11

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valuable interests on that island. With regard to fish-culture, the Commission recommend that permission should be given to fish-breeders to procure ova during the breeding season from public waters under the supervision of the Bangers, on the understanding that the fish bred from the ova thus obtained are not to be sent out of the colony. Iron. Though there is evidence to prove that vast deposits of most valuable iron ores exist in this colony, and that the question of opening out and developing the industry of smelting them is a most important one, yet, considering the present fluctuating state of the iron and steel trade, the Commissioners believe that the time has not yet come when the smelting of the iron ores or sand, or the conversion of the iron into steel, by the erection of costly plant, can be pursued in this colony with any probability of commercial success. Mr. T. J. Mulvany, C.E., writes : "It is essential to realize as fully as possible the present actual condition and the future prospects of the iron and steel manufacture in other countries, when coming to consider the question of its introduction here. That question must now be treated upon principles very different from those which might have held good only a few years ago, as all new works for the making of pig-iron and its conversion into steel must be got up on a large scale, and with the very latest improvements in plant of all sorts, so as to derive the full advantages of the progress of science in the shape of economical productions." The Commissioners have given this subject most careful consideration in the limited time at their disposal, and have come to the conclusion that they can make no special recommendations as to the promotion or encouragement of smelting the iron ores of this colony, though they fully recognize the fact that these vast resources do exist, and that at some future time the working of thorn may be most advantageously carried out, to the great benefit of the colony. The Commissioners consider that this subject should engage the earnest attention of any future Commission or other persons appointed to inquire into local industries. Jewellery. The evidence on the industry of the manufacturing jewellers all tends in the direction of demanding a prohibitive duty on imported jewellery, and an export duty upon greenstone. No doubt the trade is in a very depressed condition; but the Commissioners, from various inquiries, think that that is principally due to temporary causes, and they can offer no special recommendations for the fostering of this industry. They would point out, with reference to the complaints of the jewellers of their original designs being imitated in inferior materials in England, that there is no close property in designs anywhere, and that for one colonial design that is imitated in Europe a hundred European designs are imitated in the colonies. The " design "in such a case is really only a natural object —a leaf or an animal peculiar to the colonies, which is adapted to the uses of the artist in gold. The Commission are not in of taxing the whole community, or restricting the choice of the whole community in works of luxury and art, in order to create an artificial industry for which there is no natural demand. Cement. The importance of developing the local manufacture of cement demands particular attention. This should become a most valuable industry, because cement is very largely consumed, and enters into the economy of a great number of other industries. From the evidence it appears that large deposits of the materials used in the manufacture of Portland cement have been discovered in various parts of these Islands—in the neighbourhood of Gisborne, Oxford, Greymouth, New Plymouth, and Dunedin—which local residents are anxious to utilize if some assistance could be given them to develop the manufacture. The most practical suggestion is contained in the evidence of Mr. W, G. Ewing, of Dunedin, who states that if an order were given to him by the Government for 100 tons of cement, he would be able- to start the industry himself. The Commission are of opinion that this is well worth the consideration of the Government, and they recommend that the Government should offer to purchase 100 tons of cement from any bond fide local