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APPENDICES. APPENDIX A. Sir, — Legislative Council, 25th July, 1898. I am requested by the Select Committee appointed by the Legislative Council to consider the question of State farms in their relation to irregularity of employment, to ask if you will be good enough to furnish the Committee with the information desired on the following matters connected with the State farm at Levin: — (1.) What is the area of the farm? (2) What proportion was bush and what open country when operations commenced ? (3.) What was the value of the land when the farm was started ? (4.) What moneys have the Parliament voted for carrying on operations at the farm, and what are the dates of the several votes ? (5.) State the number of men employed, together with their dependants, during each year respectively since the farm was started; (6.) the amount of wages paid during each of those years; (7.) the nature and extent of the improvements made on the land, also the value of plant, buildings, and stock in as much detail as convenient; (8.) the present value of the land; (9.) the total value and the nature of the proceeds derived from the farm since its inauguration. "Also such other details as will give a clear view of the receipts and expenditure from the time operations were commenced down to the present date, the whole to be summarised in the form of a balance-sheet, so as to show the exact financial position of the farm at the prosent time. I am, &c, W. M. Bolt, Mr. E. Tregear, Secretary for Labour, &c. Chairman of Committee.

APPENDIX B. Deab Sib, — Temuka, 15th August, 1898. I am glad you have been able to get a Committee set up to inquire into your proposals for State farms and industrial settlements, and I hope the report will be favourable to your scheme. There is one industry I might call your attention to, that is the cultivation of Puropean flax and the manufacturing of the same into twines, canvas, &c, it is an industry that would not be competing with any other, and as the Government are large users of twine and canvas for tarpaulins, the industry might be worth your consideration. If it is I will he glad to give you any information you may require on the cultivation and manufacturing of flax. Yours, &c, Hon. W. M. Bolt. Hugh Monahan.

APPENDIX C. Sib,— Levin, 25th July, 1898. In reference to the conversation we had on Saturday, I would suggest to the Committee that are appointed to devise ways and means of finding work for the labouring classes that a piece of ground be set apart for the growing of osiers for basket-making, as it is an employment of all hand-labour, and there is a large market open for the sale of them if the proper quality are grown : and some of the ground on the State Farm is well adapted for growing the same. I shall be most happy to furnish any information that the Committee may require as to the growing of osiers. I remain, &c, J. Silvestee, Basketmaker, Hon. J. Rigg. Horowhenua Village Settlement.

APPENDIX D. Ordered " That there be laid before this House a return showing the income and expenditure on or in connection with the State Farm at Levin for the year ending the 31st March, 1898."—(Mr. Massey.) Expenditure. Receipts. £ s. d. Freights— £ s. d. Posts, strainers, Stock Department and Posts and strainers sent to Stock Depart- others (including freight) .. .. 36 1 2 ment, and on ferns to Government Firewood sold ... .. .. .. 21 15 0 . House .. .. .. .. 16 18 8 Ferns supplied to Government House (inFreight, carriage, and commission on sales eluding freight) .. .. .. 9 17 of potatoes.. .. .. .. 23 16 3 Sales of potatoes .. .. .. 137 19 11 Freight on pigs .. .. .. 412 4 „ vegetables and fruit .. .. 56 3 6 Freight and commission on vegetables .. 6 9 9 „ grass-seed .. .. .. 27 10 7 Freight and cartage on poultry .. 2 5 5 „ chaff .. .. .. .. 25 1 7 Freight on seeds and plants .. ... 086 „ bees .. .. .. .. 111 6 Seed potatoes .. .. .. .. 6 0 8 „ pork .. .. .. .. 95 17 2 Milking contraots, 23,670 gallons at Is. 2d. „ milk .. .. .. .. 293 12 8 per gallon .. .. .. .. 49 6 3 , cattle .. .. .. .. 238 15 3 Bulls, one at £18 18s.; one at £15 155.; and „ poultry .. .. .. 12 12 6 heifer, £3 3s. .. .. .. .. 37 16 0 „ incubator .. .. .. 510 0 Brood sow .. .. .. .. 2 5 0 Grazing .. .. .. .. 215 7 Cattle .. .. .. .. 368 7 0 Rents .. .. .. .. 55 5 0 Freight and commission on cattle .. 24 10 7 Pares refunded .. .. .. 8 16 3 Poultry and eggs .. .. .. 11 18 0 Vote .. .. .. .. 800 0 0 Incubator and brooder .. .. .. 10 7 6 Balance .. .. .. .. 369 9 11 Plants, seeds, &o. .. .. .. 67 2 1 Feed for cattle, horses, &c. .. .. 47 4 8 Ironmongery .. .. .. .. 38 14 5 Blacksmithing .. .. .. .. 9 16 8 Timber .. .. .. .. 23 12 4 Saddlery 10 10 6 Sundries .. .. .. .. 42 14 6 Wages (including Manager) .. .. 1,364 811 Travelling-expenses (Manager, Veterinary Surgeons, Pomologists, &c.) .. .. 17 111 Fares and excess luggage .. .. 11113 £2,197 19 2 £2,197 19 2 N.B.—A large amount of profits derived from the expenditure in live-stock 1897-98 will be received during 1898-99. This will account for the discrepancy between the amount expended and the amount received.