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New Zealand Hemp.—Extract of a Letter from Commissioner Sir Robert Barlow, dated 13 June, 1818.

In reply, I have to acquaint you that the accompanying letter from the rope yard officers contains a table shewing the result of experiments which have been carefully made in this rope yard by my direction (at most of which I was present) on the actual and comparative strength of the New Zealand flax or hemp and of Riga and Chili hemp, in which it will be seen that the New Zealand article is weaker than the Riga and Chili hemp nearly in the proportion of a third.

I concur with the officers above mentioned in their observations and opinions relative to its quality and character.

A box containing the samples which were sent to me, together with samples of the cordage which was tried against them, will be forwarded to you by the coach this afternoon to Blossoms Sun.