H.—23

8

MEETING, No. 26.—12th JANUARY, 1876. The Hon. Mr. Mantell in the Chair. Eesolved that the Colonial Secretary be requested to take steps for placing £500 at disposal of Dr. Hector out of the vote for the Commission ; that the exhibits of soap and candles be purchased from Mr. Horler, of Canterbury ; that the disposal of all exhibits, the property of the Commissioners, be left to Dr. Hector ; that insurance be effected to the amount of £330 in the Associated Insurance Office to ■cover all goods except gold; that the Bank of New Zealand be requested to take charge of the gold, with indemnification against risk, and that it be insured for £450; that Messrs. Levin and Co. be requested to undertake the shipment of the exhibits; that Mr. E. B. Gore be requested to undertake the duties of Secretary after Mr. Bothamley's departure. The Secretary reported that he had received a letter of introduction to the Director-General of the Exhibition, and a letter of credit for £750. MEETING No. 27.—315t JANUARY, 1876. The Hon. Mr. Mantell in the Chair. Resolved that Mr. F. Fulton be asked to select photographic views of Otago from Messrs. Burton Bros., at £1 per doz. MEETING No. 2S.—llth APRIL, 1876. The Hon. Mr. Mantell in the Chair. Ordered that the accounts for timber from the Westland Institute be passed for payment, and also that of Messrs. Hooper and Dodson, of Nelson. The Chairman reported that he had authorized Mr. Love to send a gas machine to the Exhibition, and that Dr. Hector had been advised accordingly. Letter read from the agent reporting the safe arrival of exhibits at San Francisco, and that they had been shipped to New York via Panama, by the Pacific Mail Company, free of freight. Resolved that a letter of thanks be sent to Mr. Bacon, agent for the Pacific Mail Steam Shipping Company at San Francisco. MEETING No. 29.—1st MAY, 1876. The Hon. Mr. Mantell in the chair. Ordered that the account of West Coast Times for advertising for Westland committee be passed for payment; reisolved that letters of introduction to Dr. Hector be given to Mr. John Chew, of Wellington, and to Mr. S. A. McLeod, of Dunedin, similar to that given to Mr. Black, and that letters be sent to Dr. Hector on the subject. MEETING No. 30.—9th MAY, 1876. The Hon. Mr. Mantell in the chair. The Chairman reported that at the request of Dr. Hector, he had arranged for a further sum of £500, to be forwarded to San Francisco, to meet expenses of Commission. MEETING No. 31.—27th MAY, 1870. A quorum not being in attendance the meeting adjourned. MEETING No. 32—24th JULY, 1876. The Hon, Mr. Mantell, in the chair. Resolved that Dr Hector's letter of Btty June, 1876, regardiug the exchange of gold, be referred to Government with recommendations that the request be complied with ; that the description of New .Zealand court, sent by Dr. Hector, be forwarded to Government; that the letter 10th October, 1876, from Dr. Hector, intimating the completion of the New Zealand Court, be forwarded to Government. MEETING No. 33—Cm OCTOBER, 1876. Dr. Hector in the Chair. The Hon. Mr. Mantell's resignation announced. The report of the Special Commissioner, and the arrangement made by Dr. Hector with Mr. Webb for carrying on the work at the New Zealand Court approved ; ordered that the reports asked for by Colonel Sandford, the British Commissioner, and by the Director-General of the Exhibition, be drawn up ; authority given for clerical assistance, Dr. Hector and Mr. Gisborne undertaking to see that the reports were prepared ; that the accounts of the Exhibition in London and America, submitted to the meeting, be forwarded to Treasury ; several .accounts passed for payment; resolved, on the motion of Mr. Gisborne, that Dr. Hector be allowed .all his fares during hie journey from London via Philadelphia to Wellington.