H.—3l.

Sess. 11.—1891. NEW ZEALAND.

REPRESENTATION OF NEW ZEALAND AT CHICAGO EXHIBITION (CORRESPONDENCE RELATING TO).

Laid on the Table of the House of Bepresentatives by Leave.

Mr. E. J. Ckeighton to the Hon. the Colonial Sboeetaey, Wellington. Sib, — San Francisco, California, 29th April, 1891. I have the honour to forward to you, under separate cover, a copy of the regulations for foreign exhibitors at the World's Columbian Exhibition, which is to be officially opened at Chicago, State of Illinois, United States of America, on the Ist May, 1893, and closed on the 30th October following. This Exhibition is intended to celebrate the four hundredth anniversary of the discovery of America by Columbus, by a display which shall fully and fittingly represent the civilisation and industrial progress of the United States in the various branches of art and science, manufactures and inventions, transportation, agriculture, mining, fishing, &c. It is also intended to be competitive, and to ensure a full representation of the world's industries in competition with the United States, the Governments of the various countries in which the United States has diplomatic representatives have been invited by the President to participate in the World's Columbian Exhibition. Doubtless the New Zealand Government has been communicated with by Her Majesty's Government, to which an invitation was addressed, but I deem it expedient also to invite your special attention to the regulations in question which have been issued by the Director-General of the Exhibition. Should New Zealand desire to be represented at the Columbian Exhibition it will be necessary to appoint a Commission, and notify the Director-General of such appointment as soon as possible (paragraph. 2). Applications for space and negotiations relative thereto must be conducted with the Commission of the country where the article intended for exhibition is produced (paragraph 3). It follows, therefore, that, although the official invitation may come through the Imperial Government, all subsequent negotiations must be direct with the Director-General by the New Zealand Commission. On a previous occasion I had the honour to bring this question to the attention of the New Zealand Government, and received an assurance that it would be considered. As I have not been informed of any action, or contemplated action, on its part, I venture to revive the subject, and to suggest the importance of having New Zealand worthily represented at the Chicago World's Fair in 1893. In addition to the liberal appropriation by Congress, the various States of the Union have voted adequate sums of money, and appointed Commissions, to ensure the proper display of their respective products, whether of the field, mine, workshop, or factory. Indeed, the keenest rivalry is felt in this matter, because it is clearly understood that as a result of the Exhibition objectlesson the drift of population, capital, and enterprise will follow the broader lines of development combined with natural resources which the States may severally display. New Zealand would stand on precisely the same footing as any State of the Union or foreign State, and the commercial advantages that may fairly be expected to result from a full and complete display of New Zealand manufactures, and products of the farm and mine, cannot very well be over-estimated. It is an opportunity for display which may not occur again in a century, and it is therefore one by which New Zealand may be expected to profit. That it would develop trade and open new markets cannot, I think, be doubted. But unless the colony is prepared to make a creditable display in each of the twelve classified departments, as I am convinced it is well able to do, it would be better not to exhibit at all. There is a growing and intelligent interest in New Zealand affairs in the