H.—39.

2

No. 3. Mr. Chilman to Mr. W. Seed. (No. 45.) Sic, — Custom House, New Plymouth, 3rd December, 1872. I have the honor to send you, by post, a sample of fungus, of which 146 bales, containingabout 4 cwt. each, have been shipped from this port during the last twelve months. It is collected principally by Natives, and the price given for it is from 2-_d. to 3d. per pound. I have, &c, Eichabd Chilman, The Secretary and Inspector, lI.M. Customs, Collector. Wellington.

Minute by Secretary of Customs. 26th March, 1873. The exportation of this article has attracted my attention for some time past. As much as seventy bales was exported from Wellington by one of the last, steamers. It is quite possible that.it may be of much greater value than what is now given for it, and that it may become an item of some importance in our exports. I think it would be desirable to obtain information regarding it from the Government in Hong Kong, and would suggest that the Hon. the Colonial Secretary be moved to write to the authorities there to find out its marketable value, and the uses to which it is applied. At present a few Chinamen have a monopoly of the article, and it may be that they are obtaining it at much less than its real value. Hon. Commissioner of Customs. "W. Seed.

No. 4. The Hon. W. Fox to the Hon. the Colonial Seceetaet, Hong Kong. (No. 38.) Colonial Secretary's Office, Sib,— Wellington, 28th March, 1873. There is a kind of fungus that grows on the trunks of trees in the forests of this country, which for some time past has been purchased in considerable quantities by one or two resident Chinamen for exportation to China. It is not known here what use is made of this article, and the few persons who buy it for exportation therefore have a monopoly of it. I forward a sample of it herewith, and I should feel much obliged to you if you could furnish me, for the information of the trading community here, with any particulars as to the uses to which it is applied, and as to its marketable value in China. The price paid for it here by the Chinamen who export it is from 2d. to 3d. per pound. I have, &c, The Hon. the Colonial Secretary, Hong Kong. William Fox.

No. 5. The Hon. C. C. Smith to the Hon. W. Fox. (No. 351.) Colonial Secretary's Office, Sib, — Hong Kong, 11th June, 1873. In reply to your letter No. 38, of 28th March, regarding the accompanying specimen of a kind of fungus on which you desire a report, I have the honor to inform you that this fungus is much prized by the Chinese community, as a medicine administered in the shape of a decoction to purify the blood. It is also used on Fast Days. A mixture of vermicelli, beancurd, and this fungus, is boiled and eaten instead of animal food. The sample which accompanied your letter is considered a very good one. The ordinary price of the article it from 17 to 20 taels per pecul wholesale, and 1 mace 5 candareens to 2 mace per catty, retail —that is to say, about 10_d. per pound. I may add that a superior kind of the same fungus is produced in the Chinese Provinces of Sze Chuen and Yun-Nan, which is sold at the rate of 30 dollars per pecul (133 lbs). I have, &c, Cecil Clementi Smith, The Hon. the Colonial Secretary, New Zealand. Acting Colonial Secretary.

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