Those Varying Reports.

Rabaul, July 20.

Shortly after the despatch of my article on the attempts which had been made in this Territory to grow to bacco, it was announced that samples of tobacco grown in Papua were for warded to England in February last.

These samples were priced or valued at 2/10, 3/2, and 3/6 per lb., according to quality.

As previously pointed out, should tobacco culture become one of New Guinea’s local industries, and reach dimensions sufficient to satisfy local demands, European markets would ap pear to offer the best scope. I made mention of the difference between ex pert reports from Europe and those from Australia: but, for fear of re iteration, I did not state that as late as January of this year, further samples of tobacco leaf from this Ter ritory were forwarded for the purpose cf ascertaining its quality and com mercial value.

The tobacco company in Australia, to which the samples were forwarded, has again made an adverse report.

Yet a month later our neighbouring Territory sent samples of tobacco leaf to England, with the result that the high values as mentioned were allotted.

In these circumstances, it is to be regretted that samples of tobacco leaf were not also forwarded from this Territory to England at the same time as they were sent to Australia, as the results might have been most inter esting.

In a recent issue of the New Guinea Gazette, it is noted that the Adminis tration, with a view of helping plan ters and others in these times of stress, have amended the law to allow portion of the regulation issue of to bacco to natives to be made of local leaf tobacco.