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A.—2

Copy of Letter addressed to the Secretary of the Department op Agriculture, Wellington, New Zealand, by Messrs. Todhunter Bros., dated Bth January, 1910. Sir,— We want to know whether we can obtain authority to import some sterilized bone flour from Glasgow. This conies from the gelatine-works in that city, and is subjected, in the process of the cxl taction of gelatine, to a very great heat. We had some of it in a few years ago, and it gave such excellent results that our clients are asking us to bring some more out. We should be very glad if you would let us have a reply. We have, &c, Todhunter Bros.

Copy of Letter addressed to Messrs. Todhunter Bros., Christohuroh, New Zealand, by the Secretary of Agriculture, Wellington, dated 11th January, 1910. Sirs, — With reference to your letter of the Bth instant, in which you ask whether you can obtain authority to import some sterilized bone flour from Glasgow, I have the honour to inform you that, under the regulations governing the importation of animal manures into New Zealand, the introduction of this commodity is prohibited from all countries except India and Australia. I have, &c, P. S. Pope, Secretary. Copy of Letter addressed to the Secretary of the Department , of Agriculture, Welling ton, by Messrs. Todhunter Bros., dated 13th January, 1910. Sir,— We thank you for your letter, 10/87, of the 11th instant, wherein you state that under the regulations the importation of animal manures into New Zealand from all countries except India and Australia is prohibited. We have to advise you that we imported and obtained permission to land some 100 tons of sterilized bone flour from Glasgow, for which we are now seeking admission, some, two years ago. This manure has all been highly sterilized ; and we wish respectfully to point out that we hardly think that the interpretation of the regulations can be meant to imply that animal manures may be taken from a country like India, in which there is a great deal of disease, and at the same time manures of a highly sterilized character be prohibited from the Old Country. We ask if you will be kind enough to reconsider this matter, and advise us finally whether it is quite impossible for us to be allowed to laud the manure for which we seek admission. We may say that the bone flour we are writing about has gone through extreme heat in the process of preparation. A small sample of the manure is being mailed you. Yours, &c, Todhunter Bros. Copy of Letter from Secretary of Department of Agriculture to Messrs. Todhunter Bros., dated 29th January. 1910. Sir — Further to my letter of the 15th instant, in regard to your request for authority to import sterilized bone flour from Glasgow, I have the honour to inform you that the Department cannot relax the regulations prohibiting the introduction of such manure. In regard to your remarks that authority for the introduction of a similar class of manure was granted two years ago, I would point out that it was in 1906 that permission was granted, and then owing to special circumstances. You were informed at the time that the Department could give no assurance that similar concessions could be granted in future. I have, &c, F. S. Pope, Secretary. Copy or Letter from Messrs. Todhunter Bros, to the Secretary, Department of Agriculture, Wellington, dated 31st January, 1910. Dear Sir, — We have your letter, No. 10/87, of the 29th instant, and note that you cannot relax the regulations, and allow the importation of the sterilized bone Hour from Glasgow. We shall be glad to know whether the regulations will allow an importation of the bone flour provided it is inspected before shipment, and, if so, whether there is any machinery provided whereby the manure can be inspected in the United Kingdom. It seems to us a rather striking anomaly if a manure can only be imported from India, one of the worst-infected countries, and Australia, and the importation to be entirely prohibited from the United Kingdom. If there is any machinery for inspection provided in the United Kingdom, we shall only be too happy to have our goods inspected before shipment. Yours, &c, Todhunter Bros.