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would not be prohibitory, but would tend to send the trade to the manufacturer instead of the importer. If the same duty —namely, Is. 3d. —were placed upon preserved fruits it would induce me to start the preserved-fruit industry. In my opinion, this small addition of duty would not increase the price of the article to the consumer, as were the whole trade coming to the manufacturer instead of to the importer, labour-saving machinery would be introduced into the works, thus keeping down the price and giving equal profit to the manufacturer. Albeet Beetiiam.

Paints and Vaenish. No. 159. Mr. E. E. Edwaeds to the Joint Committee of the Thames County and Borough Councils, forwarded to the Chairman of the Commission on Local Industries. Gentlemen, — Thames, 13th April, 1880. I have the honor to state that I have, for the past six months, been developing anew industry —the manufacture of pigments; and I find from experience that this province, but more especially the Thames District, is able to produce the most useful paints of commerce, with unlimited quantities of the crude requisites —namely, manganese, copper, hematite, ochres, silicates, &c.; and would be able to supply the necessary demands of the colony. But to foster the industry, so as to be able to compete with the English and American manufactures, requires a protective tariff—more particularly suggested as the American manufacturers are swamping the market with very inferior and trashy paints, to the detriment of the Home and colonial producer. The suggestion re varnish is to strengthen the hands of the varnish manufacturers in the colony, as the probability is that, with the abundance of kauri gum in the district, a higher protective duty might induce parties to embark in this branch here. lie whiting and chalk, quantities of this of superior quality are found in different parts of the province. With the increase of tariff valuable industries would be fostered, and new ones developed. Suggested Tariff". —Paints, description wet or dry, 20 per cent.; polishing paste and powders, 25 per cent.; whiting and chalk (present, Is. per hundredweight), ss. per hundredweight; varnishes (present, Is. per gallon), 2s. per gallon. I have, &c, E. E. Edwaeds.

No. 160. Evidence of Mr. Edward Eobeet Edwakds before Mr. Commissioner Burns, at Grahamstown, 13th May, 1880. Mi name is Edward Robert JSdioards. I have been nineteen years in the colony. I am a manufacturer of pigments. I hand you a list of pigments, with samples, that I am now in a position to supply the market of this colony with. These pigments are manufactured from earths and ores procured in the Provincial District of Auckland. 1 can supply a very large number of these pigments at prices below the prices of the imported article ; but when these pigments require to be put into tins containing from 1 lb. to 2 lb., then I cannot compete with the imported article. If a duty of 15 per cent, was imposed upon dry pigments, the consumer would not pay any more for the paints ; it would simply shift the importer's profit to the manufacturer. The number of earths and ores suitable for pigments that can be procured in this country is astonishing: a very little fostering of this industry would soon make it a large business. These remarks equally apply to paste and polishing-powders. These can be procured in this country, but I am in some difficulty as regards the tinning of them. Edwabd Eobert Edwaeds.

Particulars of Samples shown by HI. H. Edwards, Thames Hematite Paint-ivorks. No. of Sample, and Locality where -p , Discovered. 1. Twenty miles north of Thames ... Dark-brown hematite.* 2. Thames ... ... ... Dark-red, fine.* 3. Thames ... ... ... lied oxide, as supplied to the trade.* 4. Thames ... ... ... Brown ,, „ „ * 5. Thames ... ... ... Oak „ „ „ * 6. Botorua ... ... ... Beautiful colour, equal to the costly Indian red. 7 Manukau ... ... ... A useful mixing colour. 8. Thames ... ... ... „ „ „ (bole). 9. Thames ... ... ... Mixture. 10. Thames ... ... ... „ (useful for painting ships). 11. Thames ... ... ... Stone, good body silica. 12. Botorua ... ... ... Beautiful colour for printing, or otherwise. 13. Eotorua ... ... ... „ „ „ (bole). 14. Thames ... ... ... „ ,, „ (bole). 15. Eotorua ... ... ... Slate, beautiful colour for printing, or otherwise. 16. Thames ... ... ... Stone, good body silica. 17. Thames ... ... ... White, almost })ure silica. 18. Thames ... ... ... Colour for printing, or otherwise (and timber). 19. Thames ... ... "... „ „ „ (bole). 20. Thames ... ... ... Good dark red (iron).

* All made from iron,

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