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not afford regular employment to the labourers during the whole year. Mr. Knowles considered that 
this product would appear to offer a good opportunity for successful cultivation on a large scale, but 
only when the number of small settlers becomes sufficient to make it possible to adopt some co¬ 
operative scheme under European supervision, and when the needs of the Colony m regard to the 
ether products generally cultivated by the small settlers have been fully met. A high grade of sea 
island cotton requires unremitting care in seed selection and is not a product which can be left 
entirely to the individual efforts of small settlers. The cultivation of short staple cotton would 
probably be impracticable unless a market much nearer than Europe could be found. 
A large number of minor crops are grown in Fiji and some ,of these will be capable of extension. 
The principal minor crops are sisal hemp, maize, castor oil, mustard seed, pea nuts, tobacco, pigeon 
peas, coffee, cocoa, limes, and food crops such as yams and taro. 
Mr. Knowles considers that investigation *is most certainly required into the methods of dealing 
with noxious weeds, and particularly those infecting grazing land, such as Glidemia hirta and quava, 
the former of which has spread to a considerable area of valuable land and entails great expense 
for its removal. 
The Colony produces large quantities of molasses, and could grow a vast amount of such starchy 
V material as cassava. Accordingly the manufacture of alcohol for commercial purposes from such 
materials would appear to be an industry eminently suitable for introduction into Fiji. 
. Tinder the head of Forestry, Mr. Knowles suggests the investigation of the questions of extracting 
rubber from Alstonia plumosa, and tanning material from Doga bark, and of obtaining ivory nuts 
~ J and starch from Mctroxylon vitiensis; and the examination of timbers as to their fitness for various 
purposes including use as paper pulp material, etc. 
With regard to geology and minerals, Mr. Knowles reports as follows:—■ 
“ Indications of the presence of gold have been found in several parts of the group. So far, the 
metal has only been found in various creeks, and the reefs from which alluvial gold has come have 
not yet been iocated. Copper from one district has attracted attention and ore showing excellent 
analysis has been examined at the Imperial Institute. Pieces of coal have been fouDd in one of the 
creeks of Vitilevu under circumstances which have suggested the possibility of a seam occurring 
somewhere in the neighbourhood, and thin seams have been found elsewhere (see the Mining Adviser’s 
Report). I have myself seen particles of sand rising from the bed of a creek in Vitilevu to the 
surface, and, on reaching it, sinking again. This suggests that they were carried to the surface 
through being attached to or surrounded by globules of oil. 
I think that these definite indications are worthy of investigation, while, at the same time, 
bearing in mind the illustration given by the Secretary of State in paragraph 5 of the despatch, it is 
highly desirable that a general mineralogical survey should be made of the whole Colony. The 
possibility of finding some material suitable for use in making cement should not be overlooked.” 
As regards marine products, Mr. Knowles states that the waters of the group possess valuable 
stores of pearl, pearl shell, trocas shell, and sponges, and that the fish might provide material for a 
large industry. 
The Agricultural Department in Fiji is being reorganised upon a larger scale, and the amount of 
research work done by the Department may be expected to increase. 
In forwarding Mr. Knowles’ report, the Governor remarked that an Entomologist was at present 
engaged in investigating at Tahiti the possibility of introducing into Fiji, a parasite, to prey upon the 
insect pest which had done great damage to the cotton growing industry, that a rice mill had been 
established at Suva, and that an Ordinance had been drafted to provide for the collection of returns 
of cultivated land and details of the crops under cultivation. The Governor regarded tine citrus fruit 
industry as being among the most promising of all local agricultural possibilities. 
The Governor stated that he did Dot intend at that time to submit any concrete proposals based 
upon Mr. Knowles’ suggestions, but that he would again address the Secretary of State on the subject 
when the organisation of the Agricultural Department had been finally decided upon. 
Note .—The cultivation of sea island cotton is engaging the attention of the Government and a 
supply of seed is being obtained from St. Vincent. 
The practicability of manufacturing alcohol from molasses was recently under the consideration 
of a Committee, on which the Fiji Department of Agriculture and local planters were represented. 
The report of the Committee was favourable to the project, but there are certain difficulties in the 
way of obtaining control of a sufficient proportion of the local supply of molasses. A report on the 
subject was sent recently to the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research, who were asked 
for further particulars with regard to the quantity of molasses which would allow the economical 
manufacture of alcohol pt any one place. The Department of Scientific and Industrial Research have 
replied that two experts left England on the 22nd October, 1920, for Fiji, to investigate the possibility 
I of producing power alcohol in that Colony 
l ST. HELENA. 
v ) The Governor reported as follows: — 
“ In accordance with the last paragraph of your despatch under reply, I have consulted suitable 
members of the official and unofficial community, and the balance of their opinions appears to be 
in favour of directing any such research towards the development of the possible mineral, as opposed 
to agricultural, resources of the island. Although such minerals as are known to exist, for example 
manganese ore, phosphates and aragonite, have already been reported on unfavourably from an 
economic point of view, it is argued that a thorough geological survey of the island might disclose 
the existence of other more precious minerals, such as diamonds. With this object in view, it has 
been suggested that the services of Mr. A. E. Kitson, the Director of the Geological Survey of the 
Gold Coast, might be obtained for three months, if possible, in order to make a thorough geological 
survey of the island. 
Whilst admitting the possible value of such a survey, I am personally inclined to think that a 
less speculative and more profitable investment of any funds that may be forthcoming for the purpose 
would be in the development of the agricultural resources of the Colony. As to the nature of these 
resources, which are already ascertained, I cannot do better than invite a close perusal of the report 
