H.—l3.

3

The regulations provided that exhibits must be forwarded to the Commissioners at Wellington before the first week in July, unless otherwise specially arranged for. The articles of which the Commissioners particularly desired the collection were chiefly as follows : Gold, grain, flour, wool, woollen goods, coal, timber, furniture manufactured from New Zealand woods; flax, rope, &c; kauri gum, tanning barks, leather, dyes, paint, &c; preserved meat, cheese; wine, beer, and spirits ; tobacco (leaf and cigars); mineral waters, minerals and ores ; works of art illustrative of New Zealand scenery and natural history (photographs, plans, maps, &c.) ; miscellaneous articles, such as illustrate the history of the country or its inhabitants. A sum of £495 ss. sd. has been actually spent, or advanced to Local Committees, up to the 30th June, viz.:— £ s. d. Napier Local Committee .. .. .. .. 15 0 0 Grahamstown Local Committee .. .. .. 15 0 0 Timaru Local Committee .. .. .. .. 15 0 0 Queenstown Local Committee .. .. .. .. 15 0 0 Gisborne Local Committee .. .. .. .. 15 0 0 Dunedin Local Committee .. .. .. .. 55 0 0 Christchurch Local Committee .. .. .. .. 52 17 6 Wellington Local Committee .. .. .. .. 50 0 0 W. Irwin Grayling, special grant .. .. .. 20 0 0 Rent of St. George's Hall, lower flat .. .. .. 20 0 0 Draftsman, for statistical work .. .. .. 49 0 0 Secretary's salary .. .. .. .. .. 125 0 0 Messenger and hall-keeper, St. George's Hall .. .. 26 8 0 Fire insurance .. .. . .. .. 3 11 1 Petty expenses .. .. .. .. .. 18 8 10 £495 5 5 The Commissioners have voted additional sums amounting to £1,018 2s. 6d. for the use of Local Committees and as special grants for exhibitors, also for the rent of St. George's Hall as a depot for the reception and packing of exhibits to the 6th August next. The Commissioners estimate that £3,140 will be the very smallest sum required to carry out a due representation for the colony, as follows, viz. : — £ s. d. Expenses at head office and Sydney expenses .. .. 860 0 0 Grants to various Local Committees aud special exhibitors .. 1,330 0 0 Gold specimens .. .. .. .. .. 200 0 0 Plans and publications .. .. .. .. 300 0 O Freight to and from Sydney .. .. .. .. 150 0 0 Fitting of court in Exhibition .. .. .. .. 300 0 0 £3,140 0 0 Your Excellency was pleased to assume the presidency of the Commission on the 17th April. In consequence of the great interest taken by your Excellency in presiding over the meetings of the Commission, also by personally encouraging the various Local Committees, an increased disposition to work up their districts has been shown by those Committees which previously had been somewhat inert; and it is hoped the desire which your Excellency has expressed that the colony should be thoroughly represented at the first International Exhibition to be held in the Australasian Colonies will be fully realized. The intimation that Government intend to exhibit a Maori carved house was received with much satisfaction by the International Commissioners in Sydney, and the worthy example has been availed of to its full extent to encourage other Commissions to send similar ethnological exhibits from Fiji, New Caledonia, and other Polynesian Islands; and may be the means of leading to the formation of a more interesting ethnological collection than has been brought together at any previous International Exhibition in Europe or America. The space in the Exhibition placed at the disposal of the Commission is in the most favourable possible position. Upon the main floor 75 by 75 feet is allotted, making a total of 5,625 square feet, with a proportionate amount in the galleries aud basement in as nearly as possible corresponding situations. A small amount of space will also be available in the central part of the transept facing the New Zealand Court, say about 600 or 700 feet, for the exhibition of trophies and articles of a similar character. Regarding the prospects of the share New Zealand will be able to take in the forthcoming Exhibition, it is at present premature to express an opinion; but so far the Commissioners feel satisfied that exhibits of all kinds, illustrative of the produce and industry of the colony, will be represented. What will benefit New Zealand most is, of course, not competition with older countries, but showing by her exhibits that she possesses in abundance the material resources that go to make up national wealth. There are many branches in which it is impossible that this colony