A.—9

10

The further conference which I then mentioned as about to take place that day with the Prince of Wales's committee, led to a long and friendly discussion, in which the committee and the representatives of Canada, Australasia, and the Cape freely exchanged their views. The first conference has shown us plainly what would be the general principles guiding the committee in their advice to His Eoyal Highness. We knew that the real difference between their plan and tho one originally proposed by His Eoyal Highness last July lay in their wish to show the arts and industries of the United Kingdom side by side with those of the colonies ; and perhaps it was impossible not to concede that, from the moment His Eoyal Highness asked the Lord Mayor to open a general fund here for gifts to the Institue as a memorial of the Queen's Jubilee, the donors had a right to a potential voice in the determination of the scheme. As soon as that voice was for a united Institute, the Prince made up his mind to accept the change of plan, and that being done, all the rest was mere detail. At the conference of the 19th November we were all agreed that whatever difficulties might attach to the change, the colonies, at any rate, would not let these bring any embarrassment upon the Prince; and in accordance with the promises telegraphed to His Eoyal Highness by nearly all the Governments, we did not hesitate to assure the committee that whatever shape His Eoyal Highness decided upon for the Institute, the colonies would take their part in it as a commemoration of the Jubilee. At the same time, we pointed out that it was little, after all, that any Government could do, and that the success of the scheme must be in proportion to the enthusiasm which might be evoked for it among Her Majesty's colonial and Indian subjects. The cordiality of the response made by the colonies to the original proposal had been due, in no slight measure, to the appreciation of the true insight shown by His Eoyal Highness in the idea of celebrating that great march of colonization, which had so signalized Her Majesty's reign, in building up powerful communities across the sea, expanding British commerce all over the world, and strengthening the Empire and the Throne. This was an "Imperial" object in the highest and best sense of the word, and the same cordiality could only be created for the changed plan if the colonies were sincerely recognized in the new Institute, and were not relegated to a secondary place. Immediately after the conference of the 19th Lord Carnarvon and Lord Herschell went up to Sandringham to report what had passed, and on their return we received from the committee the memorandum enclosed herewith, containing the outline of their new scheme, which had now " received His Eoyal Highness's entire concurrence and approval." Thereupon we consulted again among ourselves and on the 29th November we wrote to the committee asking for further information on some points which were not mentioned in their memorandum. Last night another long conference took place with the committee, and the following points were settled : (1) The name is to be " The Imperial Institute of the United Kingdom, the Colonies and India " ; (2) the site is to be at South Kensington ; (3) the foundation stone of the Institute is to be laid by the Queen next June, but as the building will take, at any rate, three years, no exhibits will be wanted till then; (4) the space is to be equally divided between the United Kingdom and the colonies and India, half to England and half to us ; (5) the colonial and Indian Courts are to bo under the control of the respective Governments ; (6) the colonies aud India are to have a share in the general as well as financial administration of the Institute ; (7) we are to send a joint cablegram to the Governments containing an outline of the scheme and asking whether it receives their concurrence generally, whereupon, if it does, the Prince will send a message in his own name to the Viceroy and Governors, as he did in July and September, finally announcing the new scheme as now proposed. Our cablegram is being prepared and will, after being submitted to the committee, be sent off as soon as possible to all the colonies. Sir Fredrick Abel, C.8., has been appointed Organizing Secretary on behalf of the committee, and has been placed in communication with the representatives of all the colonies. Before long, therefore, you may expect to receive the plan in a more matured shape. I have, &c. The Hon. the Premier, Wellington. F. D. Bell.

No. 33. The Colonial Teeasueee to the Agent-General. Agent-General, London. Waiwera, 21st January, 1887. . Impeeial Institute. Correspond Treasury.

No. 34. The Agent-Genebal to the Pbemieb. Sib, — 7, Westminster Chambers, London, S.W., 3rd December, 1886. In continuation of my letter of yesterday (No. 1595), 1 transmit you herewith copy of a joint telegram from the Agents-General respecting the Imperial Institute, which has just been sent to Adelaide for repetition to^the respective Governments. I have added a brief message of my own in anticipation of the one you will receive later on from the South Australian Government. I have, &c, The Hon. the Premier, Wellington. F. D. Bell.