There is room in the 
replacing by fresh samples. 
Court for pictures or photographs illustrative -r— 
of the industries of the colony or other matters of 
« * 0 
interest. The collection of timbers at present in 
the Court is almost useless. It consists of some 
of the samples which were shown at the Colonial and 
jndian Exhibition and none of them Are named,. I 
should state that the best portions of old samples 
in the institute's Courts, when they are replaced by 
new samples, are reserved for distribution to public 
• * 
educational institutions, from which applications 
for contributions to their museums, from the various 
Colonies, are being continually dealt with. 
I beg to enclose for your perusal an 
* 
account of the Scientific and Technical Department 
of the Imperial Institute, from which you will see 
that the work of this Department includes, (1) The 
scientific investigation of new or lit le known 
*»» 
natural products with a view to their commercial 
utilisation; ( 2 ) The examination of products of 
recognised value which, though known to occur in 
% 
India or the Colonies, are at present obtained 
commercially from other sources ; (3) Advising the 
m • 
§ 
Indian and Colonial Government on all scientific 
questions relating ,to the production, manufacture, 
and commercial utilisation of materials occurring 
within the British Empire. 
I am, <&c., 
(Sd) F. A. ABEL. 
Hon. Sec. and Director. 
G. BROADRICK ESQ. 
