H.—ls.

SESS. 11.—1884. NEW ZEALAND.

NEW ZEALAND INDUSTRIAL EXHIBITION HELD AT CHRISTCHURCH IN DECEMBER, 1883, AND JANUARY, 1884 (REPORT ON).

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

No. 1. Mr. A. G. Howland to the Hon. the Colonial Seceetaey. Sic, — New Zealand Industrial Exhibition, Christchurch, 20th October, 1883. We propose holding in Christchurch, in December of this year, an Exhibition, to be styled "The Now Zealand Industrial Exhibition," the objects being to make the public better acquainted with the manufactures, products, timbers, minerals, and other natural resources of New Zealand, .thereby promoting the prosperity of the colony. We are erecting buildings specially for the display of the exhibits, and intending exhibitors applying for space represent all parts of the colony, and the nature of the exhibits are more varied and numerous than at any previous Exhibition of a like oharacter ever yet held in New Zealand. In.reference to a similar Exhibition, but on a far smaller scale, held in this city in the year 1880, the Governor of New Zealand, by and with the .advice of the Executive Council thereof, appointed a special Boyal Commission to visit the same and to report upon the industries and manufactures there displayed, as to in what manner the Government could promote or aid the same to the benefit and advancement of the colony. The Commission recommended that, "in the event of any other Exhibition of the kind being held, either here or elsewhere, the Government should take steps to obtain full and accurate particulars regarding the exhibits, for public information." We would therefore earnestly and respectfully invite your honourable Government to give effect to the recommendation as contained in the Boyal Commissioners' report, H.-22, p. 14, of 29th July, 1880. We have, &c, A. G. Howland, Chairman, New Zealand Industrial Exhibition Committee. The Hon. the Colonial Secretary, Wellington.

No. 2. Mr. G. S. Coopee to Mr. A. G. Howland. Sic,— Colonial Secretary's Office, Wellington, 6th November, 1883. I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 20th ultimo, urging the Government to take steps to obtain full and accurate particulars regarding the exhibits at the New Zealand Industrial Exhibition to be held in Christchurch next month, in accordance with the recommendation of the Commission appointed to report on the Exhibition of 1880. In reply, I am directed by the Colonial Secretary to inform you that the Government will ask some gentleman to report as requested. I have, &c, A. G. Howland, Esq., Chairman, New Zealand Industrial G. S. Cqopee, Exhibition Committee, Christchurch.

No. 3. Dr. Hectoe to the Hon. the Colonial Seceetaey. Sic, — Colonial Museum of New Zealand, Wellington, 10th June, 1884. I have the honour to report that, according to your instructions of the 11th' December last, I visited the New Zealand Industrial Exhibition in January last, and spent five days in examining the collections, with the view of* obtaining full and accurate particulars regarding them for public information. ,- On conferring with the President and Committee on the 6th January, it was represented to me that a more complete** and detailed report than I could possibly compile was already in preparation by the various members of the Committee of Management, who had special acquaintance with the different sections of the Exhibition; and it was suggested that this report, which I have just received, should be submitted for your information, and, as it treats fully with the object of the Exhibition and the merits of the various exhibits, it is unnecessary that I should do more than