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Several breeders of pedigree sheep are anxious to open up a trade with Victoria so soon as our sheep will be admitted. The president believes that he is correct in stating that two shearings have taken place since the last reported case of scab. 1 have, &c, M. Muephy, Secretary, Canterbury Agricultural and Pastoral Association. The Hon. John McKenzie, Minister of Lands and Agriculture, Wellington.

Sic,— Christchurch, 11th August, 1891. I have the honour, by request of the Committee of the Canterbury Agricultural and Pastoral Association, to forward you the following resolution, which was unanimously passed at a meeting held yesterday : — Resolved, That the Committee of the Canterbury Agricultural and Pastoral Association respectfully submits to the Government that the taxation proposals as at present before the House are against the prosperity of the country, that they are likely to cause widespread disaster and suffering to all classes, and that this Committee strongly protests against these proposals. I have, &c, The Hon. J. McKenzie, Minister of Lands. M. Muephy, Secretary.

Sic, — Ash-burton, 25th August. 1891. I have the honour to hand you the enclosed copies of resolutions passed at a meeting held here for the purpose of forming a congress on agricultural education for Ashburton County, and to ask you to be good enough to give an expression of opinion with regard to State secondary education as embodied in resolution No. 4. I have, &c, The Hon. the Minister of Education, Wellington. Charles Beaddbll. Resolution No. I. —That this meeting constitute an Ashburton Congress on agricultural education, holding annual meetings, and consisting of delegates from School Committess and private persons interested in State secondary education {as defined in Resolution No. 4), with the final object of getting a Bill through Parliament providing for such secondary education. Resolution No. 4. —That the Congress support a State scheme of secondary education, consisting of (a) technical schools in towns, including marine and mining where required, and domestic economy; (b) horticultural schools in suburbs, including forestry and dairying; (c) agricultural schools in farming districts.

Sib,— Leeston, 27th August, 1891. In compliance with the wishes of your department to have our opinions on subjects likely to benefit agricultural industries, we, the members of the Ellesmere Agricultural and Pastoral Association, have the honour to submit to you the following suggestions, which we trust you will see your way to encourage and carry into effect: — 1. Dairying. —This is one of the most important industries in the colony, and as it has been proved that the dairy produce of New Zealand can be shipped Home in the cool chambers and give a fair profit to the producer, and as there is an unlimited demand for the first quality, we trust your department will bring before the Government the great necessity of encouraging this industry by every means in their power. We think this would be effected by having cool chambers erected at the ports, and by having insulated cool chambers in trucks for taking the packages to the ports. We would further suggest that the Government appoint a practical expert to lecture in the different country districts on the best and most suitable methods of making and packing butter and cheese for shipment. 2. Fruit-growing has attained a gigantic size during the last few years in some parts of the colony. Shipments of apples, grapes, and pears have been sent Home, and in most instances, where care and knowledge of packing have been carefully carried out, this result, as a whole, has been satisfactory. We consider this industry will be of great importance to the small farmers, and we would suggest that Government procure the services of a thoroughly qualified horticulturist to send to California to there study the system of fruit-growing, and the various methods used to eradicate the different kinds of blight, and various kinds of insect pests ; and, further, that he should pay particular attention to the fruit-canning industry, and other matters pertaining to the export of fruit, gathering, packing, and the varieties best suited for that purpose. 3. The Fishing Industry. —We must impress on your department the importance of Government paying more attention to the development of this industry. We have a very large expanse of sea-coast, the waters of which abound with all kinds of delicate fish suitable for curing and canning, providing a profitable occupation for a large number of people if Government would undertake the establishment of experimental fishing stations. 4. Grain Statistics. —We would suggest to your department that it would be much better if the grain statistics were taken at an earlier date, more especially the acreage sown in the different crops. That the proprietors of threshing-machines should be required to forward at the end of each season the amount of grain threshed by them, so that the actual returns could be compared with the estimated ones. We have, &c, The Committee of the Ellesmere Agricultural and Pastoral Association. —B. Willis, President. The Hon. the Minister of Agriculture, Wellington.