H.—3l

4

its future possibilities from undeveloped resources. Bulk samples and cabinet specimens were shown of gold, silver, copper, lead, zinc, &c, from all the leading mining districts of Queensland. Columns and obelisks representing total gold and silver outputs from each of the chief mining centres were conspicuously and advantageously displayed. The alluvial and retorted gold shown in the courts was estimated in value at over £50,000. The collection and variety of gems and crystals were extensive and brilliant, and included many exhibited at the Melbourne Centennial Exhibition of 1888. Interesting exhibits of diamond-drill cores determining the strata met with at a depth of over 1,200 ft., and showing in several instances free gold. A special catalogue was issued by the Queensland Mines Department, with handbooks descriptive of its various mineral fields. A beautiful and instructive series of enlarged photographs marking the development of artesian-water basins of the Northern and Central Districts of Queensland, were displayed to advantage. The Exhibition, in my opinion, proved a great advertisement for New Zealand products and manufactures; and an increase of New Zealand trade with both Queensland and Western Australia would quickly result if good direct steam-services were arranged, thus avoiding delays of transhipment and consequent depreciation of goods and produce unavoidable with transhipment. The necessity for a direct steam-service in connection with tourist traffic alone is too apparent to need comment to those who know Queensland and New Zealand. LIST OF NEW ZEALAND PBODUCE AND MANUFACTUBES EXHIBITED. Agricultural Machinery. —Chaff-cutters (portable and non-portable), grain- and seed-drills, lucerne-drills, disc-harrows, chain-harrows, spading-harrows, cane-cultivators, corn-cultivators, double- and single-furrow ploughs, pumps and windmills, retorts and fire-clay goods. Goal, Ac. —Coke, fireclay and grit, annealed and malleable iron forgings and castings. Cereals, dx. —Wheat, oats, barley, grass-seeds, grain and grass-seed in sheaf, flour, oatmeal, wheat-meal, semolina, pearl barley, hams, cheese and butter. Canned Provisions. —Meats, game, fish, vegetables, herbs, meat pastes, fish pastes, jams, jellies, conserved fruits, sauces, honey. Wines, etc. —Cordials, fruit juices and essences, mineral-waters, malt vinegar, cider, grape wines, malt, stout and ale, in bulk and bottle. Fruits, &c. —Apples, oranges, lemons, potatoes, nuts, pears, quinces. Miscellaneous. —Manufactured woollen goods, lithographic maps and charts, photographic views, perambulators, furniture, picture-frames, ship and bridge models, kauri-gum, needlework and lace, oil-paintings. LIST OF NEW ZEALAND EXHIBITOBS WHO GAINED HIGHEST AWARDS. Class. 7. Photographs ... ... The Lands and Survey Department. 23. Furniture ... ... The Public Works Department. 34. Fire-clay goods ... ... The Greymouth-Point Elizabeth Coal Company (Limited). 49. Textile fabrics ... ... Mosgiel Woollen Company (Limited). 58. Flour ... ... ... Evans and Co. (Limited). 58. Oatmeal ... ... Fleming and Gilkinson. 58. Grass-seeds ... ... Kaye and Carter. 59. Malt ... .. ... Wigram Brothers. 60. Jams and jellies ... ... A. and J. McFarlane. 60. Meats and game (canned) ... Irvine and Stevenson. 60. Fish ... ... ... The Zealandia Canning Company. 61. Stout and ale ... ... Speight and Co. 61. Champagne cider ... ... Fletcher, Humphries, and Co. 61. Cordials ... ... Thompson and Co. 62. Mineral-waters ... ... Thompson and Co. 93. Perambulators ... ... Smith and Co. 119. Windmills ... ... Booth and McDonald. 143. Spading harrows ... ... Booth and McDonald. 143. Grain-drill ... ... Beid and Gray. 143. Double-furrow plough ... Beid and Gray. 143. Disc-harrow ... ... Beid and Gray. 144. Chaff-cutters ... ... Andrews and Bevan. 146. Butter (tinned) ... ... Newton King. 146. Cheese ... ... Otara Dairy Company. I have, &c, W. J. M. Laenach, The Hon. the Colonial Secretary, Wellington. Commissioner.

Approximate Cost of Paper— Preparation, not givun; printing (1,400 copies), £ 2 9s. fld.

By Authority: John Mackay, Government Printer, Wellington.—lß97.

Price, 3d.]