H.—s

1875. NEW ZEALAND.

THE PHILADELPHIA EXHIBITION OF 1876, (PAPERS RELATING TO).

Presented to both Souses of the General Assembly by Command of Sis Excellency.

No. 1. His Honor Sir Bedmoud Barry to the Hon. the Colonial Secretary. Offices of the Victorian Commissioners for the Philadelphia Exhibition of 1876, Sir, — Melbourne, 12th November, 1874. 1. I do myself tlie honor to inform you that His Excellency Sir George Bowen has been pleased to issue a Commission addressed to the gentlemen named in the margin,* " giving (us) authority to ascertain whether united action should be taken by all the Australian colonies to secure their proper representation at the Philadelphia Exhibition of 1876." 2. The Commissioners have adopted the belief that it is the desire of the inhabitants of NewZealand that the resources of that colony should be represented in America, the new field of contention, with the like success as has been heretofore achieved in Europe. 3. I may premise that it has appeared to the Commissioners desirable that an Intercolonial Exhibition should be held preliminary to that at Philadelphia. 4. Representations have accordingly been made by them to the Government of Victoria. That Government have resolved to ask Parliament to grant £2,000, to erect buildings within the grounds of the Public Library, in Melbourne. These, with the great hall, the rotunda, and the annexe, will afford ample space for the purpose. £3,000 will be placed on the Estimates to meet the expenses of the Intercolonial Exhibition. The project is submitted as' calculated to conduce to the accomplishment of several important results. 5. The first great purpose to be served is to secure the combination of the five colonies already established on the Continent of Australia, and the co-operation of New Zealand and Tasmania, and to concentrate their united exertions, so as to impart to them the characteristics of a national movement. 6. By such, a consolidation of the well-directed energies of the people (exceeding now two millions of souls), an economy of administration would be gained ; a judicious selection of the objects most suitable for ultimate exhibition at Philadelphia might be made ; of raw materials, types of the highest excellence would be assembled in groups distinguishing the zones of national production ; the most approved works, which denote the direction in which manufacturing ability, skill, and genius have been developed in the various centres of industrial enterprise, would be brought together for comparison and exhibition. 7. A shipment of all of them, at the same time, for America from Melbourne, central and convenient for that purpose, would insure the arrival of them together at the port of destination, and admit of their being placed in position simultaneously in one court. Delays which have occurred in getting ready different courts at exhibitions held in Europe, so prejudicial to the reputation for activity and punctuality of certain classes of exhibitors, would be thus obviated, and an impression would be created at Philadelphia more striking, more effective, and more substantial than could be produced by the independent efforts of each isolated community. 8. The Commissioners consider, moreover, that such united action would tend materially to promote that mutual good understanding, and those friendly relations, which it is so desirable should, on all occasions, exist and be fostered by all Her Majesty's subjects in Australasia. 9. In submitting these views, the Commissioners present merely an outline of the project, the details of which will be enlarged upon when they are favoured with your reply. The leading * Sir Redmond Barry, chairman; the Hon. J. J. Casey, M.P.; the Hon. J. F. Sullivan, M.P.; tluj Hon. C. J. Jenner, M.L.C. ; James Munro, Esq., M.P.; John Mclbvruith, Esq. ; L. J. Sherrard, Esq.; Gr. C. Levey, Esq., Secretary. I—H. 5.