I.—lo.

12

few years ago the Legislature gave a grant, on my request for such a book. Then, the difficulty arose of getting some one to compile and edit it; and, owing to that, it seems not to have gone on. I have made a collection of books—one of which I have placed before the Committee —with the especial view of collecting all information from which such a book can be compiled. I think it a most desirable thing not only to compile such a book, but from time to time to issue pamphlets of a special description about various industries, and to distribute them among the farmers of New Zealand. They will be received with delight and thankfulness; and Ido not think a better course can be followed. 66. Do you think the proposed Department of Science and Industries would be a proper body to intrust with the compilation and distribution of this ? —I have not thought that out. My thoughts have rather been confined to practical things that I believe would succeed. 67 Mr. Wright.} I understand you. to say olive-trees will bear in ten or twelve years, but will not be in full bearing for twenty or twenty-five years ?—Well, I believe it would be forty years. I mean, I believe that every year, till they reach a great age, the trees produce finer and more abundant fruit. I think they would begin to get profitable in twenty-five years, or less for oil. But, as I stated, probably every grower would in ten or twelve years have abundance of pickled olives to sell, and for his own use. They could be gathered at no cost. 68. Are you aware that in olive-countries trees are not considered to reach full bearing under forty to fifty years ? —As I said, that has been the case in South Australia. I think they begin to become very profitable in about forty years. Still, I think the trees at a much younger age will yield some profit, but nothing like what the profit will ultimately be. Hence we should lose no time in planting trees now 69. Can you mention anywhere else in New Zealand besides Kawau where olives have been growing for any length of time ?—I do not think anybody else has tried, but I really do not know this ; but, if they will grow in the soil there, it is quite certain they will grow much better in more suitable soil. I have not any plants in the best soil for olives. There is only one part of the Island has a limestone soil. 70. Mr. Ballance!] Do you not think it would be a great advantage to have a special department —a department specially charged with promoting and encouraging industries of this kind ?—I believe that would be a very great advantage. I have no doubt about that. I think people have no idea of the number of plants which succeed in New Zealand, which would yield a great profit, and at small cost. There has been a perfect neglect of that subject here. 71. A practical difficulty suggests itself, how plants should first be raised in the country and then distributed, whether by Government officers or private enterprise. Have you given any attention to that part of the subject ? —I think by both ; but I have no doubt private enterprise would do a great deal, in distribution from one to another. 72. Do you not think the Government, to have a beginning, should import these truncheons, and distribute them to nurserymen and others?—l think that so fully, that I have applied to Government now; and they have agreed to send to South Australia for truncheons of the best kinds of olives. I have given away so many of my own, that I cannot this year take any more without hurting the trees. I think having gardens for this purpose is a matter of essential importance. The Wanganui district would be well adapted for them. There is there a great interior hilly country —partly volcanic —which is peculiarly adapted for most of these plants. There are, far inland, high mountains covered with snow the greater part of the year, and there is a flow of water from them all the year. A great part of the interior is volcanic soil of the richest kind, capable of producing all these things. I think in that kind of way it is well worth the while of the Government to establish these gardens. I understood at the abolition of the provinces a promise was made that these things should be done by the General Government. 73. Would you suggest one central garden from which things might be distributed ?—Yes. They might be so distributed to others. 74. You think private nurseries might be availed of? —I think that would be a very good plan. I have generally taken this plan myself if I want to get a thing distributed. I have been obliged to tell the gardeners to come and get the things themselves. The labour and the correspondence was so great that I could not do it. I think the best plan is to make a present to nurserymen of these things, and to allow them to sell them. For instance, with the Oriental plane tree : I was especially anxious to get them propagated in New Zealand, and I allowed the gardeners each to get 300 or 400 large cuttings of this tree, which they sold, and so distributed them through the whole of the North of New Zealand. 75. You think they would distribute them without any bonus ? —I think it is best to let them sell them by competition. I think they might be induced, in selling lots of other plants, to throw them in. I think people who bought them would take the greatest care of them. One plant I was particularly anxious to distribute was the Fourcroya gigantea —the fibre plant —a very valuable kind. One gardener carried away a great many—l think 200 young plants. I was told he sold them, when they were old enough, for something like half-a-crown each. I believe every one of the people who bought these would have taken great care of them. Probably in no other way would they have been distributed so effectually 76. In what way do you think the olive should be distributed —in truncheons or young plants ?— I should give them generally in truncheons; but, of course, you can give them in young cuttings. I have just sent for many cuttings to be sent down here. But the objection is they lose some four or five years in time; but, still that is not a great objection when you aim at a permanent result. You hurt the trees by taking too many truncheons. Of course, from every truncheon you could get, as you cut it, a good number of small cuttings, and these could be struck. I think, looking at the length of time the trees live, the loss of time by cuttings should not be considered. 77. You would suggest having different varieties from different countries ? —Yes. It is an expensive thing to get yourself. For instance, the plants of the kind I got from Cadiz, I think, cost me, when everything was included, nearly £80. That was the calculation I made at the time ; but then it Was most expensive. They had to be got at a considerable distance from Cadiz, packed, shipped, and