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Enclosure No. 7. (No. 33, 6819.) The Commissaey-Geneeal to the Undee- Seceetaey, Bombay. Commissary-General's Office, Bombay, 23rd October, 1884. The undersigned presents compliments to the Under-Secretary to Government General Department, and, with reference to his Memorandum No. 3832, of 21st instant, begs to state that the subject of the New Zealand frozen meat is under reference, and will be replied to as soon as possible. E. Asteehan, Lieut-Colonel, For Acting Commissary-General.

Enclosure No. 8. (No. 180b, 11877.) The Seceetaey, Bombay, to the Consulting Engineer for Railways. Sik, — G.I.P. Railway Company, Bombay, 11th November, 1884. With reference to Government Resolution No. 1838, of 1884, as to the conveyance by rail of New Zealand frozen meat from Bombay to Poona, the agent presumes it would require to be sent by passenger train, and desires me to quote as a special rate £14 10s. per ton to Poona. This will be the third-class goods rate. I have, &c, F. W. J. VINING, The Consulting Engineer for Railways. For Secretary.

No. 12. Minute by His Excellency the Eight Hon. Sir James Feegusson. It will appear by these papers that the success of the importation of frozen meat and woollen fabrics to Bombay can only be decided by experiment. The sale of the former would be chiefly confined to Europeans, and those of the richer class. As a rule the meat supplied in the market is poor compared to Australian and New Zealand meat; but very good meat can be obtained by the larger consumers, and generally that supplied to Government House is little, if at all, inferior. A great many Europeans would pay a somewhat higher price for a really good article, say 6d. to 7d. per lb., instead of 3d. to 4d. Ice can be procured to any extent from the Ice Manufacturing Company, and arrangements could be made for storing meat as in London. There are no towns in the Bombay Presidency with so large an European population as would make it worth while to send the foreign meat there, except Poona. The rates offered by the railway will be sent when received.* The distance is 118 miles ; but the native meat is somewhat cheaper in Poona than in Bombay. The commissariat, who are large consumers, would certainly not buy meat at 4d. or 5d., when they can produce or buy it at 2d. to 3d. A large portion of their supply come from Government farms. The New Zealand woollen goods are not at present known, neither is their price stated. I know them to be light in texture, warm and durable, and I feel sure they would be admired. Whether they would be taken up by wholesale importers in competition with established British stuffs is a difficult question of trade, in which comparative price would be a considerable factor. My impression is that, while an experimental shipment is the only reliable test, no opportunity so favourable can be obtained as that which would be given by the Bombay International Exhibition,, at present proposed to be opened in December, 1866. There might then be a refreshment-room opened at which colonial meat, soup, &c, might be eaten, and colonial meat of a similar kind be procurable on demand. Woollen goods might also be procurable as well as exhibited. Calcutta has a much larger European population than Bombay, and the market for colonial meat ought therefore to be larger proportionably. The natives as a rule both insist on having meat killed on caste principles, and prefer it fresh killed. Some of the Parsees would eat imported meat. Bth November, 1884. James Feegusson.

No. 13. Sir Julius Vogel, K.C.M.G., to the Undee-Sbceetaey, Bombay. Sm, — Wellington, 18th December, 1884. I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 14th November, enclosing sundry memoranda and letters in reference to the sale of frozen meat and woollen fabrics in India, about which I telegraphed to His Excellency Sir James Fergusson. I have to ask you to do me the favour to represent to His Excellency that the Government of New Zealand feel exceeding indebted to him and to the Government of Bombay for the kindness and promptitude with which they have afforded the information which was asked. It will be made public through the colony, and it is to be hoped will lead to the establishment of commorcial relations between this colony and India. I have, &c, W. P. Symonds, Esq., Julius Vogel. Acting Under-Secretary to Government, Bombay.

* The information has since been supplied by the Secretary to the Agent, G.I.P. Railway Company, vide hi* letter to the Consulting Engineer for Bailways, No. 180R/11877, dated 11th November, 1884, among the enclosures.

By Authority : Geobge DiDSBUBy, Government Printer, Wellington.—lBBs.

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