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Accordingly, I had a set of the usual papers prepared, comprising— I. Abstract of general regulations ; New Zealand regulations and system of classification adopted. 11. Form of application for space. 111. Form of reports for Judges. These have been printed, and a first supply received from the Government Printer has been partly distributed to some of the local Committees, as well as to some of the New Zealand contributors to the Sydney Exhibition whose exhibits, although under instructions to be returned direct at the close of the Exhibition, it was deemed desirable to secure for Exhibition at Melbourne. To the same Exhibitors, also, and with the same view, a circular was addressed as authorised by the Sydney Exhibition Commission. I took occasion during a recent journey South, to see the Secretaries and some of the members of the various local Committees at Christchurch, Dunedin, and Invercargill, and to urge on the business of collecting suitable exhibits. When at Dunedin, 1 also arranged with the Union Steam Shipping Company for the reception and transmission of exhibits. Communication was opened with the Secretary of the Melbourne Exhibition Commission, in a letter dated the 15th March, and a request was made for a complete set of all papers relating to the Exhibition. Wellington, 9th April, 1880. James Hectok-

EEPOBT OF THE ACTING EXECUTIVE COMMMISSIONEE. Wellington, 4th June, 1880. I have the honor to present for the information of the Executive Commissioner a brief report of proceedings, during his absence in Sydney, in connection with the Melbourne Exhibition, from the meeting of the Commission on the 9th of April to the Ist of June. In pursuance of the resolution passed at meeting of Commissioners, 9th April, all the Local Committees, with one exception, connected with the Sydney Exhibition were at once communicated with, and in every instance, except that of Gisborne, their consent obtained to act in a similar way for the Melbourne Exhibition. In the case of Napier a new Committee was appointed, the names of the members having been first submitted to His Excellency, the President of the Commission, the Acting Executive Commissioner, and other Commissioners. No reply being received to the communication sent to the Sydney Committee at Gisborne, nor to a subsequent telegram, a suggestion received from the Napier Committee was given effect to, and on the 15th May that Committee was asked to include the Poverty Bay District in its operations; and a Sub-Committee was formed in Gisborne to act in conjunction with the Committee at Napier. A circular respecting accounts and the expenditure of moneys was, in accordance with a resolution of the Commission, sent to the different local Committees; and they have also been furnished with supplies of the necessary papers, comprising : regulations, forms of application, forms for judges, circulars on animal products, printed forwarding instructions, flag address labels, voucher forms, wool circulars, and wool entry forms. In response to a letter addressed to the manager of the Union Steamship Company, on the subject of the carriage, receiving, and forwarding of exhibits, as directed by the Commissioners, a reply has been received agreeing to the arrangements proposed, and stating the Company's agents had received the necessary instructions. Very few replies have been received to the circulars sent out and addressed to the exhibitors at Sydney, who had directed their exhibits to be sent back to them from Sydney. Any intimations received of change of destination were reported to the Secretary at Sydney. On the 24th April a letter was received from Mr. Hill, Acting Secretary, Melbourne International Exhibition, in acknowledgment of my letter to him of the 15th March, and enclosing a set of Exhibition papers, but certain wool forms promised were not sent. These were afterwards received along with a file of papers and plans direct from Dr. Hector, on the 27th May, when 2,500 copies were printed and distributed. Application being received from Christchurch for an extension of time for exhibits of hams, bacon, and such like goods of a perishable nature, I wrote Mr. Hill on the subject on the 10th May, inquiring also as to whether any extended time would be given for wool exhibits, but no reply to that letter has yet been received. Memorandum of secretarial work from the 9th April to the Ist June : Letters and telegrams received, 125 ; letters and telegrams despatched, 184 ; documents distributed, 14,300. Number of applications for space received, 47. G. E. Tolhuest.

MELBOUENE INTEENATIONAL EXHIBITION, 1880. SECOND PBOGBESS EEPOET OF THE EXECUTIVE COMMISSIONER. Wellington, 30th July, 1880. I have the honor to report for the information of His Excellency the President and the Commissioners, as follows :— Applications for space have not been sent in so promptly as they might have been, some additional expense being thereby caused, the delay arising either with the Local Committees or the Exhibitors themselves. Only 17 applications had been received up to 17th May, 123 by 24th June, and 309 by 19th July, the remainder chiefly from Dunedin, being received since the last-named date.