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as to try Dr. Brandt's Malted Food, and we are pleased to inform you that, since then we have used nothing else, and the child has thriven well, and is now strong and hearty; and, although you are strangers to us, in our gratitude, we could not refrain from making known to you the above facts, in proof of which we enclose you photos of the child taken before and after using Dr. Brandt's Malted Food. We give you full permission to make what use you think proper of this letter. " I remain, &c, " Haeey Pbiston " Messrs. Trent Brothers, Christchurch." " Lucie M. Pbiston. " Christchurch, 27th October, 1894. " I have examined the sample of Dr. Brandt's Malted Food supplied by Messrs. Trent Brothers, Christchurch. I find it to be absolutely free from any deleterious ingredient, excellently manufactured, and containing diastase the active ferment of malt, a substance that possesses remarkable properties in helping to digest farinaceous food. " I have, for many months, used the food in my own family. I have also known of its effects in the case of several invalids, and it has fully come up to the expectation of its digestibility that I had formed from my knowledge of its composition. " It is certain that in many cases where ordinary food is incapable of being digested this malted food is assimilated with comparative ease, and is an extremely valuable form of cereal food. As it contains the albuminous constituent of grain, as well as the farinaceous, it is of course much more nutritious than any form of cornflour, arrowroot, or starches from which the gluten has been removed. " A. W. Bickebton, "Colonial Analyst." 74. Is this a farinaceous food ?—I have bought the sole right to manaufacture it in the Australian Colonies ; and I look for such a future for it that if in the near future I can dispose of my business I intend to go to New South Wales. I have been thirty-six years in New Zealand, and am getting rather sick of it. Mr. Hutchison : I am sorry to hear that. Witness : lam sorry it is so, but spoon-fed farming will never do in this country. I have received an order for 2,600 tins, and they are going to Australia this month ; and, so far as this colony is concerned, I claim a little increased duty on the imported articles —Neave's Food, Mellin's Food, Allen and Hanbury's Food, and Nestles Milk-food. Considering, also, that cornflour can be manufactured largely in this colony, I do not think the present duty on it is sufficient. 75. Mr. Hutchison.] What amount of duty would be required upon the articles you mention ? —Twenty-five per cent, upon these preparations of food. 76. Mr. McGowan.] What price can your preparation be sold at?—ls. retail per tin to bring it within the reach of all. 77. What amount of duty would you want on cornflour?—ln conection with this food Ido not suggest that any increased duty should be put on cornflour. I only ask for protection against kindred foods. 78. Is there a large consumption of this food in the colony?— Yes. 79. Are you able to give any idea of the total quantity that would be sold in the colony ? — No. 80. Mr. Mackenzie.] Do you not think it is rather a large order to ask for the duty to be nearly doubled upon a lot of foods that have proved so useful ?—I do not, bearing in mind the increased employment my manufacture gives, and taking into consideration the very low rate of wages at Home as compared with here. 81. You really increase the price of these foods Id. a pound to the users, and it has yet to be discovered whether yours will become as popular ? —That is true, although, of course, I have no shadow of doubt about it. Two doctors (Deamer and Murdoch) have stated within the last few weeks that it is the finest food they have ever tried. 81a. Mr. Hutchison.] Have the doctors referred to these other competing foods along with yours ? —No; they have not referred to any other food, and the letters I have received from them are unsolicited. 82. You have no analysis of these other foods ?—None. 83. But you think yours is better?—l am perfectly satisfied of it. 84. And you give Professor Bickerton's opinion that it is a thoroughly excellent article ?—I do. Now Professor Biekerton is no longer Colonial Analyst, my firm pay him a special retaining-fee to come into our place at any time, and to analyse anything he likes. 85. The What is the next item, Mr. Trent ?—Rice, sago, and tapioca. The duty upon rice at present is £6 a ton, and nothing on sago or tapioca; and I would suggest that, if possible, all rice, sago, and tapioca should bear a duty of £4 13s. 4d. a ton— i.e., |-d. a pound. 86. You see rice stands on a different footing ?—Why ? 87. I suppose it is used largely by the Chinese?— The rice we merchants go in for is very little used by the Chinese. We import the Japan rice. I merely point this out as one of the absurdities of the tariff. Sago and tapioca should bear some duty, and rice should be let down a little easier. I desire also to mention a matter which, so far from being a question of personal interest, is very much against me. I refer to peel in brine being admitted duty-free. Some years ago Sir R. Stout defended a case in Dunedin for Hudson, and got a decision in their favour that peel in brine should be admitted free. The duty on the ordinary candied peel is sd. per pound, and the consequence is that little or none is imported. I receive large consignments of peel in brine from Messina, and, after paying pretty heavy charges, if it leaves about ljd. per pound, the shippers are well satisfied. It appears that this is a very great loss to the revenue, as the colony is losing the duty on the imported article.