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Permit me, on behalf of the Government aud of the Colony, to convey to you our thanks for the handsome manner in which you undertook the highly important and responsible office of Commissioner to represent the Colony at the Exhibition, and for the very judicious steps you took whilst there to further the interests of the country, in whose history your name takes a prominent position. Your suggestion that the exhibits contributed by the Government and by private individuals, which have little or no intrinsic worth, should be presented through Professor yon Hochstetter to the museums and scientific societies in Vienna, meets with the cordial approval of the Government; and the Agent-General has been instructed to place in the hands of the learned Professor the whole of the exhibits sent by the Government, as well as those from individuals who have left their disposal in the power of the Government. Dr. Featherston, whose absence from Vienna at the opening of the Exhibition is a matter of sincere regret to the Government, has further been requested to convey the thanks of the Colony to Professor yon Hochstetter, to Mr. Philip Cunliffc Owen, and to Mr. Phillips Bevan, for the valuable and important services which those gentlemen have rendered to the Colony in connection with the Exhibition. I have, &c., Sir C. Clifford, care of Agent-General. William H. Reynolds.

• No. 3. The Agent-General to the Hon. the Colonial Secretary. 7, Westminster Chambers, Victoria Street, Westminster, S.W., Sir,— 28th November, 1873. I have the honor to report, for the information of the Government, that the Vienna Exhibition was formally closed on the 2nd instant. Mr. Bevan, who has reported himself at this office, informs me that the New Zealand exhibits are packed and on the way to London. By next mail I shall send the Government a general report on the subject. I have, &c., I. E. Featherston, The Hon. the Colonial Secretary, Wellington. Agent-General.

No. 4. The Agent-General to the Hon. the Colonial Secretary. 7, Westminster Chambers, Victoria Street, Westminster, S.W., Sir,— 23rd December, 1873. In pursuance of my letter of the 28th November, No. 818, I have the honor to submit for the information of the Government, the following general report of my proceedings in connection with the recent Exhibition of Vienna. I have from time to time forwarded interim reports, in order to keep the Government informed of what was being done to insure a proper representation of the Colony on this occasion ; but as it may be necessary to justify to the Assembly an expenditure somewhat in excess of the sum voted for this purpose, I think it is desirable that I should now recapitulate the principal facts, and give a connected account of the undertaking from the beginning :— On the 27th June, 1872, I did myself the honor to address a communication to the Government, directing attention to the approaching Exhibition, which even then promised to be on a very magnificent scale, and pointing out the value to New Zealand of such an opportunity of advertising to the world her natural resources and the quality of her products. I ventured on that occasion to specify the various classes of exhibits that would best illustrate the industrial resources and natural productions of the country, and to indicate generally what ought to be done in order to secure to us an adequate footing alongside of the other Australian Colonies. The Government, immediately on the receipt of my despatch, published it in the New Zealand Gazette, and invited the co-operation of the various scientific societies, and of tbe colonists generally, in giving effect to the proposed Exhibition. To the prompt action thus taken by the Government, and to the ready response which it elicited in the Colony, must be mainly attributed the great success which has attended the undertaking. On receiving from the Government official intimation that my recommendations had been approved, and that exhibits were being collected in the several Provinces, I lost no time in putting myself into direct communication with Professor yon Hochstetter and others, whose services were likely to prove of benefit to the Colony on such an occasion. In connection also with Sir Charles Clifford, who had been appointed co-Commissioner with myself to represent the Colony at Vienna, I issued a printed circular, and addressed copies to a number of gentlemen in this country interested in, and more or less connected with, New Zealand, inviting them to assist by the loan of paintings of New Zealand scenery, cabinets constructed of native woods, specimens of natural history, and any other objects calculated toillustrate the natural wealth and material progress of the Colony.

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