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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."