NEW ZEALAND AT THE PHILADELPHIA EXHIBITION.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XI, Issue 154, 21 June 1876, Page 4

NEW ZEALAND AT THE PHILADELPHIA EXHIBITION.

From a letter wbioh appears in the Auckland Herald, the following account of the position New Zealand will occupy at the great Philadelphia Exhibition is extracted: — The New Zealand Court is centrally situated, with a front of 25 feet to the main avenue,' and running 64 feet back. Is is enclosed at the sides, and several of the Australian colonies and New Zealand have combined to erect a front to the main avenue that will do credit to those remote countries. I got a view of the plan. It is a light facade of wood, with columns and arches; in leugth about 150 leet, witb some ornamental work on the top, and over the entrance to tbe court of each colony a trophy ot the flags and emblems characteristic of the country. The most prominent exhibit of New Zealand will be a magnificent gold specimen, which the Secretary of the Commission, Mr Bothamly, informs us will be placed in the fore part of the battle. It measures 7ft bigh by 51t long, 22\it wide, and will look very handsome. There will also be a great display of garments and weapons of the Maoris, as, besides those sent from Mew Zealand, the authorities of the Smithsonian Institute have liberally placed the whole of their New Zealand collection ot archaeology and natural history at the disposal of the Commission. Wool, leather, gum, and flax wiil also be well represented. A fine collection of feather furs, of considerable value, are sent by Mr Liardet, of Wellington, aud will, no doubt, attract attention; while grain and farm produce, photographs illustrating both Maori aud pakeba life, and the beautiful plates that illustrate Dr Walter Buller's handsome volume on New Zealand birds, will also aid in drawing visitors. A rumor comes to me, from what 1 believe to be a reliable source, that a gentleman of this city, who does not wish his name 'divulged, and who has never seen a Maori, deeming it a pity that so interesting a race should not be represented here, has liberally offered to bear the expenses of sending one to the Exhibition for show. If it is correct, it is a most generous offer, and* might well be taken advantage ot by tbe Government and the Commissioners, for, from what I have heard, no more attractive ex-

hibit could be sent; while tbe benefit to the native race, from the tales of the greatness of foreign nations and the wonders of the Exhibition, which an intelligent Maori would relate on his return, are incalculable. Congress has refused to vote £100,000 to pay the expenses of camping one thousand Red Indian warriors in the Park during the 'Exhibition, but I hear that the Centennial Commission will carry out the. proposal at their own expense rather than see so interesting a project fall through.