The Press. THURSDAY, AUGUST 9, 1894. THE INDUSTRIAL EXHIBITION.

Press, Volume LI, Issue 8867, 9 August 1894, Page 4

The Press. THURSDAY, AUGUST 9, 1894. THE INDUSTRIAL EXHIBITION.

Writing a week ago , concerning the Industrial Association we expressed oar admiration' for the enterprise and pluck which had prompted its members to -work up the Exhibition then jußt opened at the Opera House, and our conviction that the public would not be slow to recognise the worthiness of the effort nor to render it generous support. It is now abundantly clear thafe, we did not expect too much, and, what is more to the point, the promoters bare satisfactory assurance that they had not miscalculated - the probabilities of success. We understand that attendances have steadily grown larger day by day, interest is increasing rapidly, and. the point has already been passed at which anxiety as to the financial returns has given place to a certainty of reasonably satisfactory results. The possibility of an actual balance on the right- side is of little importance as.a measure of success in such an undertaking. It was not initiated for the purpose of making money, tout to further the aims of the Association in advertising and popularising goods of all descriptions produced _ and manufactured in the colony. And although financial profit is not to be despieed,~lt is. a small matter in comparison with the ,eduoational influence of an exposition of so interesting aud suggestive a character.

The Association ~ is determined, at any iate, that the educational side ehaft not be neglected, for the ball has been thrown open daring certain boon on eaoh day for the free admission of

children attending the State schools in the city and suburbs. It is expected that 3000 children or thereabouts will have had an opportunity of inspecting the exhibits, free of coat to them-: eelvee, before the end of the weetc That this has been rendered possible is largely due to the generous support oi the public, and if this is the only item td chow on the credit side of the account, the instruction and pleasure afforded to the children willfully repay the cost It is perhaps a pity that the juveniles could not have had a department to themselves An exhibition of work from the various schools would have been of great interest and would have acted as a splendid stimulus to the industry and ambition of the youngsters. As it is, the exhibits from the School of Art form by themselves an admirable collection, and should do much by way of informing the public as to the scope and the quality of the instruction there given. The cooking competition which has been projected for the for which, by the way, valuable prizes have been subscribed—promises to be a great success. The Association* has evidently recognised thao the future of the colony is largely in the hands of those who are now boys and girls, and has wisely set. itself to iaculoate its doctrines in the youthful mind and to excite the ambition and patriotism of our coming artisans and business men. Wisely, too, it has regard to the health of the next generation. A dyspeptic nation caunot .conceivably be happy, prosperous or progressive. Heuce the necessity for tramiug our future house wivee in the gentle art of cookery. Why the competition is confined to cake and sweetmeats, in however great variety, is not quite obvious. It may be that skill in these higher and ornamental branches, h» presumptive evidence of equal or greater skill in the lower or commoner grades—'those, for instance, including the cooking of the homely beef steak and plum pudding. Or it may be that aptness in the preparation of such, eeduotive, begtulements' to the masculine palate is re garded as a Strand in the silken cord by which the weaker vessels are to bind us, and, therefore, indispensable, for the perfect equipment} of the coming woman. However, that may be, we are not disposed to quarrel about it, but wiah the judges a safe and speedy issue to their perilous task.

To take leave of the juveniles for the present and to turn again to the exhibits, we oaa only repeat that) the show as a whole reflects unbounded credit upon our. local manufacturers. We doubt if the woollen exhibit of the Kaiapoi Company oan he beaten for quality of material and beauty of finish apywhere in tae world. The bicycle makers between them make up a display which would not*disgraee Coventry itself. The ttasComp&oy has excelled, itself, and the Bail way Commissioners sfe)w samples of forged iron and finished brass work, and glass engraved byaandblast, which are simply beyond praise. To particularise where there is so ioucU tlia-o is excellent would be iuvidioue, and we cannot even begin to name tlie many exhibits, large aod small, that deserve oareful inspection . A second visit merely serves todeepen the surprise one feels at the first view, surprise not) less regarding the, i&triogie quality of the gopde exposed than their, variety. We imagine that ie will astonish most visitors to find that s& mauy industries have found a footing in our midst, and a casual inspection will suffice to convince anyone that their claims on our support are based on actual merit. Local manufacturers need ask no favours nor make any excuses so far as the quality of their productions is concerned, and we sincerely hope chat this exhibition will yield them handsome returns. We sadly want livening up. as a community and it would be a good thing if the rest of us would.follow the plucky lead of the local industry men. in endeavouring to rid ourselves of the hateful nightmare of despon-' dency under, whioh we nave groaned so long. " *