H.—3o

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work, art-work in metal, pottery, and mosaic. The work is excellent, and proves that this school of applied science is doing good solid work in developing the artistic and creative power of the students. The Sloyd classes of the Boys' High School, under the management of Mr. Hurst Seager, gives a very remarkable exhibition of geometrical crystallisation form. In each case the pupil is required to draw accurately the proper faces of the desired crystal from calculations, and afterwards to reproduce it in skeleton with wire, in hollow with cardboard, and in solid with soap. Carpentering- and joining-work is also shown by the school, the lads seeming to take great pleasure in illustrating and explaining everything. The working dynamos and a variety of electro-magnetic machines, part of the installation that supplies light to many of the exhibition stalls, together with a 1,000-candle-power lamp outside the building, supplied by Mr. E. Turnbull, of Wellington, attract much attention, and were fully explained to interested crowds by Mr. C. Seager and Miss Seager, who distributes coffee made by an electric fire to illustrate the thorough manner in which that erratic power has been domesticated. Wood-turning is also well exhibited by Mr. Edmonds and assistants in its various applications, and all in native woods. Metal-turning also, by Mr. Danks. The beautifully silent and pliant work of the potter's wheel is skillfully displayed by Mr. Luke Adams. Mr. H. Wilson, assisted by his clever pupils, are busily engaged in bold carvings in wood and in soap, which latter seems to be a capital material for exercising this art upon. Mr. Hoffman shows to what perfection basket-work can be brought, and Yon Surakowaki manufactured the most complicated looking articles in wire work in a mysteriously rapid and simple manner. Hat-making, the manufacture of lead lights, organ-pipe making, type-setting, and printing are all represented in operation, and one of the most interesting parts of this section was Mr. Partridge's working jeweller s bench, at which the assistants are two apprentices from the Deaf and Dumb Institute at Sumner. The intelligence and accuracy with which they performed their work,, from the fusing of the silver to its finished manufacture into trinkets, was a most interesting sight, and proves how well their mental faculties have been trained and developed in spite of their great natural disability. The mineral exhibits were not extensive, so far as raw materials are concerned, there being only a few large blocks of coal from the West Coast, and a collection of rocks and ores from the Malvern Hills district, collected by Mr. Ford; also a sample of titaniferous iron-sand from Amuri. The exhibits of manufactured materials is excellent. The pottery, earthenware, and firebricks shown by Mr. H. B. Kirk, the President of the Exhibition, being remarkably prominent;; so also are the lime and cement exhibits from Mr. Wilson, of Auckland, and from the Milburn Company, of Dunedin. The concert hall, which holds about seven hundred persons, was in daily use, generally both in the afternoon and evening, a well-selected programme of lectures, concerts, and other entertainments having been framed before the opening and strictly adhered to. The attendance at the Exhibition was always good, and on some nights the buildings were decidedly overcrowded. The takings during the first three weeks, up to the time of my visit, had been about £70 on ordinary days, and £110 on Thursdays and Saturdays, which are half-holidays, so that there should be nodoubt as to the financial success of the undertaking. The educational aspect of the Exhibition was well attended to, the various city and country schools being mustered in succession, and taken round the Exhibition to see the exhibits. The decoration of the interior of the Exhibition was simple but effective, and a pleasant feature was the constant supply of fresh flowering-plants. The refreshment-stalls seemed to be well organized and largely patronised, and the Committee had evidently, as a labour of love, done all in their power to secure the comfort and gratification of the visitors. A very good catalogue of the exhibits, profusely illustrated with photo, engravings, was distributed at a moderate cost, and must be referred to for a complete enumeration of the exhibits. In this brief notice it has only been possible to indicate a few of the most important of the exhibits, and it is not for want of merit that so many have been left without mention. The notices of the Exhibition in the daily and weekly newspapers have been very complete and skilfully written, and I understand that, founded on them, a pamphlet giving a complete record of the Exhibition is being compiled. In concluding this sketch I have great pleasure in expressing my satisfaction with the success of the Exhibition in advancing the objects for which it was promoted. Any sum which arises as a profit is, I understand, to be devoted to the erection of a permanent home for industrial exhibits and class-rooms where technical education will be imparted. With such an institution it will be more easy and less expensive to organize future Exhibitions at proper intervals of time. From the experience gained it appears to be very desirable, in the interests of our rapidlydeveloping industries, that such expositions should be repeated frequently, and in different parts of the colony, as they exercise a marked influence on the educational development of the adult population in a new country. I have, &c, Jambs Hegtob. The Hon. A. J. Cadman, Minister of Mines. Approximate Cost of Paper.— Preparation not given; printing (1,250 copies) £2 2s. 6,d.

By Authority : Saiiubl Costall, Government Printer, Wellington.—lB9s. Price 3d.]