H.—2la

2

Ordered, That the following questions be forwarded to the Hon. W. Crosby; the Secretary to the Board of Agriculture, Hobart; the Secretary, Board of Agriculture, Westbury; and Mr. G. E. Piesse, President of the Council of Agriculture: (1.) In your opinion, is it possible to establish the sugar-beet industry in Tasmania? (2.) Do you think the soil and climate of Tasmania is suitable for growing beet-root fit for the manufacture of sugar? (3.) Please state what in your opinion is the best method of establishing the sugar-beet industry in Tasmania —by bonus for suitable crops grown, or otherwise. (4.) Will you please submit any suggestions which you think will aid the Committee in their inquiry ? Ordered, That the following question be forwarded to the Government Analyst: What has been the result of your analysis of sugar-beet—fair, good, or bad—as compared with European results ? Ordered, That the following questions be submitted to Mr. C. Van de Velde, Sugar Expert, Sydney: (1.) Will you erect a mill in Tasmania ? (2.) What would be the approximate cost of such mill? (3.) Quantity of beet that such mill would utilise per annum. (4.) Price per ton for beet-root at 14 and 15 per cent, respectively. The Committee adjourned at 12 noon until a date to be hereafter determined by the Chairman.

No. 3.—Fbiday, 9th August, 1895. The Committee met at 11 a.m. Present: Mr. W. T. H. Brown, Mr. Bradley, Mr. Best, Mr. Archer, and Mr. Yon Stieglitz (Chairman). The minutes of the last meeting were read and confirmed. The Chairman tabled the following papers : Mr. W. Crosby (Reply to Questions submitted to him, with Lectures, Papers, and Correspondence). Telegram and letter for Mr. C. Van de Velde, Sugar Expert, Sydney. Letters from the Secretary of the Tasmanian Board of Agriculture ; the Secretary, Board of Agriculture, Westbury ; President of the Council of Agriculture; and the Government Analyst. The Committee read the above-mentioned papers, and deliberated thereon. The Committee adjourned at 12.40 p.m. sine die.

No. 4.—Thubsday, 15th August, 1895. The Committee met at 12 noon. Present: Mr. Burke, Mr. McWilliams, Mr. Best, Mr. W. T. H. Brown, Mr. Archer, and Mr. Yon Stieglitz (Chairman). The minutes of the last meeting were read and confirmed. Mr. Mault attended, and discussed the subject of sugar-beet industry with the Committee. The Committee adjourned at 1 p.m. sine die.

No. s.—Fbiday, 23ed August, 1895. The Committee met at 11.30 a.m. Present: Mr. Archer, Mr. Burke, Mr. Bradley, Mr. Best, and Mr. Yon Stieglitz (Chairman). The minutes of the last meeting were read and confirmed. The Chairman tabled letters from Mr. Van de Velde, Sugar Expert, Sydney, and Mr. Mault, Hobart. Mr. Burke supplied an analysis of sugar-beet grown at Westbury. The draft report was read and agreed to. The Committee adjourned sine die .

APPENDIX.

Deab Sic,— Wynyard Buildings, Sydney, 26th February, 1895. I have sent you a few days ago copy of my pamphlet on the sugar-beet industry, and I would be pleased to know what you think of it, and what, so far, they think of it in your colony. I take the liberty of forwarding you a bundle of five hundred copies, which I would wish to get distributed to the Tasmanian agricultural societies. I presume the Department of Agriculture will take charge of that, as they do it also here and in Melbourne. So I will simply ask you to kindly hand the parcel over to Mr. Moore and transmit him my request. I hope you will forgive me for the trouble lam giving you. Hoping you are well, I have, &c, The Hon. William Crosby, M.L.C., Hobart. C. Van db Velde. Enclosed please find shipping receipt. I have received none of the newspapers referring to my pamphlet. Could you send me the number of the Mercury ? Dbae Sic, - 26th June, 1895. I beg to thank you, and also to congratulate you, for having brought up the question of the beet-sugar industry at the meeting of the Agricultural Society. I have the matter under consideration, and I will write you again within a day or two. I have, &c, The Hon, William Crosby, Hobart, C. Van de Velde.