Letter from the Minister of Lands.

The Secretary read a letter from the Minister of Lands (Hon J. McKenzie) regretting that he would be unlikely to attend the sittings of the Conference. The deliberations and resolutions of the Conference, when they came to him, would, he said, be carefully considered in framing any legislation that he might have to introduce on the very large and important subjects which the Conference intended to discuss. He requested the Secretary to apologise to the members of the Conference for his absence, and to assure them that it gave him very great pleasure that so much interest was taken by the agricultural and pastoral associations in matters of so much import to themselves and the Colony as a whole. He hoped the labours of the Conference would be productive of much food.

Letters of apology at being unable to be present were also read from Messrs A. M. Clark (Temuka), James S. Holmes (Oamaru), Thomas Mackenzie, M.H.R. (Clutha), and E. J. Riddiford.