33

H.—23.

I applied to Messrs. "Walker, of Port street, Auckland, for an exhibit of kauri gum, and they referred me to Messrs. Walker and Eenwick, of 227, Pearl street, New York, who have liberally lent a large and complete exhibit. Mr. E. W. Forbes, of 14, South "William street, New York, has agreed to lend two bales of phormium fibre, and has besides undertaken, without brokerage, to pay any charges due against tie Commission in New York, and also the trouble of forwarding the cases, which would otherwise have necessitated my presence in New York for a fortnight. I visited "Washington for the purpose of seeing if I could procure the loan of some moas, and other curiosities, from the Smithsonian Institute; and the authorities willingly consented to lend anything I could find which had come from New Zealand. I attach correspondence, and a list of the exhibits which I found, and which Professor Henry will forward free of charge to the United States building in the Exhibition grounds. Professor Spencer Baird enquired the cost of mounting two nioa skeletons, and finding the cost would be £20, I kept the matter till your arrival. The box of gold specimens is lodged at the Bank of Messrs. Drexel and Co. for safe keeping. Mr. E. "W. Cameron, of 23, St. William street, New York, having offered to pay the passage of a Maori to Philadelphia by mail, and back by a sailing vessel, if I would telegraph to New Zealand, I agreed to pay for a telegram to Messrs. Bannatyne and Co., agents for Mr. Cameron. I attach copy of telegram and correspondence. I have already forwarded to Mr. Mantell copies of the letters written to Messrs. Bannatyne and Co., by Mr. Cameron, on this subject. Attached are also the following papers:— Copy of my instructions. Accounts. Liabilities incurred to date. Owing to the plans of the space assigned to New Zealand not having been sent to New Zealand by the British Commission, (only blank papers having arrived in Wellington) it was impossible to make any plan before leaving there. I have made out, as near as possible, the various kinds of cases required for the exhibits. The first cases from New Zealand arrived in the building on the 23rd March, and the delay from the Customs was one week after that. The last of the cases sent by you arrived on the 18th April. I have the honor to be, Sir, Your obedient Servant, A. N. Bothamlet, Secretary. James Hectoe, Esq., C.M.S., M.D., F.E.S., New Zealand Commissioner to the International Exhibition at Philadelphia.

9.—-H 23