing the ordinary form in which it is found in the market, say a piece of 4 inch by 3 inch scantling, 4 feet long ; and a 9 inch by 1 inch board, 4 feet long. The whole to be accompanied by specimens of the leaves, and (if possible) of the flowers or berries, and a note of the locality, and the soil in which the timber was grown, the season in which it was felled, and such other particulars as may be useful in arriving at a correct knowledge of its properties. Specimens of old timber may be of any convenient size or shape ; and in addition to those required with the new timber, each specimen should be accompanied by detailed particulars of the amount of seasoning it has received, the situation it has occupied, and the exposure to which it has been subjected, together with a note of the time it has been in use. Each specimen to be labelled and distinctly numbered, the number being referred to in tho description that accompanies it. By Authority: G.ohge Dibsbuky, Government Printer, Wellington.—lB73. Price Od.]