PARIS EXHIBITION (FURTHER PAPERS RELATIVE TO THE).

Appendix to the Journals of the House of Representatives, 1878 Session I, H-05a

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1878. NEW ZEALAND.

PARIS EXHIBITION (FURTHER PAPERS RELATIVE TO THE).

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

No. 1. The Agent-General to the Hon. the Colonial Secretary. Sir, — 7, Westminster Chambers, London, S.W., 18th June, 1878. Referring to your letter of 2nd February, No. 23, advising me of the appointment of Mr. Thomas Purvis Russell as Honorary Commissioner for New Zealand at the Paris International Exhibition, I have the honor to forward, for the information of the Government, copies of correspondence I have had with that gentlemen relative to the Exhibition. I have, &c, Julius Vogel, The Hon. the Colonial Secretary, Wellington. Agent-General.

Enclosure 1 in No. 1. Mr. P. Russell to the Agent-General. Sir,— Champs Elysecs, 28, Paris, 15th April, 1878. By the previous San Francisco mail I had the honor to receive a despatch from Colonel Whitmore, the Colonial Secretary, transmitting a commission under the hand of His Excellency the Governor and the Seal of the Colony, appointing me Commissioner to represent New Zealand at the Paris Exhibition. I beg to send you an extract from the despatch which contains the only instructions relative to our exhibits; but, as Professor Liversedge has not been in Paris since the receipt of my appointment, I have been unable to put myself in communication with him. As the Exposition opens soon, I would suggest that we should give our official statistics up to the latest date in the same way as the other Australian Colonies. In every case, these have been given on separate wooden tablets, and under the following heads : — Pastoral Statistics:—Horses, cattle, sheep, pigs, wool, tallow. Agricultural Statistics—under cultivation : —Wheat, oats, barley, potatoes, maize, artificial grasses. Mining Statistics. I shall be glad to receive the official returns of these details, and any other suggestions you may be pleased to give me. It will also be necessary to have our New Zealand flag. I am not aware that there are any special funds in your hands to meet the necessary outlay. If not, I am quite prepared to advance what may be required on behalf of the Government. I have, fee., Purvis Russell.

(Extract from a Despatch from the Colonial Secretary of New Zealand, dated Ist February, 1878.) " Professor Liversedge, who has gone from New South Wales as Commissioner for that colony, has orders to accommodate any New Zealand exhibits sent to him, and Sir Julius Vogel has been requested to forward to Paris, addressed to Professor Liversedge, any exhibits sent to his care. " You will probably find an opportunity of placing yourself in communication with Professor Liversedge, and of affording him auy information or assistance in your power, that may be required in receiving, classifying, or arranging New Zealand exhibits."

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Enclosure 2 in No. 1. The Agent-Genebal to Mr. T. P. Russell. Sir,— 18th April, 1878. I have the houor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of April 15th. I think I shall be serving you, in reply, if I relate to you what I know of New Zealand's position with respect to the Exhibition. It was, I believe, originally the intention of the Government of New Zealand that the colony should be represented at the Paris Exhibition. No Parliamentary provision, however, was made, and late in the year, as you are aware, a change of Government took place. It was then thought to be too late to do anything officially on a scale worthy of the colony. Accordingly a Gazette notice was issued (copy at foot), intimating that the Government of New Zealand " have decided not to take part in the International Exhibition about to be held in Paris in May next;" but that the Government of New South Wales have kindly consented to take charge of any articles that persons in New Zealand may desire to exhibit. Subsequently it was intimated to me that you had been appointed Honorary Commissioner for New Zealand. It is to be presumed that the appointment was made under the expectation that there would be eu adequate number of exhibits forwarded privately, as it is not conceivable that otherwise the Governor would have been advised to exercise his powers, he having already intimated that the Government would not take part in the Exhibition. But lam sorry to say the expectation is not realized, since, as far as lam aware, there are only four exhibits, namely—a bale of wool, a frame containing four photographs, a case of astringent extracts, and some Maori weapons and products; the last Mr. Douglas McLean is making his own arrangements about exhibiting. Under these circumstances it may be fairly questioned whether the erection of the New Zealand flag and publication of official statistics would not rather injure the colony, as implying that, notwithstanding that the Government disclaimed an intention of taking part in the Exhibition, it had done so, and that four exhibits only were the result. I venture to submit this view to your consideration, as it seems to me the views of the Government may be very much altered by the knowledge that private exhibitors have so scantily taken advantage of the facilities offered to them. I think that the greatest service that could be rendered to New Zealand would be to make it apparent that the Government had abstained from taking any decided part in the Exhibition, and I would suggest that a prominent notice to that effect should be inserted in the New South Wales' catalogue. As you have invited suggestions from me, I have given you my views. It is for you, however, to form your own opinion on the subject. I forward you the statistics of 1876, and the abstract for the four quarters of 1877, and a Gazette containing the Agricultural Statistics of 1876-77. These are the latest statistics I have. May I ask you to return me, as soon as you can, the Agricultural Statistics, as I have only one copy of them, and they may be required for reference, besides that they form part of the Gazette for binding. I have, &c., Purvis Russell, Esq., Champs Elysecs, 28, Paris. Julius Vogel.

[From New Zealand Gazette, Januury 3rd, 1878.] Paris Exhibition. Transmission of Exhibits. Colonial Secretary's Office, Wellington, 3rd January, 1878. It is hereby notified for general information that the Government of New Zealand have decided not to take part in the International Exhibition about to be held in Paris in May next. The Government of New South Wales have kindly consented to take charge of private exhibits from this country; and any articles which persons in New Zealand may desire to exhibit will be received by the Agent-General for New Zealand, 7, Westminster Chambers, Victoria Street, London, S.W., who will forward them to Professor Liversedge, at the Exhibition, at Paris. G. S. Whitmore.

