H.—s.

1878. NEW ZEALAND.

THE PARIS EXHIBITION (PAPERS RELATIVE TO).

Presented to both Houses of the General Assembly by Command of His Excellency.

No. 1. Memorandum for the Colonial Secretary. In the event of Government deciding that the colony is to be represented at the Paris Exhibition of 1878, I would recommend that the articles should be got together and thoroughly fitted up in the manner in which they are to be exposed, before they are sent from the colony. Native timber might be employed in the fitting, and so form part of the exhibit; all catalogues and labels should be prepared beforehand, and nothing should be left to be done at the Exhibition, but the unpacking and setting up of the articles on the spaces allotted. The collection should be comprehensive, but at the same time as concise as possible, all multiplicity being avoided. I estimate the expense at £2,500, exclusive of the. current expenditure during the Exhibition at Paris. 17th October, 1876. James Hector.

No. 2. The Agent-General to the Hon. the Colonial Secretary. 7, Westminster Chambers, Victoria Street, Westminster, S.W., Sir,— 16th March, 1877. I have the honor to forward, for the information of the Government, copies of correspondence concerning the Paris International Exhibition of 1878, which I have just received, on the eve of the closing of the mail, from Mr. Cunliffe Owen, C.8., Secretary to the Royal Commission appointed by Her Majesty's Government, under the Presidency of His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales. I have, &c, The Hon. the Colonial Secretary, Julius Vogel, Wellington. Agent-General.

Enclosure in No, 2. Mr. P. Cunliffe Owen to the Agent-Gen eeal. Offices of the Royal Commission, Canada Buildings, 7, King Street, Sir,— Westminster, S.W., 16th March, 1877. As you are probably already aware, His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales, President of the Royal Commission for the Paris Exhibition of 1878, has appointed a Committee of the Royal Commissioners, specially charged to report to II is Royal Highness on the arrangements to be made to secure the proper representation of the colonies. His Grace the Duke of Manchester, as Chairman of the Committee, having suggested for His Royal Highness' consideration that copies of the correspondence which has passed between His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales and the Secretary of State for the Colonies should be furnished to you for your information, I am instructed by the Prince of Wales to transmit to you the same, from which you will perceive the steps taken to secure the object in view. Should you receive any instructions from your Government, His Royal Highness has desired me to inform you that the same will be submitted to the Committee of Her Majesty's I—H. 5.