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You will please to exercise the utmost care in superintending the packing, so as to prevent damage in transitu; and it will be desirable to protect all perishable articles (such as feather mats, &c.) by having tin-lined cases. The timbers marked in the list now sent " for Kew Museum " should be packed separately, so as to be forwarded direct from this office to Dr. Hooker. Where the instruction simply is "To be sold," it is not my intention that you should do more than obtain an offer, and forward it for my approval. I refer to such exhibits as the bars of melted and refined gold, &c, as these may be sold to better advantage in London. In the case of wools, grain, and agricultural produce, New Zealand Phormium, and woollen goods, I must leave you to use your own discretion as to price, as I am unwilling to incur the expense of bringing those exhibits back to London. The inlaid table of New Zealand woods is the property of the Nelson Government. The cost of bringing it over would be considerable, and I am therefore desirous of finding a purchaser for it, if possible, at Vienna. At the same time Ido not feel justified in sacrificing' it. It occurs to me that the best mode of dealing with it will be to get some reliable cabinetmaker to value it, and to offer it at the price he may name. In the event of your having a reasonable offer for it, although it may fall short of the valuation, you will please submit to me the offer before finally packing the table. The collection of New Zealand preserved meats is the property of Mr. Tallerman. As soon as I have ascertained his wishes, I will instruct you in regard thereto. As the paintings exhibited by Mr. Brogden and Mr. Larkworthy are of considerable value, I shall feel obliged by your personally superintending the packing of them, in order that every precaution may be taken to prevent damage. The same remark applies to Mr. Brogden's collection of birds. Owing to defective packing here, some of these cases were seriously injured on their way to Vienna, and I am anxious to guard against a repetition of the same on their return. You will be good enough to keep the proceeds of the several exhibits separate in your account of the sales to be rendered to this department. Dr. Haast has communicated with Professor yon Hochstetter respecting his moa skeletons and collection of birds. I have to request that you will afford the Professor any facility and assistance in removing them at the close of the Exhibition. I shall be happy to give you any further instructions that you may require, and to entertain favourably any recommendations that your experience may suggest, especially as to the various articles marked " For sale." I have, &c, I. E. Featherston, Agent-General for New Zealand, and Commissioner Phillips Bevan, Esq., of Vienna Exhibition. British Colonies, Vienna Exhibition.

Enclosure 4 in No. 4. [Translated from the Crerman.J Sir,— Vienna, 20th December, 1873. His Imperial Highness the Crown Princej Archduke Rudolph, has received with great pleasure the excellent work " History of the Birds of New Zealand," by W. L. Buller, presented to him by you in the name of the Colony of New Zealand, and has commissioned me to request that you will express his sincere thanks for this present, not only to the Colony of New Zealand, but also to the esteemed author of this beautiful work, Dr. Walter Lawry Buller. His Imperial Highness will keep this excellent work as a fitting memento of the representation of the Colony of New Zealand in the Vienna Exhibition, and especially of the instructive exhibition of extinct and living birds of that far-off island kingdom. Yours most respectfully, Latour, General Major Instructor to the Crown Prince.

No. 5. The Hon. the Colonial Secretary to the Agent-General. Sir, — Colonial Secretary's Office, Wellington, 18th March, 1874. I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter (No. 864, 23rd December, 1873,) reporting your proceedings in connection with the recent Vienna Exhibition. In reply, I have to convey to you the thanks of the Government for the manner in which you have carried out their wishes in reference to the Exhibition. I have, &c, The Agent-General for New Zealand, London. Daniel Pollen.

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