15

H.—l2

No. 45. Mr. G. S. Cooper to Mr. Blakiston. Sir, — Colonial Secretary's Office, Wellington, sth April, 1873. I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 29th March last, on the subject of the salmon ova expected by the " Oberon," and to inform you that my letter of the 3rd instant will have answered your letter by anticipation. I have &c, G. S. Cooper, C. R. Blakiston, Esq., Christchurch, Canterbury. Under Secretary.

No. 46. The Agent-General to the Hon. the Colonial Secretary. 7, Westminster Chambers, Victoria Street, Westminster, S.W., Sir, — 30th January, 1873. Referring to my letter No. 52, 1873, of the 24th instant, I have the honor to forward you bill of lading for one ice-house containing salmon ova, shipped per " Oberon," for Otago. The " Oberon " sailed from Gravesend ou the 24th instant; Deal, 27th January. I have, &c, I. E. Featherston, The Hon. the Colonial Secretary, Wellington, N.Z. Agent-General.

No. 47. The Agent-General to the Hon. the Colonial Secretary. 7, Westminster Chambers, Victoria Street, Westminster, S.W., Sir, — sth February, 1873. I have the honor to forward herewith, for the information of the Government, copy of correspondence which I have had with Mr. Frank Buckland, one of Her Majesty's Commissioners, on the subject of the transportation of salmon ova to New Zealand. I beg to direct the special attention of the Government to the valuable practical suggestions which Mr. Buckland has given for the guidance of those persons to whom the Government may intrust the very delicate task of hatching and rearing the salmon; for, as Mr. Youl has very forcibly pointed out in former correspondence on this subject, the ultimate success of the experiment will depend in a great measure on the care and attention bestowed on the ova after its arrival in the Colony. Mr. Buckland, who speaks with considerable authority on such questions, has taken the trouble to explain very fully the ordinary causes of failure, and to show how they may be most effectually guarded against. I have purchased two copies of the handbook recommended by Mr. Buckland, one of which will be forwarded by the present mail, and the other by Suez. In carrying out the instructions of the Government, I have received the cordial co-opera-tion of Her Majesty's Commissioners, as well as that of the various Boards of Conservators in England and Scotland; and on all hands I have received assurances of assistance if required at any future time. I have, &c, I. E. Featherston, The Hon. the Colonial Secretary, Wellington, N.Z. Agent-General.

Enclosure 1 in No. 47. Mr. F. Buckland to the Agent-General. Salmon Fisheries Office, Sir, — 4, Old Palace Yard, Westminster, S.W., 30th January, 1873. I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 25th instant, in which you are good enough to " convey your thanks for the valuable information which I have furnished on the subject of the taking and hatching of salmon ova." I will take this opportunity of making some remarks which are now uppermost in my mind. In the month of May or June last, Mr. W. L. Buller was good enough to call upon me with reference to obtaining salmon eggs for shipment to New Zealand. I promised that I would do all I could, both officially and privately, for the New Zealand Government in the matter. My colleague Mr. Walpole, and Mr. J. W. Willis Bund, Vice-Chairman of the Severn Fishery Board, also saw Mr. Buller and promised their assistance. Mr. Willis Bund placed his fish-trap at Wick Episcopi, near Worcester, at the service of the Agents of the New Zealand Government, so that salmon could be caught with facility and without much expense.