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The Committee, therefore, cannot concur in any recommendation for expenditure at tho Ngakawau. The Committee recommend, that, in the first instance, the railway should with the utmost expedition be pushed forward from Westport to Waimangaroa, and that steps should be taken contemporaneously, by which supplies of coal may be ready for transit by the railway when completed. ¥h. Aeciid. Mueeat, 11th September, 1873. Chairman.
REPORT No. 3. Your Committee having carefully considered the subject remitted to it, have the honor to report, in continuation of former Reports, — On Coal. Tour Committee are gratified to find that the importance of this great source of national wealth is now being recognized, and that in Otago and Canterbury, by the construction of railways, the vast deposits of coal suitable for domestic and mechanical purposes will be rendered cheaply available; whilst the Province of Auckland, it is to bo hoped, by the early completion of the Kawa Kawa or other Railway, will be also cheaply supplied, for on this much of the prosperity of the Thames Gold Fields depends. On Fish-curing and the Manufacture of Sugar and Paper. Tour Committee have nothing further to add to the recommendation of tho Committee of last year. On the Introduction of Salmon and Trout. Tour Committee received the voluminous papers on the subject of the introduction of salmon and trout from Government at so late a period of the Session as precluded that careful consideration which would justify a report thereon; but your Committee recommend to the consideration of Government the paper by Mr. Butt appended hereto. On Conservation of Forests. Tour Committee recommend that the Government should invite the various Provincial Governments to consider how best to prevent the wasteful destruction of tho forests of the Colony, and to supply statistics and recommendations for the consideration of Parliament. On Planting Trees. Tour Committee recommend that the Government should continue to procure considerable quantities of the most approved tree seeds, and should sell them at cost price to associations, nurserymen, and individuals; and should also, by way of experiment, procure seeds of the olive, hickory, and cork trees, for the growth of which a large part of tho Colony seems well suited. On Kerosene. Tour Committee recommend that a bonus on kerosene produced within the Colony bo offered to the extent of sixpence (Gd.) per gallon up to fifty thousand (50,000) gallons, payable on quantities of ten thousand (10,000) gallons at a time, to be sold at a fair average price, the quality being approved by the Government. On Iron. It is gratifying to your Committee to be able to report, that besides the deposits of iron sand at Taranaki, vast quantities of the best iron ore exist in many parts of the Colony, and in places convenient to excellent coal, and place of shipment. And your Committee, taking into consideration the value and importance of iron manufactures, recommend, that, subject to existing engagements entered into by the Government on the recommendation of the Committee of last year, a bonus bo offered for the erection of a suitable blast furnace for the manufacture of pig-iron in an approved locality, such bonus not to exceed twenty-five (25) per cent, on the cost of erection, and not to be paid till the works are in full operation ; bonus not to exceed five thousand (5,000) pounds sterling. And your Committee also recommend, that a bonus be offered for the erection of suitable machinery for the manufacture of bar and rod iron and rails, in an approved locality ; such bonus not to exceed twenty-five (25) per cent, on the cost of erection, and not to be paid until the works are in full operation ; total amount of bonus not to exceed five thousand (5,000) pounds sterling, and to be available for three (3) years. Tour Committee further recommend, that these bonuses should be in addition to any bonus or land grant given by any Provincial Government, and that the agents of the Colony in Europe should be instructed to encourage Co-operative Associations to come to New Zealand to establish these and other industries, by grants of free passages. Tour Committee would call attention to Mr. Mill's report (appended) as to the quality of New Zealand coal and iron. Portland Cement. Tour Committee suggest for tho consideration of Government, the advisability of tho Public "Works Department endeavouring to utilize the materials for the manufacture of Portland cement which exist in the Colony. AVh. Aeciid. Mtobay, 23rd September, 1873. Chairman.