A.—2a.

of London, Sir Henry Thurstan Holland, M.P., Sir Daniel Cooper, Sir John Eose, Field-Marshal Sir Patrick Grant, General Sir Frederick Paul Haines, Major-General Sir Henry Creswicke Eawlinson, Lieutenant-General Sir Charles Henry Brownlow, General Sir Edwin Beaumont Johnson, Lieutenant-General Sir Henry Dominick Daly, Lieutenant-General Sir Samuel James Browne, Sir Eobert George Wyndham Herbert, Major-General Sir Frederick Eichard Pollock, Lieutenant-General Sir Harry Burnett Lumsden, Sir Barrow Helbert Ellis, Lieutenant-General Sir D. Macnaghten Probyn, Surgeon-General Sir Joseph Fayrer, Sir Joseph Dalton Hooker, Colonel Sir Owen Tudor Burne, Major-General Sir A. Clarke, General Sir Edward Selby Smyth, Sir Arthur Blyth (Agent-General for South Australia), Sir Charles Tupper (High Commissioner for the Dominion of Canada), Sir Francis Dillon Bell (Agent-General for New Zealand), Sir Saul Samuel (Agent-General for New South Wales), Sir William Charles Sargeaunt (Crown Agent for the Colonies), Sir Charles Hutton Gregory, Sir John Coode, Sir George Christopher Molesworth Birdwood, Colonel Henry Yule, Lieutenant-General Charles John Foster, Mr. John Arthur Godley, Mr. Horace George Walpole, Lieutenant-General Eichard Strachey, Colonel James Michael, Colonel Arthur Edward Augustus Ellis, Mr. Charles Mills (Agent-General for the Cape of Good Hope), Mr. Arthur Hodgson, Captain Montagu Frederick Ommanney (Crown Agent for the Colonies), Mr. Eobert Murray Smith (Agent-General for Victoria), Mr. James Francis Garrick (Agent-General for Queensland),, the President of the Eoyal Agricultural Society, the President of the Institution of Civil Engineers, Mr. Henry Coppinger Beeton, Mr. Edward Birkbcck, M.P., Mr. Bertram Wodehouse Currie, Mr. William George Pedder, and Sir Philip Cunliffe-Owen, Secretary. His Eoyal Highness, in opening the proceedings said : My Lords and Gentlemen, —In addressing you for the first time, I would remind you that the objects for which Her Majesty has been pleased to appoint this Commission are, briefly, to organize and carry out an Exhibition by which the reproductive resources of our colonies and of the Indian Empire may be brought before the people of Great Britain, and by which also the distant portions of Her Majesty's dominions may be enabled to compare the advance made by each other in trade, manufactures, and general material progress. This project, to the realization of which I have looked forward for some years, is essentially one of a national and Imperial character, differing in this respect from former Exhibitions, in which the elements of trade rivalry and profit largely predominated. No such opportunity of becoming practically acquainted with the economic condition of our colonies and the Indian Empire has ever been afforded in this country. The attractive display in the Indian and colonial courts at the Paris Exhibition of 1878 could only be witnessed by a comparatively small number of the population of these islands, millions of whom may be expected to view and profit by the evidence which the Exhibition of 1886 will afford of the marvellous progress made by their fellow-countrymen beyond the seas. I also trust that this gathering may serve even a higher ■ purpose, and be the means not only of giving a stimulus to commercial interests and intercourse, but of strengthening that bond of union between Her Majesty's subjects in all parts of the Empire, the growth and manifestation of which are most sincerely appreciated by us all. Whilst Her Majesty's Government have given their hearty approval to the objects for which the Commission has been appointed, they have not so far found it desirable to make any definite grant towards it. The Commission have, therefore, to rely entirely upon the public support of the great purposes which the Exhibition is intended to promote, and on the attractive form which it will be the endeavour of all concerned to give to it. I cannot doubt but that, under such conditions, should no untoward events occur, the project will be more than self-sustaining. At the same time it has been thought prudent not to dispense with the usual provision of a guarantee fund, though I trust no circumstances may arise rendering it necessary to make any call on the guarantors. To this fund the Indian and Colonial Governments have made liberal contributions, amounting to £51,000. I have also to announce with much gratification that the most cordial and generous response has already been .made by corporations, firms, and individuals in the United Kingdom to an invitation to participate in this guarantee. Although no formal or public appeal has yet been made, and the number invited to contribute to it has so far been limited, the list of subscribers not only embraces those whose interests may be supposed to be specially affected by the Exhibition, but comprehends every class of the community. Though but recently commenced, these further subscriptions already amount to £77,600, making a total guarantee fund of £128,600 to the present date. I feel sure that you will unite with me in the expression of cordial thanks to those who have so promptly and liberally come forward to our assistance. It is a gratifying proof of the interest which exists among all classes at Home and in the outlying countries of the Empire, and of the desire felt by them to embrace every occasion to promote the common advancement and prosperity of the United Kingdom and its colonies and dependencies. Considering the inconvenience which would have resulted to the members of the Commission had they been summoned to meet at an earlier date, and in view of the immediate assembling of the various Colonial Legislatures whose co-operation had to be obtained, I deemed it necessary, in order that full time might be given for the preparation of contributions, to take certain preliminary steps, which I trust will meet with your approval. I have accordingly to announce that arrangements have been made by which the buildings and grounds at South Kensington, where the Fisheries and Health Exhibitions were recently held, have been placed at the disposal of this Commission, on fair terms, and the buildings can be made available for our purposes at a moderate outlay. I therefore caused plans of these grounds and buildings to be prepared, showing the space which the Commission could assign to India and to the varions colonies, and the arrangements which were deemed most convenient. These were communicated to the Government of India, to the High Commissioner for the Dominion of Canada, to the various Agents-General of the colonies, and, through the Colonial Office, to the Crown and other colonies, and have met with their approval. Similar communications have been made through the Secretary of State for the Colonies direet to the various Governments and to the Secretary of State for India,

2