ON COLONIAL INDUSTRIES.

9

F.—No. 1

72. The Committee are desirous of ascertaining whether you can give information as to the formation and mercantile value of Adipocere ? —I believe Adipocere, as far as I understand it, is ammoniacal soap, which is formed by the slow decomposition of animal bodies, the lean giving rise to the ammonia, which combines with the fat of the animal and forms a soap in those cases where the atmosphere is excluded by the submergence of the body, under circumstances where the products of decomposition are not removed as formed. It takes generally six years to form, and requires rare and very peculiar conditions. 73. The Chairman.] You are not aware of what are the results of the experiments which have been made in Canterbury ?—I have heard nothing authoritative about them. The Honourable Mr. Gray volunteered the following information to the Committee: — The experiment in Canterbury in making adipocere has been tried for some months past by Dr. Barker. It may be said in the first place to be the result of accident. A number of sheep had been from time to time drowned in small shingle-bottomed creeks near the banks of the Orari. A whitish substance was seen at the bottom of one of these creeks including the bones of sheep, and on taking it up Dr. Barker came to the conclusion that it was adipocere ; whereupon he " tried it out," and the result has been a substance closely resembling in appearance beeswax in different states of purity. He finds that it burns very freely, and he is of opinion that it would make candles of very superior quality. He has also found that in combination with potash it makes an excellent soap adapted for sheep washing, or kindred services. Dr. Hector's examination continued. 74. Hon. Mr. Gray.] Have you any idea of the market value of adipocere ? —No, I think its marketable value can hardly have been determined, but from its composition, when in a pure state, I would expect it to have the value of stearine. 75. The Chairman.] Passing from this branch of the subject of inquiry, are there any serials other than those now cultivated in the Colony which you think might- be introduced with advantage ? —As far as I am able to judge, the farmers are not setting themselves in this Colony to discover what crops are best adapted to different parts of the country. They are blindly following methods of agriculture, and adopting crops from the notions they brought with them from other countries ; and there is a very great difference between the majority of the agricultural districts in New Zealand and the agricultual districts in England and Scotland from which settlers bring their experience. I think a great deal of the failure of agricultural pursuits that we hear of arises from their not taking into proper account the difference in the seasonal changes. I mean, that the rules they work by require modification. Ido not feel competent to give any decided advice on this subject. In general terms, I may say that the western part of both Islands is more adapted for the growth of green and root crops, while the eastern part is better adapted for the growth of serials. The best ripening districts for serials frequently suffer from droughts in early spring, and from the prevalence of high winds at harvest time; but this will in time bo overcome by irrigation, and by the intersection of the country with live fences. Large tracts of country, which are at present looked on as comparatively useless, will by this means come to be of the highest value. I may mention that a great number of the soils have been analyzed in different parts of the Colony, and nothing has yet been discovered to indicate that there is any defect, as a rule, in the soil to cause any deficiency in the agricultural produce that one would expect from the nature of the climate and other circumstances. 76. The Chairman.] Could the European flax be cultivated in New Zealand with advantage ?—- Undoubtedly, as far as the natural conditions are concerned. 77. Is the soil and climate adapted for its growth ?—Yes, certainly in some places. The proper rotation of crops would be essential to the proper growth of flax, as it cannot be grown twice in the same land without an interval. 78. The same remarks would apply to a great extent to the cultivation of hemp ? —I should think so ; but I have never seen hemp growing. 79. Can cinchona be grown in this Colony ?—The cinchona plant is adapted for growth in this Colony. It is a tropical alpine shrub, its natural habitat being in regions where the temperature and the moisture is similar to that of the North Island of New Zealand ; but where it flourishes most, the valleys are generally bathed in warm fog and mist. The plant grows well, as far as the experiments made have shown; but whether the same amount of alkaloid (quinine) is developed, has not been tested. 80. Can you give the Committee any information on the cultivation of madder, and its value as an industrial product ?—I do not know anything about it. 81. Are there any general observations you would like to make to the Committee with respect to the vegetable productions of the Colony? —There are many valuable grasses which might be available for paper-making, and to which attention has not yet been directed. I think much of the waste in the flax mills might be profitably employed also for paper-making; and by modifying tho machinery, lam inclined to think that the pulp from flax might be converted into a paper of qualities which could be substituted for the lighter kinds of calico and scrim. By restoring the gum to the pulp in the process of manufacture, and submitting it to a high temperature, a waterproof material is obtained. The timber trees of the Colony are, with few exceptions, more adapted for ornamental and indoor purposes than those that are obtained readily from other countries. The subject of the immediate planting of large portions of the Colony, from which the natural forest has been denuded, with the most profitable class of introduced trees is one of the most important in this Colony, to which public attention should be directed. As a rule, pine trees would be found to be best adapted for New Zealand, —and among the pine trees, those which develop the least resinous matter. I should think the wood of trees deciduous in other countries would be found inferior to the qualities that might be expected from it when grown in this country. There is however a much greater variety in the climate of New Zealand than is generally thought in relation to the question of the growth of trees, and no general rule could be laid down that would be applicable to the whole Colony. The most desirable step for Government to take 3