Enclosure 3 in ~No. 1. Mr. P. Russell to the Agent-General. Dear Sir Julius, — Champs Elysees, 28, 27th May. I have to apologise for not acknowledging receipt of your very courteous and valuable despatch of the 18th April, forwarding the official statistical documents. In the interval of my writing to you and your reply I received notice that the Hon. Mr. Larnach had been associated with me here, and I delayed answering your letter until I had an opportunity of conferring with him. Up to this time, however, I have heard nothing further of that gentleman. Your remarks in your letter so fully convinced me of the justness of your views that I abandoned the idea of doing as I had proposed. I may mention in passing that, in reference to my Commissionership, when it was notified to the Prince of Wales, His Royal Highness expressed himself much pleased, and at once ordered the appointment to be received and inserted in the Official Catalogue.

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With regard to the " prominent notice" you suggest to have inserted in the New South Wales catalogue, I was only informed late last night that the catalogue was going to press immediately, and, as I fully agree with you in the desirability of explaining to the world through that medium the cause of our absence at the Exposition, I waited on Mr. Cunliffe Owen in order to obtain such information as would enable me to state the case accurately. I found, however, ■with the exception of a, few formal notes, from which I send you extracts, the Commissioners knew nothing hero. Under these circumstances,,l have deemed it best to ask you, who have the fullest knowledge of all the circumstances, to draw up the article for publication in the catalogue. Professor Liversedge, who is in charge of the catalogue, is now in London. His address is "Saville Club, Savillc Row." Should the time not permit you to prepare the notice, I think were the despatch from the New Zealand Government to the Secretary for the Colonies withdrawing from the Exposition simply inserted the object might be obtained. I wrote hurriedly to Professor Liversedge last night on the subject, so that he will, at all events, have left space for us. Thanking you again for the kind assistance you have already so courteously rendered me, I have, &c, The Agent General for New Zealand. Purvis Russell. P.S. —I shall be in London about the 20th of next month, when I shall do myself the pleasure of returning the official documents.

Extract letter Hon. R. H. Meade to P. Cunliffe Owen, Esq. Downing Street, 28th December, 1877. I am directed by the Earl of Carnarvon to acquaint you that the Government of New Zealand have found it impossible to make arrangements for the representation of the colony at the Paris Exhibition.

Extract letter H.lt.H. the Puinck of Wales to the Secretary for the Colonies. Marlborough House, 31st December, 1877. Learning that New Zealand withdraws as a colony, but that New South Wales is prepared to take charge of such private contributions as may be sent from New Zealand, I have no objection to the allotment to New South Wales of the block at present assigned to New Zealand.

Enclosure 4 in No. 1. The Agekt-Genebal to Mr. P. Russell. Dear Mr. Russell— 31st May, 1878. I have drawn up the paragraph enclosed, and, after it was approved by Mr. Larnach, I sent it to Professor Liversedge, who has undertaken to procure its insertion in his catalogue. We have a set of photographs, taken by the Government Photographer, of views all over New Zealand, about one hundred and twenty in number. Eacli is mounted separately on cardboard, size about 22 inches by 18 inches. Mr. Larnacli thinks you might be able "to exhibit them on the walls, or, if not, might be able in some other way to exhibit them. If you think you can, I will forward them to you. Please let me know. I shall be glad to see you "when you come to London. Yours sincerely, Purvis Russell, Esq. Julius Vooel.

Enclosure 5, in No. 1. Mr. P. Eussell to the Agent-Genebai. Offices of the Royal British Commission, 40, Avenue de Suffren, Paris, Dear Sir Julius— June 1, 1878. I have just received yours of yesterday, but without any enclosures. This is unimportant, however, as I am quite sure that you have done all you could to explain to the public our unfortunate absence at the Exposition. I have just seen Mr. Joubert, the New South Wales Secretary, and find there will be no difficulty in hanging the photographs ornamentally. I shall be very glad to have them at once. Send them in the same way you forwarded the other private exhibits. Mr. Douglas McLean's exhibits, especially the native wood carvings, attract great notice. They were the only things the Prince of Wales asked about on his visit to the New South Wales Court. The public generally take the greatest interest in the colonies, and there are earnest inquiries after the absent one,

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1 had the honor of a long interview with the Archduke of Austria when he visited the Court on Friday. He expressed his great disappointment at not finding a colony which had interested him so much at the Vienna Exposition. He also expressed himself warmly for the reception the Austrian Baron had met with in the colony. I have, &c, The Agent-General for New Zealand. Purvis Russell.

Enclosure 6 in No. 1. Mr. J. Cashel Hoey to Mr. P. Russell. Sir,— 3rd June, 1878. Sir Julius Vogel desires me to enclose you copy of the paragraph sent to Professor Liversedge, which was accidentally omitted in his letter of the 31st ultimo. He has directed the photographs to be at once packed and forwarded by express to Professor Liversedge's care. I have, &c., Purvis Russell, Esq. J. Cashel Hoey.

Owing to administrative changes in New Zealand, and the consequent delay in obtaining Parliamentary authority for the necessary expenditure, the Government of that colony came to the conclusion that time did not admit of making adequate arrangements to fully represent the colony at the Paris Exhibition. They therefore arranged with the Government of New South Wales to assume the charge of exhibits separately sent from the colony.

By Authority : (inonOß Didsbubt, Government Priuter, Wellington. —1878. Price 3d.]