Captain Skinner to Commissioner Bigge.

His Majesty’s Store Ship Dromedary,

Agreable to your wishes, I have examined and tried the rope made here by Mr. Robert Williams from the New Zealand

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hemp, and I beg leave to state the particulars to you. About five fathoms of 3 inch New Zealand rope (untarred) draged five tons thirteen hundredweight and broke with five tons nineteen hundredweight. Two coils of English manufactured rope was then tried of the same size, one of which broke with four tons three hundred, and the other four tons four hundred and three quarters weight.

I do not doubt in the least that the New Zealand rope would be found to answer for naval purposes, provided it would answer the same when tarred, and that it could be made at a price worthy the attention of Government.