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54. What do you consider are the best varieties for New Zealand ?—I have seen two succeed equally well. I have tried the best Spanish variety and the best French varieties, and they seem to succeed equally well. The variety is really a matter of taste. There are a great many varieties in olive countries, and some people believe one the best, aud some another. I think that is really a matter of fancy Perhaps it may depend, in part, also on the particular soil the variety is grown upon. One variety may succeed much better upon a particular soil than another. 55. Do you think, then, olive-culture would be a wise provision for the Legislature to make for the increasing population of New Zealand ? —My belief is that the great object of the Legislature of New Zealand—at least, one of its great objects—should be to look to prospective industries as much as to present ones. I believe the olive industry, as a prospective industry, is one we should look to as much as any other. Hence the great interest I have always taken in the matter. 56. You think in the future, in about twenty to twenty-five years, it would be the means of affording profitable occupation to a considerable population—it would be, more especially, a " cottage industry " ?—I think in twenty-five years it would be a very valuable thing. I believe olive-trees would be very valuable iu a few years, as yielding abundance of pickled olives, and for feeding fowls. Fowls eat the fruit of the young trees very readily as it falls to the ground, and cottagers might keep a large number of fowls, feeding them thus in part on the olives, and allowing them to run over the pasture land. I should think in future times it would be a very great industry indeed in the country, for oil-producing purposes —there is a very great probability of it. 57 Then, for the manufacture of oil, should there be a central establishment where to send the olives to ?—My idea is it should be done on the co-operative principle. Of course, each proprietor could have his own small mill, if he chose. I think it would, however, be best to have a large mill as common property; then every producer could sell his fruit to the mill, and could share in the profits of the mill subsequently I believe small farmers, in that way,would have a most valuable property given to them in the form of olive-trees. Ido not think there could be anything more useful than that. 58. How do you think the growth of olives could be encouraged, so that that could be carried out? —I think there is no doubt that people would grow the trees if they could get them. The first trees might be distributed among people, and others, seeing what was being done, would endeavour to get them themselves, merely from emulation. I think it would want very little encouragement. You might encourage people, also, to plant what they call olive-yards. Some few persons would, perhaps, make a special industry of it. You may do that also. 59. When Governor of South Australia, did you take any part in the introduction of olives ?—I was there when the first olive-trees were introduced, and was much interested in the thing. I have heard many of these have been very profitable since. There is just an instance in point: lam speaking of South Australia about 1842 or 1843 ; so they have taken there nearly forty years to develop. There it is now a growing industry 60. Are they producing oil there now ? —Yes ; some of my friends, who were interested with me in the introduction of olives, are now producing very good oil from them. They still live, and have the pleasure of seeing the industry succeed. 61. I suppose you are aware there is a large demand for olive-oil, and also for olives ? —I am ; I know at Kawau we are able to produce already very good pickled olives. I doubt if I have ever seen better. 62. So that an article of food is obtained, as well as the oil?—Quite so. I think very highly of that. I think in twelve years after beginning there might be not a cottage to the north of Auckland in which part of the food of the family would not be pickled olives. They would be very healthy, and would be looked upon as a little luxury at no cost. 63. Do you think olive-oil could be utilized in New Zealand for preserving fish, and also for woollen factories ? —ln every way in which olive-oil is used. Perhaps I might say generally, on this : that I believe greatly in internal commerce; and the internal commerce of a country depends chiefly upon its extent of latitude and consequent variety of climate; and some of the wealthiest nations in the world are some of those depending entirely on internal commerce, such as Japan and China. I think no country in the world is better adapted by nature for internal commerce than New Zealand, from its extent in latitude, its variety of climates, all exceptionally fine, and its enormous sea-board. I believe myself it is the duty of the Legislature to encourage the introduction of every kind of plant into New Zealand suited to the different degrees of latitude. It is to that subject I principally turn my attention, with respect to valuable plants which can be cultivated with success in New Zealand. I think to enable North and South to interchange between one another products, all valuable and of great variety, all suitable for food or useful purposes, is one of the great duties of the Legislature. I think in that way the producing of olive-oil would succeed in the North ; and I think, possibly, in the South manufactures will succeed. To a very great extent, I think, many manufactures can hardly be carried on without a great supply of oil. Therefore we in the North could take the Southern manufactures, and could send them our oil, which would be a very great source of wealth to both of us. What people easily forget is this : that wealth consists of things which have been produced ; and that if we have abundance of food, and also of fruit and other luxuries, also good clothing in quantities, that is wealth, irrespective of money ; as money merely represents the power promoting the exchange of these different things. I think New Zealand in that way, even in itself, would be one of the most wealthy countries that could be. 64. Can you make any further suggestion to our report the other day with reference to oliveculture ? —T think the Government, in sending to Australia for olive-truncheons, have gone, perhaps, far enough for the moment, for the olive must be planted in September. I think every year, however, additions can be made. Every year, for a few years, you should try to get fresh plants. For instance, the other day I sent to Australia a variety of the olive they have not yet got there, one of the best; and they have varieties we have not got. I think it would be well for Government to go on every year getting truncheons and distributing them. 65. It is proposed to have a hand-book of information. Possibly the evidence you give may form part of that book. What course would you suggest to place the information before the public ? —A