THE NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE. 411

Looking at the importance of the objects, and of
the national industry concerned therein, I have to
ask, on behalf of the Association, for your Lordship's
kind aid in bringing the subject officially under the
notice of the Governors of the several Colonies, so as
to promote the objects of the Association.

From the various specimens of Silk shown at the
last International Exhibitions at London and Paris,
it is quite clear that there are many of the British
Colonies, in Australia, South Africa, Mauritius, the
West Indies, &c., which could profitably enter upon
the production of Silk, and in course of time con-
tribute useful supplies to the mother country. What
they chiefly stand in need of, is practical information
as to the culture of the mulberry, management of the
silkworm, and mode of reeling and shipping the
cocoons, information which the Association proposes
to circulate extensively.

Many of the Colonies which are anxious to intro-
duce new industries will no doubt gladly further
the objects of the Association.

I have, &c.,

P. L. SIMMONDS,
Hon. Sec.

The Right Honorable the Earl Granville, K.G.,
&c., &c., Secretary of State for the Colonies.

SILK SUPPLY ASSOCIATION.
(From the Journal of the Chambers of Commerce for March.)

On Thursday, 18th February, an important and
influential meeting of gentlemen connected with the
Silk Trade was held at the office of Stubbs' Mercantile
Agency, Gresham Street, London, to consider the
propriety of establishing a Silk Supply Association,
on the model of the Cotton Supply Association of
Manchester. The chair was occupied by Mr. David
Chadwick, M.P. for Macclesfield; and amongst those
present were Mr. Brocklehurst, M.P. for Maccles-
field; Mr. Thos. Dickins, of Manchester; Sir Daniel
Cooper, Bart., of New South Wales, Commissioner
at the different International Exhibitions; Dr. A.
Campbell, India; Dr. Mann, Emigration Commis-
sioner from Natal and Inspector of Education there,
author of several works on the Colony; Dr. Hyde
Clarke, late Cotton Commissioner in Turkey, who
largely promoted its culture, and was decorated by
the Sultan for the same; the Hon. W. Fitzwilliam;
Messrs. H. Browett, of the Coventry Chamber of
Commerce; Thomas Brooks, Silk Merchant; Edward
Fox (Bailey, Fox, Son and Co.); F. Bennoch, London;
John Slater (J. Slater and Co.); C. Kipling (Kipling,
Pain, and Co.); J. Howell (Ellis, Howell, and Co.),
London; J. W. Chancellor; P. L. Simmonds, F.S.S.,
Superintendent of the Colonial Department at all the
principal International Exhibitions, and Member of
the Jury at those of Dublin, Paris, Havre, &c.; J.
Vavasseur (Vavasseur, Carter, and Collier); J. B.
Hilditch (Geo. R. and James Hilditch); Thos. Bing-
ham; J. S. Martin; Chas. Jupe, of Mere, Bath; and
Professor Leoni Levi, Reporter on the Silk Manufac-
tures at the Paris Exhibition, &c., &c.

The meeting had been convened by Messrs. D.
Chadwick, M.P., and Thos. Dickins, by a circular, in
which they said:-

"The high price of silk during the last few years,
arising from disease in the silkworm in the countries
formerly contributing the greater portion of raw silk
for European consumption, has produced the conviction
in the minds of many of those interested in silk
manufacture, that the time has arrived when an effort
should be made to repair the great national loss
arising from this calamity by the establishment of a
Silk Supply Association on a basis analogous to that
of the Cotton Supply Association. Whilst the imports
of raw silk have decreased nearly 40 per cent., the
price has increased in some cases more than 100 per
cent. The objects of the proposed Association may
be briefly stated as sollows :—

1st.—To stimulate the production of silk, by
cottage cultivation and otherwise, in every
country where the mulberry is capable of
giving food to silkworms.

2nd.—To encourage the introduction and ex-
change of the eggs of the best kind of silkworms
in silk-producing districts.

3rd.—To offer practical suggestions and encou-
ragement to the producers of silk for improving
the quality, and securing a better classification,
and for ensuring greater care in the reeling of
the silk.

4th.—To promote the cultivation of sit in the
various silk-producing districts in India where
the production of silk has not recently in-
creased, and in other districts of India where the
cultivation of the silkworm has almost ceased,
but which are known to possess special advan-
tages, by the growth of the mulberry-tree and
the habits of the people, for its propagation.

5th.—To promote the exportation of cocoons
from countries not well able to reel them.

6th.—To communicate with the Foreign, Colonial,
and Indian Departments of Her Majesty's
Government, and to obtain the aid of the
English Representatives in the British Colonies
and Consular Agents in all Foreign Countries,
to promote and extend the cultivation of Silk.

It is intended that all the Officers in connection
with the proposed Association shall be honorary, and
that no payments be made, except for rent, clerks'
services, printing, postages, and office management.
It is estimated that a subscription of one guinea
a year will produce a sum quite sufficient to cover
the necessary expenses of the Association for the
first year. We annex copy of a letter from Dr.
Forbes Watson on the cultivation of Silk in India.
The following is the letter referred to :—

DEPARTMENT OF THE REPORTER ON THE PRODUCTS
OF INDIA, India Museum, India Office, London,
S.W., 8th February, 1869.

DEAR SIR,—With reference to your letter lately
addressed to me on the subject of the establishment
of a Silk Supply Association, based on the same
principles as the one in Manchester which has had
such an important influence on the culture of Cotton,
I have no hesitation in saying that I consider very
beneficial results would be likely to follow such a
step. There are, it appears to me, excellent reasons
why the Silk trade of this country should occupy a
more important position than it has hitherto done.
The field is wide, and one most worthy of cultivation.
We have capital and can command the best appliances;
and there is no reason to suppose that the requisite
artistic skill, upon which so much depends, will be
wanting—our manufacturers are beginning to see
the importance of that. The main difficulty affecting
the silk trade of Europe is, as you are so well aware,
the uncertainty connected with the supply of
the raw material. This difficulty has of late years
been enhanced by the failure of its cultivation
in France, the effect of which, of course, is to render
her more dependent upon foreign sources of supply,
and so help in some measure to equalize—so to
speak—the elements of competition between her
manufactures and ours. A judiciously worked Silk
Supply Association, like that suggested by you, is,
I think, very worthy of support. I believe it might
be instrumental in improving and extending the culti-
vation of silk in India and elsewhere, and, if established,
I shall be happy to be of any service to it in my
power.—I am, dear Sir, yours very faithfully,.

J. FORBES WATSON.

To David Chadwick, Esq., M.P."