65

A:—2

Coal and Coke. —I have pointed out in former reports that Mexico is very specially a hydro-electric-using country, while gas-producing plants and gas-engines, using only poor fuel, which is locally procurable, are in greater favour than steam plants. For these reasons Mexico cannot be classed as an important consumer of coal. At the same time, there are some hydro-electric installations with auxiliary steam plants, which latter are put into commission during the dry season, when the flow of water is insufficient to produce the required power. So far as concerns the east coast of Mexico, coal for these plants is furnished either from the United Kingdom or from western Virginia. A good anthracite can be delivered on the high tableland of Mexico for about £2 4s. to £2 12s. per ton. It is doubtful if Australian- coal could compete, excepting on the west coast. The native Mexican coal, mined in the State of Coahuila, can be laid down in this city for under £1 Bs. per ton. This coal is suitable for heating-purposes, as in breweries, slaughterhouses, glass-works, &c, but is not a good steam-coal. A good coking-coal can be obtained from British Columbia at a price of about £1 ss. per ton, c.i.f., the Port of Manzanillo, Colima. The firm in Mexico most interested in the importation of coal is probably Messrs. D. L. Flack and Son (Mexico), (Limited), Avenida del 5 de Mayo 1, Mexico, D.F., and from that house data could be procured as to prices and qualities of coal imported into this country. Wines. —The liquor trade of Mexico is largely in French and Spanish hands, and the yin ordinaire or vino Unto has its origin in one or other of these two countries. American grocers stock Californian wines, but the Californian product does not compete with the French or Spanish. It may be noted that during the last two decades native-brewed beer has gained enormous popularity, thus decreasing the sale of foreign wines in Mexico. Tallow. —The soap industry in Mexico is fostered by a high tariff. Native tallow is furnished to this part of the country by the State of Zacatecas, where there are important sheep and goat raising estates. The largest soap-factory in western Mexico is La Parisiense, S.A., Calle Manzano 86, Guadalajara, Jalisco. The most important soap-factory in the Republic is the Compania Industrial Jabonera de la Laguna, S.A., Gomez Palacio, Durango. Barley. —Messrs. Strauss, Kuhn, and Co., with distilleries on the Viga Canal, near Mexico City, are the largest importers of barley into Mexico. Until the opening of the Manzanillo railroad their purchases were made from central States of the United States of America, but they now draw large supplies from the Canadian North-west. Lumber. —Lumber from Washington, Oregon, and British Columbia is but sparingly imported into western Mexico. However, mining companies which can afford the extra expense now order a certain quantity of large-size timbers for shafting, &c, while foreign lumber is preferred for mill-construction. Merchantable Oregon pine, fairly free from knots and in fair-size baulks, can be laid down at Manzanillo (ship's tackle) for about £6 sterling per 1,000 ft., board measure. There is a very considerable importation of railroad sleepers or ties into Mexico. The Southern Pacific Railroad Company brought in large shipments of Japanese oak ties, but it is understood that they did not give entire satisfaction. Pine ties are plentifully produced in Mexico, so that the hardwood tie is that which is of interest to importers. A few lots of creosoted pine ties have been brought into Guadalajara, costing $1-56 gold, or about 6s. 3d. each, free on board, this city. These ties had been creosoted by the Rueping process, and they have given fair satisfaction. It would seem that there is a field for the Australian jarrah and karri timber ties on the west coast of Mexico. Samples and prices might be submitted to the Southern Pacific Railroad Company, Tucson, Arizona, United States of America, and to the Ferrocarriles Nacionales de Mexico, Avenida 5 de Mayo, Mexico, D.F. Cotton. —The duty of $3-50 per 100 kilos, gross on raw unginned cotton, and of $7-70 per 100 kilos, gross on ginned cotton, is a bar to importation. A failure of the crop in the State of Coahuila (from which the supply is mainly drawn) might on occasion call for a rebate in the duty, when it would be well to recollect that several large cotton-factories exist in and around Guadalajara. Guadalajara, 30th June, 1911. P. G. Holms, British Vice-Consul.

No. 16. New Zealand, No. 281. ' My Lord, — Downing Street, 16th August, 1911. I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your despatch, No. 89, of the 29th June, forwarding copies of messages of congratulation received from various public bodies on the occasion of His Majesty's Coronation. I have already requested, in my despatch, No. 215, of the 30th June, that His Majesty's thanks might be conveyed to the senders of these messages, with the exception of the Europeans and Maoris of Raetihi, and I have now to request that an acknowledgment in similar terms may be sent to the latter body. I have, &c, L. HARCOURT. Governor the Right Hon. Lord Islington, K.C.M.G., D.5.0., &c. 9—A. 2.