H.—sa

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embarrassment caused by the continual arrival of fresh and unexpected additions to the exhibits, winch necessitated frequent alterations in the arrangements, the court was almost fully completed by the date fixed for the opening of the Exhibition. The work that was done during this period comprised the planing and erection of show-cases, the decoration of the court, erection of ferneries, and laying on water for the fountains, the erection of the gold and other trophies, the unpacking and arrangement and labeling of the exhibits, preparation and publication of the catalogue, and furnishing minute returns to the Customs authorities, and to the Melbourne Commissioners, all of which required the most assiduous exertions on the part of the staff which was temporarily engaged for the occasion. During the first week after the opening the exhibits were carefully revised with the catalogue, and the returns required for the information of the jurors were prepared. On the 9th October the first of the prolonged meetings of Commissioners, for the purpose of nominating jurors, was held, and as I was about to leave Melbourne, I instructed the Secretary to attend on behalf of the Colony, and to represent the Commission at all future meetings, when not convenient for the Eesident Commissioner to do so. On this date the valuable collection of gold specimens were removed from the Bank of New Zealand and lodged in the gold case in the front of the court, the Superintendent of Police having given notice that a watch would always be kept by constables on duty in the vicinity of the court. On the 12th October, having completed the arrangements for the maintenance of the court, and settled all accounts to date, I handed over the management to the Eesident Commissioner, Mr. John Hutchison Blackwood, who had been appointed by His Excellency the Governor, and returned to New Zealand. The subsequent proceedings in Melbourne on behalf of the New Zealand Commissioners were as follows :— On the 16th instant a letter was received from the Executive of the International Commission requesting the attendance of a representative for the purpose of discussing the question of opening the Exhibition at night. On the 26th the Eesident Commissioner and the Secretary, at the request of Professor Bouleaux, the Commissioner for the German Empire, waited upon him in the German court to receive officially, on behalf of the Colony, two plaister copies of some very famous works of art, viz., " Hermes," and the "Boy and Goose," for presentation to the Trustees of the Colonial Museum at Wellington. The Eesident Commissioner acknowledged the receipt of this very handsome donation on behalf of the Oolony. After much deliberation Jury Eegulations to the following effect were finally agreed upon by the representatives of various countries. Jurors were selected for their character and their known ability to adjudicate in the departments to which they were especially assigned. The Foreign Commissioners nominated one-half, and the Victorian Commissioners the other half of the total number of jurors, irrespective of nationality or place of residence. * The total number of jurors was not to exceed 400. The number of members in any jury was not to exceed 20. When reporting the result of their examination of exhibits, juries were to furnish a statement in writing, and give the specific reasons for which each award should be made. Awards to consist of gold, silver, and bronze medal, and a certificate of honorable mention, together with a special report of the jurors on the subject of the award. The Melbourne jury system of 1875 was to be continued, and each jury was requested to name the exhibitors who merit recognition, and whether their award should be Ist, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, or sth class, leaving the Commissioners to decide whether the highest award should be a gold, silver, or bronze medal, or a first-class certificate. Several gentlemen from New Zealand presented themselves and desired to act as jurors, but as they were only making a short stay in Melbourne it was thought desirable that they should not take upon themselves the responsibility, and Mr. Charles O'Neill was the only juror appointed for New Zealand that acted in the capacity. The jurors' work was divided into 80 classes, and in numerous cases sub-classes were appointed. On the 16th the New Zealand court was finally completed, the supplementary court and the Maori court having been finally arranged, and the exhibits, which arrived long after the regulation orders closed, fully displayed to the best advantage. The court from this date was maintained by two attendants and the Secretary. The attendants commenced the cleaning and arranging of the court each morning at eight o'clock, and considering that upwards of 5,509 exhibits had to be attended to, their time was fully occupied until seven o'clock in the evening, the hour at which the exhibition closed. The Secretary's work consisted in attending all jurors' and other meetings, waiting upon the Eesident Commissioner, recording and answering correspondence from the exhibitors, attending the jurors in their visits to the court, procuring samples and statistics for their guidance, and giving information and answering enquiries concerning the exhibits in the New Zealand court, and superintending the work of the attendants. In November the jurors commenced to visit the various courts, the cheese and timber being the first exhibits to receive attention. On the 20th November a meeting was held (at which the Secretary attended) at the office of Sir Herbert Sandford for the purpose of conferring as to the best means which should be adopted for developing a more extensive trade with India and the other Eastern British possessions. Mr. Buck, the Indian Commissioner, read a paper bearing upon the subject. On the 14th December a further meeting was held, as the International Commissioner still desired to have the Exhibition building open at night time, although the Foreign Commissioners had already firmly protested against the same, and expressed great surprise and indignation that it should again be brought forward.