APPENDIX B.
Letters from W. C. Brocklehurst, Esq., M.P., relative to the samples of Silk forwarded from the Govenment Establishment, Perth, Western Australia, to Messrs. Louis Desgrand & Co., of Lyons, to be reeled.
Dear Sir,—I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of the communication dated May 15, 1876, which His Excellency Governor Robinson, C.M.G., has been pleased to forward to me through you.
According to the intimation contained in your letter, I received on the 1st of this month 10lbs. of reeled silk from Messrs. Louis Desgrand & Co., of Lyons. These 10lbs. were reeled by them from the 40lbs. of cocoons alluded to by you.
This result is considered by experienced reelers to be exceedingly favorable. It is seldom that so large a return can be obtained, even from good European cocoons.
The quality is pronounced by capable judges to be almost incomparable; the reeling by Messrs. Louis Desgrand & Co. has been very carefully attended to; the quality of the cocoons must have been excellent.
Under a separate cover I have forwarded, addressed to yourself, for the inspection of His Excellency, one skein as a sample.
According to His Excellency's wish, I will give directions to have the bulk manufactured into some description of fabric suitable to show the capabilities of the silk, probably a satin, which is the severest test to which silk can be submitted. There is no doubt but that the result will be quite satisfactory.
This successful experiment leads me to express the opinion that the production of silk in Western Australia cannot fail, in course of time, to become a most important and valuable industry.
WM. C. BROCKLEHURST, M.P.,
Acting Colonial Secretary,
&c.,&c.,&c.,
Perth, Western Australia.
