H.-5

1880. NEW ZEALAND.

SYDNEY INTERNATIONAL EXHIBITION, 1879. (FURTHER PAPERS RELATIVE THERETO.) [In continuation of Papers presented 22nd July, 1879.]

Presented to both Houses of the General Assembly by Command of His Excellency.

PROG-RESS REPORT OF THE EXECUTIVE COMMISSIONERS. May it please your Excellency,— Wellington, 31st March, 1880. In continuation of my former report, dated 30th June, 1879, which gave an account of the proceedings taken by the Commissioners up to that date towards securing the proper representation of the colony at the Sydney International Exhibition, I have now the honor to report as follows :— Two meetings of the Commissioners have been held since the date mentioned, namely, on the 14th and 28th July; and at the latter meeting Mr. W. H. Levin was appointed to act as Executive Commissioner in New Zealand, with the view of arranging for the transmission of late exhibits after my departure from the colony. On the sth August I sailed for Sydney, accompanied by the Secretary to the Commission, in the s.s. " Wakatipu/" the same vessel carrying the bulk of the exhibits ; and arrived in Sydney on the 11th of the same month. Although the delivery of the New Zealand exhibits was commenced at the building before that of almost any other country, owing to the demand for cartage, continued wet weather, and other causes, the delivery at the Exhibition was not completed for a month. During this interval the fitting-up and decoration of the court was proceeded with, and on the opening of the Exhibition on the 17th September the New Zealand Court was in good order, although the final arrangements had not been perfected. On the 4th October the printed official catalogue was issued. An abstract thereof shows the number of exhibitors to be 450; the number of entries, 582; and the number of different articles exhibited, 5,453. These figures were somewhat increased by late exhibits which arrived from time to time, even so late as the 11th November. It may be mentioned that the exhibits measured 350 tons, contained in 722 packages; the stated value being over £10,000. The following table may be interesting, as giving a concise view of the nature of the articles exhibited, and the different districts whence they were sent: —

Abstract of Exhibits.

Districts sending Exhibits, and Number of Entries. Auckland, 47; Grahamstown, 30; Gisborne, 5; Napier, 10; New Plymouth, 5; Wanganui, 9; Wellington, 106; Blenheim, 11 ; Nelson, 39; Greymouth, 7; Holritika, 12; Christchurch, 83; Timaru, 6; Oamaru, 11; Dunedin, 146; Invercargill, 32; Queenstown, 21. It will be seen that the number and value of the exhibits greatly exceeded the anticipations formed by the Commissioners, and the expenditure has necessarily been much in excess of the estimate which was formerly laid before them. This excess has arisen partly from an increase in the items of freight, marine insurance, packing, expenditure by local committees, and expense of fitting up the court; and partly from unforeseen charges for printing the catalogue, fire insurance, and the purchase of show-cases and certain necessary exhibits such as flax and timber,

'epartment I. Minerals 'epartment II. Manufactures lepartment III. Science 'epartment IV. Art department V. Machinery 'epartment VI. Agriculture 'epartment VII. Horticulture N To. of Entries. No. of Exhib 76 .. 222 138 .. 439 29 .. 3,798 113 .. 304 10 .. 36 203 .. 635 13 .. 19 bits, Total number of entries 582 Of exhibits 5,453