184 NEW ZEALAND FLAX. 



C( 



tion, next produce from the Phormium tenax, or other fibrous plant 

 indigenous to New Zealand, one hundred tons of merchandise. 



"One Thousand Pounds: viz. — £200 to each of the first five per- 

 sons, other than those entitled to the first and second rewards, who 

 shall by any process, whether of his own invention or not, produce 

 from the Phormium tenax, or other fibrous plant indigenous to New 

 Zealand, twenty-five tons of merchandise. 



" The merchandise must be saleable as an article of export from the 

 colony of New Zealand, and have been produced at a cost not exceed- 

 ing 75 per cent, of its value at the port of entry from which it is ex- 

 ported ; and the process used must be fully made known, with a view 

 to the discovery being at once made available to the public. 



His Excellency the Governor of New Zealand will from time to 

 time appoint Commissions, to consist of not less than three persons, to 

 act at such places as circumstances may require, and each claim for 

 reward will be referred to such Commission as may be considered the 

 most convenient for its proper investigation. The acts of the majority 

 will be deemed the acts of the Commission. 



u Each commission shall be at liberty to adopt such means as it may 

 deem most fit for determining the value and cost of production of the 

 merchandise, for ascertaining the process employed, and for fully inves- 

 tigating in all respects and reporting upon the validity of any claim. 



■ 



" Every claim for reward must be preferred in writing before the 1st 

 January, 1859, to the principal officer of Customs at the port of entry 

 nearest to the place where it is desired that the examination of the 

 merchandise shall take place, who will at once proceed to ascertain 

 whether the full quantity in respect of which the reward is claimed is 

 ready for examination ; and if such quantity is ready, he will give a 

 certificate to that effect, dated on the day on which he shall have ascer- 

 tained the fact, and such day shall be deemed to be the day on which 

 the merchandise was produced. 



" Whenever any officer of Customs is required to go more than 

 three miles from his residence, his travelling expenses must be paid 

 beforehand by the person requiring his attendance, and he cannot be 

 required to attend a second time if the quantity was found deficient 

 on the first occasion. 



11 One-half of any reward will be paid at once to any person whom 

 a Commission shall report, and the Governor shall have determined to 



