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suitable for making all kinds of paper, especially when mixed with rags, rope, &c. I have the pleasure of enclosing you a small sample brown paper, made from one-third New Zealand flax and two-thirds common bagging. I omitted to tell you that I have been connected with the Australian Paper Company for the last three years, and am now buying material for them.

Some two years ago, a Captain brought up, on spec, about seven tons of dried New Zealand flax, which, not being thoroughly dried, got heated and mouldy, and was bought by the Company for a mere trifle. This is now all being successfully worked up, and I have no doubt I could sell the Company thirty tons per month, if it could be obtained cheap enough. My cousin who has been in New Zealand, and been at your place on his way from Auckland to Port Albert, informs me that, from the quantities of New Zealand flax on your estate, and also the facilities you could command in cutting and shipping it, I thought it better to write to you in the first instance, to ascertain if you felt disposed, and it would be convenient for you, to enter into a contract for supplying the flax, thoroughly dried and pressed into bales, and at what price per ton you would be able to deliver it here, Melbourne, and London. It is probable that in a very short time I shall have a contract for supplying the mill here with flax, say thirty tons per month, and also the one at Melbourne. I have also received, per this mail, advices as to value of the samples I sent home to England, and a large house in London is very anxious to receive a ton as a sample; when, after testing it thoroughly, a large quantity will be wanted. In the English market we shall have to compete with the “Asparto Grass,” which can be bought in Spain for £3 per ton, freight 20s, and which does not waste so much as the New Zealand flax, therefore the main point is for your consideration—Can you deliver large quantities, including freight, at £3 per ton here and Melbourne, and what would be the lowest price for a quantity delivered in London? We can sometimes get freight here as low as 30s. per ton, weight, not measurement, to London, when the wool season is all over, and imagine you could get it from Auckland at the same rate, if 200 or 300 tons were sent. As I am anxious that the firm in London should receive the sample ton they have written for, I should be glad to know if you could cut me a ton, dry it, press it and bale it; I did direct it as follows, freight paid in London, if not more than £8 to £4 per ton freight. By supplying the above information per return steamer, you will greatly oblige,

Yours most respectfully,

O. W. RAWSON.

In your reply to this, please address P. O. Sydney.

P. S. The flax I have referred to is simply the dried green leaf of the New Zealand flax plant, pressed into bales.

You will oblige by answering these questions as early as convenient, pro or con, and, should you decline going into it, could you recommend a party that would?

O. W. R.

Mr. J. McLeod,
Kaipara, New Zealand.

PUBLIC NOTIFICATION.

Superintendent’s Office,
Auckland, 15th May, 1868.

HEREBY notify that the Chairman of the First Meeting of the Electors of the Wangaroa North District has, in accordance with the provisions of “The Highways Act, 1867,” presented to me, in writing, the names of the undermentioned gentlemen, elected Highway Trustees for that District:—

Goulton, Benjamin
Hows, —
Murray, William
Nesbit, Alexander
Shepherd, James, Senr.

J. WILLIAMSON,
Superintendent.

PUBLIC NOTIFICATION.

Superintendent’s Office,
Auckland, 16th May, 1868.

HEREBY notify, that the Chairman of the Highway Trustees of the Whangaroa North District, has communicated to me the election of

Mr. William Gibbeson,

as a Highway Trustee for that District, in the room of Mr. D. Rollo, resigned.

J. WILLIAMSON,
Superintendent.

PUBLIC NOTIFICATION.

Crown Lands Office,
Auckland, 13th May, 1868.

HEREBY notify that all that piece or parcel of land mentioned in the Schedule hereunder written, will, on Monday, the 15th day of June next, at the Waste Lands Office, at Auckland, be offered for lease, by Public Auction, at 12 o’clock, noon.

C. HEAPHY,
Commissioner of Crown Lands.

SCHEDULE.

Lot No. 1. Parish of Maratai, County of Eden.

Being “Flat Island,” near Howick.

Upset price per acre, £3.