1.—9.

1885. NEW ZEALAND.

JOINT CODLIN-MOTH COMMITTEE (REPORT OF).

Brought up on Friday, 28th August, 1885, and ordered to be "printed.

ORDERS OF REFERENCE.

Extracts from the Journals of the Legislative Council. Thursday, the 2nd Day of July, 1885. Ordered, " That a Select Committee be appointed to consider the present working of ' The Codlin Moth Act, 1884,' and to make suggestions on the various blights to which the fruits in the colony are subject, with power to call for persons and papers, and to confer with any Committee appointed by the House of Representatives for a similar object, to report within three weeks, the Committee to consist of the Hon. Captain Fraser, the Hon. Mr. Holmes, the Hon. Mr. Mantell, the Hon. Mr. Menzies, the Hon. Mr. Miller, the Hon. Dr. Pollen, the Hon. Mr. Williams, the Hon. Mr. Barnicoat, and the mover."— (Hon. Captain Baillie.)

Thubsday, the 23bd Day of July, 1885. Ordered, "That the time for bringing up the report of the Codlin-Moth and Blights Committee be extended for three weeks." — (Hon. Captain Baillie!)

Fbiday, tub 21st Day of August, 1885. Ordered, " That the time for bringing up the report of the Codlin-Moth and Blights Committee be further extended for ten days."— (Hon. Captain Baillie.)

Extracts from the Journals of the House, of Representatives. Thubsday, the 25th Day of June, 1885. Ordered, " That a Select Committee be appointed to consider and make suggestions for the proper working of ' The Codlin-Moth Act, 1884,' with the object of checking the spread of this terrible pest. The Committoe to consist of Mr. Levestam, Mr. Hursthouse, Mr. Peacock, Mr. Bruce, Mr. Moss, and the mover ; with power to call for persona and papers, three to be a quorum ; to report in three weeks."— (Mr. Hobbs.) Tuesday, the 25th Day op August, 1885. Ordered, " That the Codlin-Moth Committee have leave to postpone bringing up their report for one week."— (Mr. Hobbs.)

Appointed originally to inquire into the best means of remedying the mischief done by the codlinmoth, the Committee's investigations have taken a much wider range, and cannot fail to be of interest to all fruit-growers. Their report is, however, to be regarded merely as preliminary to the more complete investigation which it recommends. A large amount of valuable evidence is appended, and a perusal of this evidence will give valuable information respecting the best-known remedies for many fruit-destroying insects in addition to the codlin-moth, to which its attention was in the first instance directed. It will show that, with intelligent care and attention, the cultivation of fruit-trees may become, despite the attacks of all insects, a source of wealth to the colony, and a profitable employment for large numbers of its people.

EEPOET. Your Committee have the honour to report that they have collected a large amount of valuable information respecting this and other insect pests, and the remedies to be employed in keeping them within check in the orchards throughout the colony. They recommend that this information should be published by the Government, and circulated as widely as possible without delay. They would, however, impress upon the Government the futility of any efforts made by fruitgrowers to rid the colony of these insects if persons outside the colony are allowed to send into all our ports fruit which is infected. „ They therefore recommend that a regulation by Order in Council, under the Codlin-Moth Act, be issued, prohibiting the importation of infected fruit, and making the penalty for any breach of the law confiscation of the fruit, and a heavy fine in addition. I—l. 9.