The Greymouth Exhibition,

Grey River Argus, Volume XXXV, Issue 7814, 21 December 1893, Page 2

The Greymouth Exhibition,

THE PitOCESSION

I The fates were particularly kind yesterday. Although there was reason to fear that the day for the opening of the Exhibition would not be as fine as every one hoped it would be, the rain disappeared and the'' sun came out with all its wonted brightness and lent that glory to the scene that only bright snoshlne can do. When the procession ' formed up at the foot of ' Boundary street between three and half-past- three o'clock. *It was rather ah imposing sight, especially taking Into account the rare crowd of sight seers thafc thronged each side of the thoroughfare. The following was the order of the procasßiou aa it filed up Mawhera Quay on its way to the State school, where the scene was formally opened by the Bon R J Seddon, Premier of New Z -aland: — The Town Band The children— boys and girls (about 500) The Catholic Band The Foresters TherM U I 0 0 F The Druids ) The Hibernians' The Volunteer Ba:d : The Executive Committee ' The Mayor and 'Borough Council The Harbor Hoard, and The members of the Grey Connty Council. By the time the procession reached the State school an enormous crowd was collected outside the' building, and the local photographer (Mr Ring) had his camera focusaed on Ihe crowd. Mr A R Guinness, M H R, then introduced the Premier to the assembled multitude in a brief way. The Hon Mr Seddon then came forward, and was received with great enthusiasm. He prefaced his remarks by expressing the pleasure and h< nor It gave him to halve the duty of opening the Ureymouth Exhibition, which he said reflected ' great credit on all who were responsible for the promo 1 ion and getting up of the affair. It was a long time since there had been aa exhibition in the colony, the last being in Dunedin ; but the funotion they ware taking part in that day was most creditable to the place and to the pnblio spirit of the community. In connection with the Exhibition and the community . of interest and energy shown he referred to the early guilds, as they were known in England many years ago, and spoke in flitteringterms of the energy shown by the early pioneers of the West Coast, who, although they might not aWaya have benefit ted themselves, still left the country improved and equippsd for the comtort of those who came after them ; and for which they deserved every praise. To his mind there was no higher duty, and there could be no better credential for colonists, than to be able to say thai they left the country better than they found it. And the rising generation should remember all this to the credit of the early pioneers, who faced and over came hardships of no ordinary kind. But it was work of this kind that was characteristic of the British race whereever they went. Wherever they went they subdued the. foroea of nature and made the straggle of life easier for these who came after them. The Greymouth , Industrial Exhibition was a case in point. J It cou^d not fall to do a great "deal of r good in the Inculcation of art and ingenuity and the elevation of hamaii genius and labor and the advancement of the welfare of the country at large. In the early days, as a great many still amongst them knew, life on the coast was not enjoyed on the same comfortable conditions aa it was now. Everything was more rugged and difficult than was the case at present; and for the im*

proved condition of affairs fcliey U*d undoubtedly to thank the efforts of ths early pioneers, who, however small their own reward might be — and very small It too often was— never failed to make the road of life easier for those who were to come after them. Too often, he feared, It would have been much better for tbe wdrldiy welfare of the early West Coast pioneers if their labor and ability had been put forth in other parts of the colony. Although from a pecuniary point j of view they would doubtless in very many Instances have been a g rea t d Q£ ;i better off to-day, still they had done well by the country and the West Ooast, and would no doubt not grudge the efforts they had made in the course of their career as good Industrious colonists. What the people of the West Coast had accomplished in an industrial point of yiew'/'e'fe'&ied to him not to be sufficiently appreciated, For Instance, let them look at the coal industry alone. -The" total coal output of the West Coast was 3,085,397 tonß, while the total for the whole colony was 7i805,300 tons. That the total ooßtoms revenue for Groymouth since 1865' was L 939,400, while I the total for Westport, Greymouth, Hokirlka, Brighton and Okarito was L 2,267,100. This was something for them to ponder over ; and he wonld ask them to reflect on the effect . of so great an Industrial resolt in maintaining the credit of the colouy as a wbole. It" was something that the population of the West Ceaßt had every right to be of. It was a testimony to the energy and Industrial capacity of the race. The deductions to be drawn from such instances could Dob fail to be encouraging to the people of this part of New Zealand. When so much had: been accomplished in the face of bo many and Buoh great difficulties, what might not the ' ,w,orthy successors of the brave olid band of pioneers hope atlll to accomplish under the ipore favorable conditions now enjiyed by thorn as compared with what those who had gone before them had to put up with, and who had tbe satisfaction of knowing that they had at least earned the credit of leaving this part of the world better than they found it, and far more comfortable and enjoyable in every way for those who wore to succeed them? But, whatever the drawbacks of the coast might be, they had the words of an eminent scientific authority for the expression that so far the people of the West Coast of New Zealand had only been scratching the surface of their riches. < There whs still an untold wealth of treasure oh the coast. This waa fully realised by Government, and he was glad to be able to Inform thorn that Govermenfc intended to leave no at?ne unturned to tap tho wealth of their deep levels. Oceans of undeveloped wealth were waiting for exploration in Reefton and nlsewhere ; and he was pleased to inform them that the Victorian Government had been requested to send over their geologist — about one of the best in the whole of Australasia — to visit the New Zealand g&tdfields and report upon chem. Mr Seddon then made reference to the prospects of the coal and timber trade of the coast, which he depicted in moat hopeful colors. All they wanted for the former was a foreign market ; but that was a matter in respect; to which he could assure them Government intended to do all In their power to seenre. There was no doubt as to the future of their timber trade, inasmuch as the other sourcea of supply had baen worked for so many years that they could noc be expected to hold out much longer. The address was warmly applauded throughout, and on its conclusion the vast throng of people made their way into the Exhibition.