H.—22.

35

Philadelphia, 4th January, 1877. Report on Awards. Product: Fruit-wines from gooseberries, apples, plums, cherries, &c. Name and address of exhibitor: James Smith, Nelson, New Zealand. The undersigned, having examined the product herein described, respectfully recommend the same to the United States Centennial Commission for award, for the following reasons —namely : Wines from several fruits and berries, well blended and composed, very tasteful and palatable, and kept in excellent condition. Signature of Judge: Giiido Mabx. Approval of Group Judges : John Bbadtobd, W. S. Guene, W. C. Kekb, Juan Moepht, E. T. Brown, De Nicolatj Mobena, E. 11. Baumhaiieb, 11. G. Jolt. A true copy of the record: Fbancis A. Walk.cc, Chief of the Bureau of Awards. Given by authority of the United States Centennial Commission: J. H. Campbell, Secretary; A. T. Goshorn, Director-General; J. E. Hawley, President. Medals and certificates awarded to James Smith, New Street, Nelson, New Zealand, since 1872, for excellency of Nelson-made wines and cordials. —No. 1, First Provincial Prize, awarded by Eichmond Agricultural Association, April, 1872 ; No. 2, certificate of honorable mention, awarded by Thames Industrial Exhibition, 1872; No. 3, Interprovincial Exhibition, Christchurch, 1872, medal and first-class certificate ; No. 4, Nelson Exhibition, 1873, two medals, with first-class certificate and special prize ; No. 5, First Provincial Prize, awarded by Eichmond .Agricultural Association, 1875 ; No. 6, ditto, 1876 ; No. 7, ditto, 1877 (for dark wine) ; No. 8, ditto, 1878 (for champagne) ; No. 9, Centennial Commission Medal, Grand National Certificate, together with certificate of report—United States Centennial Commission, 1876. 1 . ,

No. 18. Acknowledgment by Mr. Theophilus Daniel, of Eivcrton, Southland, of a Circular received by him from the Eoyal Commission on Local Industries on 23rd April, 1880, with Suggestions offered by him. 1. As splendid barley can be grown in the Southland District, he thinks it a pity that distillation .should have been stopped. He is of opinion that something should be done to create a local market for barley. 2. Beet-root Sugar. —A bonus should be offered for the manufacture of sugar from beet-root, there being a number of small farmers in the district who could profitably cultivate the beet. 3. Linseed.—Every encouragement should be given to the growth of linseed, and the preparation of oil-cake for fattening stock.

Maize, Wattle-babe, Tobacco. No. 19. Mr. A. Hills to Mr. Commissioner Tinne. Sir, — Island Farm, Mamirewa, 24th April, 1880. As member of tlie Local Industries Commission, I would call your attention to several' branches that I think might with advantage be fostered—lst, the growth of maize as a grain-crop; 2nd, production of wattle-bark ; 3rd, growth and subsequent manufacture of tobacco. Maize as Grain. —l have carried out experiments with this grain for six consecutive seasons, and have each year ripened it satisfactorily, finding that with the same preparation of land as for potatoes a good result can be obtained ; at the same time, note that a suitable shed must be erected to receive the cobs. I have forwarded you a few cobs of this season's growth to Mr. Jakins, Customhouse Street. The six dark-grained cobs have received the same treatment as my potato-crop; the two light-grained are from the outside of a crop grown merely for green feed. Were I certain that the price would not descend below 3s. 6d. or 4s. per bushel of (50 lb., I would embark largely in its growth, erecting suitable sheds, &o. ; indeed, I had intended to do so for this past season, but the excessively low figure it was being offered at deterred me. Here allow me to make a few remarks, which may also be taken as applying to all grains, onions, fruit, &c.; and these remarks embody conversations I have had with various settlers who, under different conditions, would become producers of the articles. They are — (1) that it is not a fair and honest competition that they would fear, but that at uncertain times — possibly with intervals of years —some country will have a great excess of a certain growth, and that our markets will be flooded with that excess, which will be consigned to be sold for what it will fetch; (2) that this uncertainty of market, which is entirely independent of whether we have a good, bad, or indifferent yield of the article, deters many from becoming producers who, under a steadier demand and supply, would be so j (3) that, so far from these conditions being beneficial to the consumer, they are the reverse, the average price taken over a term of years being higher than it probably would be if a steady local supply were forthcoming. You may say, "If the producer takes the high rates with the low, if the average is higher he will gain." Not so; the merchant is the only gainer. How often will you see in the Auckland papers, " The lately-arrived cargo of maize (or any other produce) being out of first hands, prices have advanced 6d. per bushel," or something equivalent! But this is not the only view of the matter: most settlers have not deep purses, and cannot afford to lose a few pounds per