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Our Dominion Day reception on the 26th September was a pronounced success. Members of the Commonwealth and State Ministries, the Lord Mayor, foreign Consuls, and many prominent officials responded to the invitation, with the result that the occasion was given wide publicity in all the leading journals of the city. The visit of the Hon. James Allen, Minister of Defence and Finance, and the Hon. F. M. B. Fisher, Minister of Customs and Marine, directed special attention to the affairs of New Zealand in this city, and no doubt the result of their respective missions will be a closer relationship between Australia and the Dominion. We have rendered service on behalf of a number of the State Departments in New Zealand, and when articles of importance to any particular Department have appeared in the Press clippings hare been cut out and sent on to them direct.

APPENDIX VI. REPORT OF NEW ZEALAND GOVERNMENT AGENT, SYDNEY. The New Zealand Government Agent, Sydney (Mr. E. H. Montgomery), reports as follows : — I have the honour to submit herewith my annual report for the period ending 31st March, 1913. A gratifying feature of the year under review presents itself in the increased number of passengers carried out of the port of Sydney to the Dominion via Auckland and Wellington. The preceding year shows that 19,441 passengers were booked, whilst this year they amount to 21,957, a clear gain of 1,516. The figures warrant the assumption that the Agency proved an important factor in advertising New Zealand as a tourist and health resort. Systematic efforts were made to disseminate literature, packages being placed in all the principal hotels and intercolonial steamers. The stock of lantern-slides were also effectively requisitioned, and these lent material assistance to lecturers in describing New Zealand's wonderful scenic attractions. During the year quite a number of framed views were successfully placed in the leading hotels, shipping companies, and club-rooms, &c. Through the courtesy of several companies I was enabled to send packages of literature to all the Queensland ports, Adelaide, and Western Australia, and also to Java, in the Dutch East Indies. The daily number of callers in search of information has been steady and well maintained, and reached (approximately) 24,000 visitors during the year. The following is compiled from figures kindly supplied by the shipping companies trading to New Zealand: —Return of passengers carried: 1911-12 —Saloon, 10,538; steerage. 8,903: total, 19,441. 1912-13 —Saloon, 11,450; steerage, 10,507: total, 21,957. The following shows the passenger-bookings for the year under review and the preceding year: 1911—12, £2,387 14s. 6d.j 1912-13, £2,162 19s. General remarks : Whilst the passenger-bookings do not show any increase, it must be borne in mind that a vast amount of work was done in mapping out tours and helping tourists in the choice of trips. Large numbers made full use of the office and then elected to do their booking in the Dominion. I have also endeavoured to promote settlement in New Zealand, and have given assistance to prospective settlers. During the year I sent lantern-slides to Java and the East, where they were effectively used by Mr. Stuart, the representative of the Dutch Government in Australia. It is also interesting to note that the Ceylon Government is establishing a Tourist Bureau in Sydney, with a branch office in Western Australia. The prospects for the ensuing year are most promising, and the Auckland Exhibition will no doubt prove an additional attraction. Every effort was made to keep New Zealand well before the public, and I am confident of good results accruing. A feature of the business transacted has been the examination of foreigners under the Immigration Restriction Act. ■

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