The Hastings Standard Published Daily. THURSDAY, NOV. 5, 1896. AN EXHIBITION.

Hastings Standard, Issue 164, 5 November 1896, Page 2

The Hastings Standard Published Daily.

THURSDAY, NOV. 5, 1896. AN EXHIBITION.

Fur the ih.it larks For the wror.«s tli.it need resistance, For the future in the distance, Ar.d the good that we can do.

On Wednesday, the 18th instant, the Industrial Exhibition at Wellington will be opened by Ilis Excellency the Governor. The people of Wellington are not given to undue excitement; like the winds that whistle through their unlovely streets they blow a good deal but perforin very little. The geographical position of Wellington has been the main cause of the city's advancement, and much of the actual progress is due to the iidvent of enterprising individuals from North and South. The views of the people, like the streets of Wellington, have been extremely narrow. Cliques and factions have ever made it impossible to hope for thorough success in any undertaking. Instead of leading the rest of the colony, Windy Wellington has been content to follow at a remarkably safe distance. "Wellington has suffered, and still suffers, from " old-fogeyism." It was one of the first places to receive the pioneer colonists, and the conservatism of these venerable and worthy settlers still dominates. The City has grown, bat ideas still keep to the one groove. The people still love their parish politics, and this may be noted by a glance at the newspapers of Wellington. Though excellent in their way the Wellington papers are in no way comparable to the first-class daily journals of the other large centres. Wellington is a large centre, but the people of Wellington are small in thought and action. The ruling characteristic is Little PeJlington." But Wellington has its exceptional moods, and when so taken it can make a very

creditable splash. An exceptional mood has seized the Empire City this year, with the result that we are promised an Industrial Exhibition far superior to anything of the kind yet held in the Colony. In 1885 there was a similar outburst, but the Exhibition of that year could not have been very encouraging, otherwise a second edition would have followed long ere this. Eleven years makes a great difference to communities such as we have in the colonies, and during that time Wellington has profited by the increase of population and the introduction of fresh blood. The idea of the present Exhibition had its birth in the success of a similar show held in Christchurch a few months ago. Wellington was moved by the spectacle, and determined upon having a show of its own. The task has been approached in a thorough business-like manner, and for once the various cliques and coteries agreed to sink their differences and work in harmony. Furthermore, the promoters of the show have not hedged themselves in with conceit, but have readily and gladly welcomed any hints or suggestions likely to prove of benefit. Every detail, every item, has been carefully weighed ; every useful suggestion has been adopted ; trouble and expense have not been spared, and with sound business principles underlying and leavening the whole, it will be surprising if the Wellington Industrial Exhibition is not an unqualified success. We believe it will be a thoroughly successful affair, and we congratulate in advance the people of Wellington. As an exhibition of industrial progress, of mechanical ingenuity, and of juvenile effort, it promises to be very rich. The demand for space has far exceeded the earlier estimates of the promoters, and the Exhibition will represent all parts of the colony. The entertainment part of the programme is to be on a lavish and varied scale, so that visitors will not have one dull moment at the Exhibition. The bicycle track, which we understand is a remarkably good one and already very popular with the local cyclists, will afford plenty of sport for those who delight in such. The concerts are to on a grand scale, and novelty entertainments will be a feature. Of course the chief support of the show must be from visitors from the country, and we fancy that most of those contemplating a holiday this summer will make Wellington their objective. We hope the children of the district will ! not be overlooked. To them an exhibition such as that to be held at Wellington must be equivalent almost ; to a year's schooling. Some effort should be made to give the children in and around Hastings the opportunity of visiting the Exhibition. The journey is a long one, but this should not stand in the way, for we have no doubt arrangements could be made for lessening the tediousness and trouble connected with the transport of the youngsters. We trust Wellington will have no cause for complaint on the score of paucity of visitors.