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acres being considered a large farm. Rents are higher and better paid than elsewhere. A population of 235 to the square mile is maintained in peace and comparative comfort. Auckland has a better climate; land equally suitable for growing flax. Only prove that flax can be grown here, and you will soon have thousands of the very men who now grow the Irish flax flocking to your shores, not to ask for employment, but to settle on land of their own, and to employ themselves and their families in growing flax; thus producing a valuable article for export, of easy transit, and small bulk—creating a new trade of almost unlimited extent,—increasing and improving agriculture,—forming nucleus of villages, &c.

4th Query.—What encouragement would be sufficient to induce qualified persons to commence this culture in the first instance?

Very little encouragement would be necessary to induce persons who have been accustomed to flax culture to resume so profitable an employment, if the question were settled as to the suitability of this Province for the purpose.

A certainty of a supply of good seed, and a certainty of a regular market for the finished flax, at fair prices, would suffice. To induce a first and fair trial will not be an expensive affair. I would suggest that, say, 20 barrels of the very best Riga flax seed be imported, which would probably cost in Auckland about £5 0 0. (This would be sufficient seed for about 25 English acres.)

Premiums should be given for the best growing crops of flax, in three classes or more.......................................... 50 0

Premiums for the best scutched flax, also in three or more classes.......................................... 50 0

A market should be guaranteed for the produce of this seed, say about 7 tons of scutched flax, at a price equal to the value of Irish flax of similar quality. As the object is the encouragement of growth, a loss may naturally be calculated between the price paid for flax here and the net proceeds of sales, say, £70 per ton.......................................... 70 0

Probable cost of experiment.......................................... £280 0

The proceedings for the second and third year would be regulated by the experience of the first. The seed should be ordered by first homeward mail, and should arrive in Auckland not later than October. In the meantime, such persons as have had former experience should be induced to prepare suitable land, and seed should be guaranteed to them in proportion to the land that would prepare. The seed to be supplied free of cost, on condition of the produce being produced as scutched flax in Auckland, for exhibition, or for sale, or for shipment. As far as possible seed should only be supplied to qualified persons free of cost.

5th Query.—What would be the probable cost of growing the flax and preparing it for market?

Several detailed statements have been published from time to time by the Royal Flax Society of Ireland, one of which I annex:—

"Statement by John Burr, manager of the Earl of Caledon’s model farm.

"Produce of 1a. 1r. 89p.—95st. 5lb. at 11s. 9d. per stone—94s. per cwt................................. £65 19 7½

"Scutching tow.......................................... 0 8 0

"130 bushels green flax bolls, value for cattle feed, 8d. per bushel.......................................... 4 6 8

.................................................................... £60 14 3½

"Expenses of crop.

"5 bushels of seed.......................................... £3 16 6

"Weeding (by children)........................................... 0 10 0

"Pulling, rippling, and steeping.......................................... 4 3 8

"Taking out of steep and spreading.......................................... 2 1 4

"Lifting and tying.......................................... 1 2 8

"Scutching at mill.......................................... 4 9 4½

.................................................................... 16 3 6½

"Profit at the rate of £29 13s. 10d. per acre.......................................... £44 10 9"

This of course is the result of the best and most careful labour, and no necessary expense spared. I see no deduction made for rent or for preparation of the land.

The value of an acre of flax is estimated at from £20 for middling, to £40 for really good, per acre, and the cost of labour and scutching from £6 to £10 per acre.

6th Query.—Would there be a continuous demand for flax at such prices as would make the culture profitable?

The consumption of flax has been on the increase for many years, and prices have been gradually advancing. Flax spinning mills have been extending yearly. Very large quantities of flax are annually imported into Great Britain. Great exertions are made to extend the growth of Irish flax, yet the manufacturers express anxiety as to supplies. The latest prices I have seen quoted for Irish flax are from £60 to £120 per ton, as in quality. The demand for coarse, medium, and fine flax being equally brisk.

A system of selling flax in the straw has been commenced of late years, consequent on the introduction of new systems for steeping and preparing flax. A rettery is built in which every process of flax preparation is carried on under the closest inspection and in the most scientific manner. The grower pulls the flax and sells it in the straw at one of the rettery establishments, and has no more trouble with it. One farmer gave a statement of 18a. 0r. 27¼p., Irish measure, which produced 77 tons 7 cwt. of flax straw, which he sold at £3 10s. per ton, amounting to £270. The cost of the crop, including rent, seed, and labour, poor rate and county cess, was £6 18s. per Irish acre, leaving a clear profit of £7 19s. per Irish acre.

This system has since been carried further. The proprietor of the rettery rents ploughed land, ready for the seed, for which I see by a late newspaper as high as £7 rent per acre has been paid for one crop of flax. He sows the seed and attends to the crop whilst growing, pulls the flax, and removes the straw to the rettery, where it is converted into the finished fibre, costing in the growing and various processes £45 per ton of fibre, which fibre is sold, according to quality, at from £60 to £120 per ton.

These retteries would be equally suitable in New Zealand when the progress of flax culture would warrant the expenditure of erection. When I left Ireland the spinners gave the preference to flax prepared by the growers on the old system of steeping.

I will be happy to answer other queries and communicate any further information I possess.—I am, sir,

Yours very respectfully,

John Williamson, Esq.

Thomas A. Kidd.

Auckland,

23rd April, 1867.

Dear Sir,—I have to acknowledge the receipt of your communication of date the 20th, and to thank you for the promptness with which you have furnished the information I solicited in my letter of the 17th.—I remain,

J. Williamson.

Thomas A. Kidd, Esq., Auckland.