G.—No. 44

LETTER EROM THE AGENT-GENERAL.

The A gent-General to the Hon. the Colonial Secretarx. 7, Westminster Chambers, Victoria Street, Westminster, S.W., Sir,— 26th June, 1872. I have the honor to forward, by sample post, two specimens of towelling —one bleached, the other unbleached —manufactured out of pure New Zealand Phormium. I lose no time in forwarding these to the Colony, because they afford the best possible evidence of the adaptability of this fibre to textile fabrics. I beg at the same time to inform you that I am getting a tablecloth manufactured from the same bale of fibre. lam assured that in quality and texture it will equal the finest _ damask; and I can only regret that, owing to the strikes in the Irish mills, I am not in a position to forward it at once. I have, &c, I. E. Featherston, The Hon. Mr. Gisborne, Colonial Secretary. Agent-General.