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Thuesday, 23ed August, 1877. The Committee met, pursuant to adjournment, at 10 o'clock. Peesent: Mr. Sharp in the chair. Mr. J. C. Brown, Mr. Murray, Mr. Macfarlane, I Mr. Swanson. The orders of reference were read. The minutes of the previous meetings were read and confirmed. Resolved, on the motion of the Chairman, That the following telegram be sent to Mr. Cairns, Mangere, Onehunga: — 1. What is the inducement you require to go into beet-sugar industry ? Is it a bonus or protection ? If the first, how much ? If the second, how long ? 2. When would you be prepared to commence operations and manufacture sugar ? 3. What quantity will you guarantee to produce first year, and what the annual increase of production ? 4. State estimated cost of plant capable of producing 1,000 tons of sugar per annum? 5. Would you propose to grow beet yourself or purchase from farmers ? 6. What area of land would be required for production of beet in sufficient quantity for raanu facture of 100 tons sugar ? 7. What would be cost of such sugar of good quality ? 8. What capital you propose to lay out ? The Committee then adjourned until Monday, 27th August, at 10.30 o'clock.

Monday, 27th Auoust, 1877. The Committee met, pursuant to adjournment, at 10.30 o'clock. Peesent: Mr. Sharp in the chair. Mr. J. C. Brown, Mr. Murray, Mr. Macfarlane, Mr. Swanson. The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed. The Chairman read a telegram he had received from Mr. J. C. Cairns. (Appendix A.) J. P. Joyce, Esq., M.H.E., attended and gave evidence. Memorandum, furnished by Dr. Hector, showing analysis of samples of beet-roots for sugar was laid before the Committee. (Appendix B.) The Committee then adjourned until Wednesday, 29th August, at 10 o'clock.

Wednesday, 29th August, 1877. The Committee met, pursuant to adjournment, at 10 o'clock. Peesent: Mr. Sharp in the chair. Mr. Murray, Mr. Swanson. The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed. The Chairman laid before the Committee a draft report for adoption. Resolved, on the motion of Mr. Swanson, That the following report be adopted and brought up to the House with the proceedings and minutes of evidence : — That, in order to afford sufficient encouragement to the capitalist and manufacturer to enter upon the production of Beet-root Sugar in New Zealand,>a guarantee should be given by the Government of freedom from any excise duty to be levied thereon for a period of ten years from the present time, and that the Customs duty should remain as at present on all imported sugars during the same period. Head and confirmed.

MINUTES OF EVIDENCE.

Monday, 27th August, 1877. Mr. J. P. Joyce, M.H.R., being in attendance, was examined. 1. The Chairman.'] Are you aware if the manufacture of sugar from beet-roots is carried on in France to any extent ? —Tes, to my own knowledge it is ; and the cultivation of beet for making sugar is an important industry in France. 2. Is the sugar considered to be equal in quality to that made from the sugar-cane ?—No, it is not supposed to be of quite such good quality. 3. Can you state the price ? —About 6 sous, 3d. per pound, unrefined; but in that state it is not fit for consumption, owing to its offensive taste. 4. Do you know the yield per acre ?—I cannot state the yield per acre ; but the farmers' object in growing beets is not so much to grow the roots of large size, as that they shall contain the greatest amount of saccharine matter. 5. AVhat is the yield per ton? —About 6 or 7 per centum. I