THE CHRISTCHURCH EXHIBITION.

Greymouth Evening Star, 27 September 1905, Page 3

THE CHRISTCHURCH EXHIBITION.

A meeting was held at Hokitika last evening to decide on what steps should be taken to have the West Coast represented at the International Exhibition, to be held a I Christchurch next year. Mr J. Mandl, the Mayor of Hokitika, presided, and briefly explained the object of the meeting. Mr Michel said no part of the colony had suffered so much from ils isolation as the West Coast, and the opportunity afforded by the Christchurch International Exhibition would give them the best opportunity the Coast had ever had of making its .resources known to "ho public. The exhibition would attract its thousands of people, and to attract that stream of visitors to our Coast it is necessary that we should properly represented at the Exhibiwould agree with him that it would be suicidal for each pl ace —Greymouth, Hokitika, Kur.uara, Ross, Reefton, Westport, etc —to set up its own exhibit individually, but with united action they could make an unrvalled show. He proposed a resoluton: That this meeting deems it advisable that united action should be taken to have u

Weot Coast court at tho Christchurch International Exhibition; that the County Chairmen and Mayors in the various centres bo written to, consulting them on the matter, and that Mr C.°J. Roberts, Chief Surveyor, be asked to accept the position of West Coast Commissioner to the Exhibition.

Mr Grimmond seconded the motion, strongly supporting the mover's remarks. Ho suggested that on the present occasion they could take only the preliminary steps, and subsequently a meeting of delegates from nil West Coast centres might bo called at some most central place, say Greymouth or Reefton. Mr Pollock supported the motion and enumerated tho many natural products which could be got in Westland and sent forward to the Exhibition—copper, coal, galena, auriferous "•ranite, monumental granite, superior clay for fine work, and many other materials. They must, bowever, unite and the West Coast as a whole must exhibit together. In no other way would the West Coast bo adequately or properly represented. If they agreed to this suggestion ho felt sure the Government would give a substantial vote for procuring their exhibits and setting them up in Christchurch. He bad much pleasure in heartily supporting the motion.

Mr Bruce supported the motion, and advocated that a feature of tho West Coast court, if it was decided for tho West Coast to unite, should be a home industries exhibit. He agreed with Mr Pollock that they should unite and no matter what town was constituted the head centre all should combine to make the A'ost Coast court a success. As to the question of ways and means, he felt sure that if the public had to be appealed to the same generous reponse would be found as had always been met with in Westland before. A lengthy discussion ensued as to how the funds would be found, it being contended that over £IOOO would 1)0° necessary to send forward a proper exhibit"; and ultimately it was decided to allow tho matter of the necessary revenue to stand over in ho meantime. Mr Evans moved that the gentleuen present be appointed a committee to take part with other commutes in arranging for a West Coast irt at the Exhibition, and that Mr J. K. Campbell bo appointed the lo jal secretary.

Seconded by Mr Michel and carried. Mr Grimmond advocated the assembling and showing to the public -)!' the West Coast the exhibits in some central place, say Greymouth, prior to their being sent away.