MELBOURNE EXHIBITION C M MISSION.

Otago Witness, Issue 1499, 7 August 1880, Page 15

MELBOURNE EXHIBITION C M MISSION.

At a meeting of the Melbourne International Exhibition Commission held at Wellington on the Ist inst.,

Dr Hector'a progress report showed that applications for space had not been sent in very promptly, some addition&l expenses being thereby caused The number received was 371, which, added to the exhibits transferrpd from Sydney to Melbourne, would make 525, and at least 60 more haye < yet to be received. So far, Auckland contributes 42 exhibits, Thames 39, Gisborne 1. Napier 32, New Plymouth 5, Wanganui 17, Wellington 89, Blenheim 5, Nelson 35 Greymouth 3, Hokitika 10, Ohristchurch 105, Timaru 4, Oamaru 6, Dunedin, 123, Inveicargill 50, and Queenstown 9. Tho secretary, Mr Callis, left for Melbourne on the 12th instant, and proceeded to Melbourne by the Rotorua, which vesiel had on board the first shipment of exhibits— B4 packages from Auckland, Napier, Thames, and Inveicargill. By the Arawata, which left Wellington on the 26th instaut, a large portion of Otago and Canterbury exhibits were cent forward, and an open policy had been taken out in the New Zasland Insurance Com pany on all shipments of exhibits. On account of the delay in the receipt of application? for apace it was impossible to submit them for formal acceptance, and this will no doubt lead to some incpnvenienoo and crowding when the

exhibits come to be arranged, and probably disappointment to some exhibitors, but for this the local committee) and exhibitors were responsible. The information aato space allotted to New Zealand has not yet been received. A vote had been taken by tho Government for the exhibition of L4OOO. Tho amount expended from March to date was L 466 9?, whioh in eluded L 202 10s advances to localcommitteea. A catalogue, to be incorporated with the general official catalogue, wa3 completed, and an account of the Colony has been aaked for by the Melbourne Commission, and should be forwarded in August. A detailed catalogue of the New Zealand court was also in course of preparation, and this will include seven pages promised to the Hokitika committea for a special essay on the resources of New Zealand. A new and improved editiou of the handbook on New Zealand, originally published for the Sydney Exhibition, will be distributed at the Melbourno Exhibition. The total number of entries at present received for Melbourne is about 600, as against 580 at Sydney. The report was adopted.