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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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