H.—l3

8

Correspondence from the International Commission was read respecting the admission of live stock —cattle, sheep, and horses; the admission of sheep requiring those imported to be kept a short time in quarantine and to be dipped. This would be enforced with respect to sheep; no restrictions in respect to other stock. Mr. Charles Callis was elected Secretary to the Commission. The Chairman stated he hoped to procure a Maori carved house for exhibition, and that the Government proposed to ask the Chambers of Commerce throughout the colony to act as Local Committees in the large towns, to secure a thorough representation of the various districts. Meeting No. 3— 24th February, 1879. Dr. Hector in the Chair. Resolved, That in consequence of Local Committees having been formed in the chief cities and towns of the colony, and having applied for a grant from funds at the disposal of the Commissioners, that a circular letter should be addressed to them by the Secretary, stating that the Commissioners, feeling anxious to give every assistance to the Committees before committing themselves to any definite expenditure, desired that a detailed estimate of probable requirements should be forwarded, and information afforded as to the manner in which it was proposed to spend any money advanced, such estimates to be framed in contemplation of the fact that economy was very necessary in view of a large expenditure required to arrange exhibits and transmit them to Sydney, and that a sum of only £2,000 had been placed by the Government to the credit of the Commission. Resolved, That the Commission express a desire to exhibit a Maori carved house, provided the Government conclude all negotiations for the purchase of the house from the Natives : the Government to be the exhibitors of the same, and to have it delivered to the Commissioners at Wellington; the Commission only undertaking the transmission of the house to Sydney, aud its re-erection there. Resolved, That the general regulations as adopted be at once printed and distributed throughout the colony. The Chairman mentioned that he had arranged with a number of coal-mining companies for blocks of coal to be exhibited, showing whole sections of seams. The co-operation of Mr. Tolhurst, manager of the Bank of New Zealand, Wellington, was invited in the matter of procuring gold specimens for tho Exhibition. A telegram was directed to be sent to Sydney, asking the International Commission, " Will wool exhibits of next season's clip be admitted in December, as it is too late to get a good representation of that of last season ?" Meeting No. 4.—l4th March, 1879. His Worship the Mayor in the Chair. Resolved, That an expenditure not exceeding £100 shall be allowed to each of the Committees in Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch, and Dunedin ; £30 to be allowed for the Nelson Committee; making a total sum of £430. Meeting No. s.— Bth April, 1879. Dr. Hector in the Chair. The Chairman stated that His Excellency Sir Hercules Robinson had informed him that the allotment of space made for the representation of this colony at the Sydney International Exhibition was in a most admirable situation of the building. Resolved, That Captain Thomson's application for assistance to enable him to forward certain of his mechanical inventions to the Exhibition, being supported by the Local Committee, the same should bo entertained, and a sum not exceeding £50 was accordingly granted. Mr. Hacket having applied for a grant for the purpose of obtaining mineral specimens from the Nelson District, a sum of £20 was added to the grant of the Nelson Committee for the purpose stated. The Canterbury Museum was requested to contribute to the Exhibition through the Local Committee. Resolved, That a sum not exceeding £100 should be granted to the Invercargill Committee. Resolved, That an expenditure of £200 should be allowed by Dr. Hector for procuring statistical maps, showing the roads, railways, telegraph lines, bush, cultivated lands, streams, &c.; these to be reduced by photography to a small scale, for the purpose of binding up in the Exhibition Handbooks, and afterwards to be drawn and coloured for exhibition. Resolved, That accounts to the amount of £63 ss. should be passed for payment. Resolved, That a sum not exceeding £200 should be allowed for the purchase of gold specimens, and that Mr. Tolhurst, manager of the Bank of New Zealand, Wellington, should be requested kindly to collect same. The Chairman stated that some nuggets and showy quartz would probably be available which was collected for the Philadelphia Exhibition, worth about £400. The Chairman stated that he had made a rough estimate of the probable expenditure required by the Commission, amounting to £2,540.