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Enclosures. Sir,— Foreign Office, 12th July, 1886. As it is believed the Government of New Zealand offered a prize for a machine to extract the fibre from the plant named PJiormiuni tenax, I am directed by the Earl of Rosebery to transmit to you, to be laid before Earl Granvillo, for such action as his Lordship may see fit to take, copy of a despatch from Her Majesty's Coilsul-Gcneral at Havana respecting a machine of this kind, and enclosing samples of the different fibres extracted in his presence, together with particulars concerning the working of the machine. Copies of the accompanying documents, together with samples, have been communicated to the India Office. I have, &c, The Under-Secretary of State, Colonial Office. T. V. Listee*

My Lord, — British Consulate-Generai, Havana, 23rd June, iBB6. A gentleman of this city, who has invented a self-acting machine for extracting the fibres from textile plants, has applied to me to know if it is true that the Indian Government has offered a premium for the best machine of this description, and, this being so, what are the conditions to be fulfilled for competing for this premium. I was present at a trial of this machine, which appeared to me to be a success, the fibre coming out quite clean and unbroken in the space of about two irimutes, one pair of hands sufficing for the whole operation. I forward with this despatch samples of the different fibres extracted in my presence, and a few particulars concerning the working of the machine given me by the inventor. In the belief that the Indian authorities are interested in this question, I do not hesitate to tl'oublc your Lordship with the request that I may be supplied with the information the inventor asks for. I have, &c, The Earl of Eosebery, &c. A. de C. Crowe.

De Vila's Automatic Fibre-extractor (made and invented by De Vila, Havana). The machine is simple, easily managed, and exposes the operator to no risk. The management is reduced to supplying the plants and collecting the fibre, which is discharged close to the operator's hands. Working Results. —It extracts the fibre of hemp, taking the sprigs one by one, at the rate of 900 or 1,000 per hour ; bugloss (lengua da vaca), taking four leaves at a time, at the rate of 3,600 or 4,000 per hour ; plantain-shoots, taking one quarter of a leaf at a time, at the rate of about 1,000 per hour; other plants at the same rate, taking the larger ones singly, and the smaller at from four to six at a time. It has the advantage of taking different classes of plants without needing any alteration. The samples of fibre annexed were all extracted in succession without stopping the machine. Competent authorities here state that this is the first machine of the class that gives out the fibre fit for manufacture.

No. 66. (Circular 1.) Sic,— Downing Street, 21st July, 1886. I have the honour to transmit to you, for publication in the colony under your government, a copy of a Treaty of Friendship, Commerce, and Navigation between Her Majesty and the Oriental Kepublic of the Uruguay, signed at Monte Video on the 13th of November, 1885, the ratifications of which were exchanged at Monte Video on the 22nd of May last. I have to call your attention to Article XIV. of the treaty, from which you will observe that, if it is desired that the colony under your government should come within the operation of the treaty, notice must be given to the Uruguayan Government within two years from the date of the exchange of the ratifications. I have therefore to request that you will be good enough to acquaint me as soon as possible of the wishes of your Government in the matter. I have, (fee, GBANVILLK The Officer Administering the Government of New Zealand.

Date. I Description of Document. 12th July, 1886. Copy of a letter from the Foreign Office, with a despatch from Her Majesty's Consul-General at Havana, respecting a machine to extract fibre from the Phormium tenax, with samples of fibre extracted.