H.—22

136

No. 193. Mr. J. L. Sinclaie to the Chairman of the Local Industries Commission. Sie, — Somerset Place, Auckland, 19th April, 1880. I enclose a copy of a letter I sent to the Hon. Donald Beid in 1877, and also one of his in reply to me. I am convinced, if gentlemen can be got to give their services gratuitously on Education Boards, they can be found willing to examine and recommend new industries for the favourable consideration of the Government. There might be a Central Board of Trade, Manufactures, and Commerce at Wellington, in constant communication with the District Boards, or a Minister of Agriculture and Commerce might be appointed, who would attend to the agricultural and pastoral interests, as well as to the trade, manufactures, and commerce of the colony. The Agricultural Department might have the management of the Crown lands, conservation of native forests, the introduction of useful hardwoodtrees (which our mechanics much want), along with the improvement of the cultivation of the soil, stock, dairy, produce, the application of machinery to agriculture, &c. I have, &c, James L, Sinclaie.

Mr. James L. Sinclaib to the Hon. Donald Eeid, M.H.E. Sic,— Wellington, 27th August, 1877. I have heard you allude to the subject of manufactures in one of your speeches, and I now take the liberty of writing to you to see if the Government can do anything to foster the introduction of new industries into the colony. In 1866 I wrote to the Hon. the Attorney-General, suggesting the organization of a Board of Trade, Manufactures, and Commerce, for this purpose, in that province; but he was of opinion that such an association should originate with private individuals rather than with the Government, but that, should it be formed, the Provincial Government would give it all the countenance in its power. And when Mr. Gillies was Superintendent, I wrote to him with the same object; but his reply from Wellington was to the effect that it would interfere with free-trade. Now, if we turn to Britain, what do we find? Whitelock says, in his "Memorials," that Oliver Cromwell and his Council appointed a Council of Trade to consider how to improve, order, and regulate the trade and navigation of the Commonwealth ; and Carlyle says it was an assemblage of dignitaries, chief merchants, and political economists, and he adds that this affair " was a business of much importance to the Commonwealth, and the Protector was eagerly set upon it." This Council of Trade was undoubtedly the germ of the present committee of the Privy Council commonly known as the Board of Trade ; but for this colony an establishment such as I have suggested might promote, by pecuniary and honorary rewards, any means by which the natural productions of the country may be made more available, useful industries ; that enterprising persons may start undertakings of a kind that are likely to extend the sphere and operations of colonial commerce. I have, &c, The Hon. Donald Eeid. James L. Sinclaie.

The Hon. Donald Reid to Mr. J. L. Sinclair. Sib,— Wellington, 18th September, 1877. I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your memorandum of the 27th ultimo, on trade, manufactures, and commerce, which I have read with much interest; and I desire to inform you that I shall always be prepared to give careful consideration to any practical suggestions for promoting the establishment of manufactures and the development of native industries within the colony. I have, &c, J. L. Sinclair, Esq. Donald Eeid.

No. 191. The Whangaeei County Council to the. .Chairman of the Local Industries Commission, Timaru. Sic, — County Council Office, Whangarei, 21st April, 1880. In reply to your circular letter of the 17th March, requesting information regarding the local industries or manufactures in the Whangarei County, &c, I have the honor to inform you that the local industries now being carried on in this county are —grazing, coal-mining, felling and sawing timber, fruit-growing, gum-digging, lime-burning, and tanning. The means I would suggest for establishing new or promoting existing industries would be the formation of railways and good roads to facilitate the carriage of produce from the inland settlements to the rivers and harbours. I haye, &c, Eeegttsson Smith, Chairman.

No. 195. Note by Mr. Commissioner Bain, 23rd April, 1880. 3. J. Macdonald, lime-burner, near Winton, Southland, suggests that lime should be carried on the railways at the same rate as native coal —that is, 20 per cent, reduction on mineral rates. He says that on much of the cold, wet land in Southland lime is a necessity, and if the farmers could get it cheap enough they might be induced to use it largely in improving their farms. Mr. Macdonald fur-* ther suggests that if yearly tickets were issued by the Railway Department at, say, £50, traders would be enabled to extend their business more readily, and traffic would thereby be created for the railways. The difficulty about transference of these yearly tickets could be got over by having the photograph of the holder on the ticket.