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No. 19. The Peemier, Victoria, to the Peemiee. Premier, New Zealand, Dunedin. Be Jubilee Memorial Institute. Eeferring to my telegram of sth instant, to Sir Patrick Jenning's suggestion, that our contribution should be thirty thousand or forty thousand pounds, before coming to final conclusion, perhaps it would be well to await result of interview between Prince of Wales and Agents-General, which Press telegrams announce to be held. Will have better idea then as to what is required. Melbourne, 21st October. ___^_ m _ - ______________. B- GILLIES > Premier.
No. 20. The Agent-Geneeal to the Colonial Teeasueee. Sie, — 7, Westminster Chambers, S.W., 22nd September, 1886. I received in due course your telegram of 17th instant, stating that you were communicating with the other colonics in order to ascertain their views on the suhject of the proposals for a permanent Colonial Museum, which were recently renewed by the Prince of Wales. Since then, the matter has assumed a somewhet different shape, His Eoyal Highness having proposed to commemorate the Jubilee of Her Majesty's reign by the establishment of an Imperial Institute, to represent the arts, manufactures, and commerce of the Queen's colonial and Indian Empire. I transmit to you herewith a print of the correspondence which has just taken place between His Eoyal Highness and the Lord Mayor, explaining the proposal, together with a telegram which the Prince has sent to the Viceroy of India and the Governors of the colonies, inviting their co-operation in the project, and asking whether their respective Governments would be prepared to make an annual grant to such an Institute for a certain number of years, or to give a sum down. I have, &c, The Hon. the Colonial Treasurer, Wellington. F. D. Bell.
Enclosures in No. 20. His Eoyal Highness the Peince of Wales to the Loed Mayoe. Dear Loed Mayoe,— Marlborough House, Pall Mall, S.W., 13th September, 1886. My attention has been frequently called to the general anxiety that is felt to commerate in some special manner the approaching Jubilee of Her Majesty's reign. It appears to me that no more suitable memorial could be suggested than an Institute which should represent the arts, manufactures, and commerce of the Queen's colonial and Indian Empire. Such an institution would, it seems to me, be singularly appropriate to the occasion, for it would illustrate the progress already made during Her Majesty's reign in the colonial and Indian dominions, while it would record year by year the development of the Empire in the arts of civilization. It would thus be deeply interesting to Her Majesty's subjects, both within and beyond these Islands, and would tend to stimulate emigration to those British territories where it is required, to expand the trade between the different British communities, and to draw closer the bonds which unite the Empire. It would bo at once a museum, an exhibition, and the proper locality for the discussion of colonial and Indian subjects. That public attention has already been forcibly directed to these questions is sufficiently proved by the remarkable success which is attending the Colonial and Indian Exhibition at South Kensington, and I confidently anticipate that arrangements may be made whereby the more important collections, which have so largely contributed to this success, will be placed at the disposal of the institution. I have much satisfaction in addressing this letter to your Lordship as Chief Magistrate of the capital of the Empire, and to invite your co-operation in the formation of this Imperial Institute of the colonies and India, as the memorial of Her Majesty's Jubilee by her subjects. Should your Lordship concur in this proposal, and be willing to open a fund at the Mansion House, I would suggest that the contributions received be vested in a body of trustees, whom the Sovereign would be asked to nominate, and I would further suggest that the institution should be under the permanent presidency of the heir-apparent to the Throne. I have, &c, The Eight Hon. the Lord Mayor. , Albeet Edwabd P.
The Loed Mayor of London to His Eoyal Highness the Peince of Wales, E.G. Sir,— The Mansion House, London, E.C., 17th September, 1886. I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your Eoyal Highness's letter of the 13th instant, and in reply to express the great pleasure it will afford me to give the heartiest co-opera-tion and aid in the formation of the proposed Imperial Institute of the colonies and India as the memorial of Her Majesty's Jubilee by her subjects. Your Eoyal Highness truly states that general anxiety is felt to commemorate in some special manner the approaching Jubilee of Her Majesty's reign. There will, lam sure, be an universal desire to give expression in a suitable and, if possible, adequate way, to the deep attachment, veneration, and loyalty which the Queen's subjects in all parts of her vast dominions entertain for a Sovereign whose long and illustrious reign has been productive, under Providence, of many blessings to her people, and been rendered memorable by the striking progress in civilization and prosperity developed throughout the Empire.