C.—l

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to the no small advantage of their finances. But the principal benefit that has accrued is that the mountain-slopes are now covered with woods of stone-pines (Pino marittimo), that the rains no longer cause the Toira to swell, and that the town of Varazze is safe from inundations. The Italian Alpine Club has made several partial efforts towards reforesting various points of the Alps and the Apennines, the merit of the initiative in the matter being in great part due to Mr. E. H. Budden, an English gentleman, President of the Florentine section of the club. But, however deserving of praise private efforts in this direction may be, they cannot cure an evil which has grown to such dimensions as to demand a remedy of a national character. I have, &c, D. E. Colnaghi.

No. 5. The Hon. Mr. Dick to the Agent-General. Sie, — Wellington, 27th January, 1883. For some time past an Italian gentleman named Federli (who is an officer of the Survey Department) has been engaged on behalf of the Government in promoting the cultivation of the mulberry tree and the industry of silk-culture. I enclose for your information copies of two letters from that gentleman on the subject. The samples of silk to which Mr. Federli refers are forwarded to your address by book-post, and I shall be obliged if you will act on the suggestion that one sample should be forwarded to Paris, and the other retained for exhibition in London. I have, &c, Thomas Dick. The Agent-General for New Zealand. (For the Minister of Lands and Immigration,) Enclosure 1 in No. 5. Mr. Federli to the Under-Secretaey, Crown Lands. Sie, — Survey Office, Christchurch, 23rd January, 1883. I have the honour to forward to you by post a parcel (tin box) containing samples of cocoons and raw silk, some of the produce of this season, which Mr. McKerrow desired me to prepare for transmission to London. The three different samples of raw silk are—the Italian variety, two skeins, under letter A; the Japanese, two skeins, under B ; and two skeins Indian, under C. I send only one kind of cocoons—the sort which I destine to become the stock of New Zealand for grain exportation. In March next a sample of grain will follow, leaving Lyttelton in the refrigerating chamber of the steamer " British King," and which is expected to reach London about the 10th May. In furtherance of this I beg to suggest—(l.) That the samples of silk may be shown in London to silk-merchants and weavers especially, pointing out that the article will be further improved as the mulberry trees grow older, and when proper appliances would be available for reeling, thus obtaining more softness and gloss. (2.) That the person whom the Government may commission to take in hand this matter be requested, to find without delay some one in France who would test the sample of grain and report on the result. The French Academician, M. Pasteur, of Paris, takes a lively interest in these matters, and I am sure he would gladly undertake the trouble of placing it with some known silk-grower if he were communicated with. (3.) That the samples of cocoons be transmitted to the same person in France to give an idea of the breed of which he will receive grain, informing him also that the grain will be artificially hibernated on the voyage, and so will be ready for hatching on arrival. I have, &c, G. B. Fedebli.

Enclosure 2 in No. 5. Mr. Federli to the Under-Seceetaey, Crown Lands. Sie, —■ Survey Office, Christchurch, 23rd January, 1883. It is with much pleasure that I have the honour to report the success attained in this season by the several breeders of silkworms, both in Christchurch and the Peninsula, notwithstanding the exceptionally late and sharp frost, which destroyed almost entirely the leaves when the silkworms were already hatched. In support of my assertion, I beg to enclose one of the many letters which I have received on the subject. At the late show in Akaroa two prizes were given for cocoons and one for mulberry leaves, and I was told that competition was very keen. I have also the honour to forward you by post a parcel containing four boxes, with specimens of cocoons and raw silk of this season. One box is marked for the Auckland Museum, and the other three lam sure Mr. Eolleston will cause to be advantageously distributed. I have, &c, G. B. Federli.

No. 6. The Undee-Seceetaby, Immigration, to the Agent-General. Memorandum for the Agent-General. Immigration Office, "Wellington, 6th April, 1883. Refeebing to Mr. Dick's letter No. 16, of the 27th January last, transmitting copies of correspondence relative to sericulture in New Zealand, the accompanying copy of a letter from Mr. Federli, reporting the shipment of a parcel of silkworm eggs by the steamer " British King," is transmitted for the information of the Agent-General, who is requested to be good enough to cause it to be dis-