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During the past year little or no complaint has been made in Auckland in this respect. It is worthy of note, however, that during the year considerable quantities of Fiji gums have been shipped to London. Kauri-peat Oil. There is nothing further to report on this matter as a result of work done during the year. One of the two large companies interested is understood to have dropped the production of oil and to have concentrated on the recovery of kauri-gum. The other company arranged for a representative to visit London and seek information as to the market for the products recoverable from kauri-peat and to attempt to interest British financiers in the proposition. This Department has been in touch with the Imperial Institute for some time in regard to kaurioil, and it is pleasing to be able to state that the Institute has now asked to have samples of kauripeat sent forward to London, as well as samples of kauri-oil a's extracted in Auckland. These have been duly despatched, together with a liberal sample of timber, such as is found in large quantities in kauri swamps. It is hoped that opportunity will be taken at the Institute of going into the distillation of kauri-oils, and that reliable and independent evidence as to the uses and values of the valuable products contained in kauri-peats will be available in due course. R. P. Grevili/r, The Under-Secretary for Lands. Kauri-gum Superintendent.

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