H.—l3.

4

should be represented, and therefore the Commissioners considered it better to concentrate a tention upon those departments in which we may fairly hope to hold our own, if not to excel. The system of classification of articles to be received comprises seven departments, viz.;— Department 1. Mining, metallurgy, and their products. „ 2. Manufactures. „ 3. Education and science. „ 4. Art. „ 5. Machinery. „ 6. Agriculture. „ 7. Horticulture. Two hundred and forty-three exhibitors are now entered in tho draft catalogue, and it is estimated, when all the returns have been received from the Local Committees, a muster of something like 400 contributors will be enrolled. The date fixed up to which exhibits can be received at Wellington is the 7th July, except in the matter of a few special cases, when a later date has been conceded. The Directors of the various public Museums in tho colony have been working assiduously in making up thorough collections in all departments, and the mining interests especially will be well represented by specimens of minerals, and columns of coal and building stone, which, together with other items of this department, will tend to make a very creditable display. In manufactures some fine specimens of cloth, blankets, and other woollen fabrics will be exhibited from the colonial factories. Furniture and other articles produced from the New Zealand timbers, such as extracts from the towai and other trees, will be most fully represented; rope made from the phormium tenax; brushes, brooms, and matting of native fibres; boots and shoes, and other articles of colonial produce and industry. The department of education and science, which includes ethnology, will, it is hoped, be highly interesting, as its success is much desired by the International Commissioners. In the art department our well-known water-colour artists will compete for the awards of the Commission. Some creditable specimens of photographic art will be forwarded, illustrative of New Zealand scenery. Many exhibits of great excellence may be relied upon, arranged with much taste, and forming a very attractive display, as some of the exhibitors have incurred considerable expense in the matter. Works of art, which the wealth and taste of our connoisseurs have accumulated, will be most graciously lent by the owners, so as to enable the Commission to contribute to the art gallery. Machinery proper is a branch in which the colony, at its present early stage, cannot expect to exhibit, but a great many items which might properly be arranged under this head will be found under those of manufactures and agriculture. In the department of agriculture the exhibits will be very varied and numerous. The forests of the colony supply some of the finest timber in the world, and the Exhibition will give an opportunity for showing how well adapted for purposes of ornament and decoration are many of the woods of this colony, and many exhibits will be found conspicuous alike for beauty and utility. Great exertions arc being made in order to obtain a first-class display of wool from the new season's clip. As already stated, a special show will be held in Sydney in December next, the time of year being too far advanced to get any quantity of specimens of the finest qualities from last season's clip. A great variety of cereals will be exhibited in the form of clean, full grain, and well-prepared flour; and the International Commission will arrange for successive displays of grasses, fruits, grain, aud all the other vegetable products. Exhibits of the phormium tenax will be forwarded from various parts, and especial attention will be drawn to them. The important brewing industry of the colony will be adequately represented. The Commissioners are of the opinion that every effort should be made to encourage the production of the best classes of ale and beer, as a productive industry for which New Zealand has peculiar climatic advantages. Fruit wines will be represented, amongst others, by a manufacturer who was so successful at the Philadelphia Exhibition, and upon whose productions the following remarks were made in the official Report of the Jurors at the Philadelphia Exhibition : " The fruit wines of New Zealand excelled all similar kinds exhibited at Philadelphia, aud their goodness has already induced like production in America." In horticultural specimens New Zealand will be chiefly represented by collections of ferns, properly dried and classified. A list of the members of the Local Committtees and a copy of the regulations issued by the Commissioners is hereto appended. To His Excellency James Hectoe, Sir Hercules Eobinson, G.C.M.G., Executive Commissioner. President, Sydney Exhibition Commission for New Zealand.

Local Committees.— Auckland ; J. M. Clark, Esq., Chairman; G. Holdship, Esq.; T. Morrin, Esq.; T. Peacock, Esq. (Mayor). Gisborne: His AA rorship the Mayor and Council. New Plymouth: A. Cracroft Fookes, Esq. (Mayor), Chairman; Messrs. AY. Beale, A. Colson, Hamerton, Humphries, C. Rcnnell, R. Rimdrew, T. Veale, J. M. Vivian, A. Weyergang, L.