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1875. NEW ZEALAND.

THE PHILADELPHIA EXHIBITION, (FURTHER PAPERS RELATIVE TO).

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

No. 1. The Hon. the Colonial Secretary to the Hon. Mr. Mantell. Sib, — Colonial Secretary's Office, Wellington, llth August, 1875. I have the honor to inform you that, on receipt of your letter of the 26th ultimo, I addressed a communication to the Hon. the Speaker of the Legislative Council, asking if there would be any objection on his part to the Philadelphia Exhibition Commission availing themselves of the services of Mr. Bothamley as their Secretary, and that the Speaker stated his willingness to comply with the desire of the Commission in this matter. I have, &c, The Hon. W. B. D. Mantell, Daniel Pollen. Chairman, Philadelphia Exhibition Commission.

No. 2. The Hon. Mr. Mantell to the Hon. the Colonial Secretary. Sic,— Colonial Museum, 12th August, 1875. I have the honor to acknowledge receipt of your letter of llth August, in which you are so good as to inform me that, in reply to a communication from you, the Hon. the Speaker of the Legislative Council has stated his willingness to comply with the desire of the Commission to avail themselves of the services of Mr. Bothamley as their Secretary. I have, &c, W. B. D. Mantell, The Hon. the Colonial Secretary, Wellington. Chairman.

No. 3. Memorandum for tlie Hon. the Colonial Secretary by the Hon. Mr. Mantell. In the papers handed to the Philadelphia Exhibition Commission is a circular letter from the Secretary of State, transmitting a copy letter of date 18th March, from Mr. P. Cunliffe Owen, Executive Commissioner for Great Britain, enclosing papers for the information of Colonial Committees. The Secretary of State's circular bears d«ate Ist April, but appears not to have been received here till 22nd July. It will therefore be impossible for the Commissioners to enable the Executive Commissioner to comply with No. V. of the General Regulations, which s.tate that "Before Ist December, 1875, the Executive Commissioner must forward to the Director-General approximate plans of allotment of space assigned, and lists of exhibitors for Official Catalogue." I would therefore request you to move His Excellency to inform the Secretary of State to this effect, and at the same time to ask that 2,000 feet of floor space may be assigned to this colony ; the classification of and space required by each separate class of exhibits cannot be determined until the collections have been received here from the provinces ; and further, to inform the Secretary of State that the fullest particulars will, at the same time that they are sent to London, be despatched to Colonel Herbert Sandford, E.A., at Philadelphia, in order to facilitate the incorporation of the description of New Zealand collections in the general catalogues. 31st July, 1875. W. B. D. Mantell. I—H. sa.