THE EXHIBITION.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXIV, Issue 13934, 16 December 1905, Page 14

THE EXHIBITION.

THE WEEKLY REVIEW. The Executive Commissioners of the New Zealand International Exhibition, in tlieir weekly review, remind tenderers that the time for receiving tenders for the Art Gallery will expire today, at noon. A meeting of the Building Committee will be held to-day', to receive and consider the amended tenders. The “Australian Financial Gazette,” of September 24, contains a notice of the Exhibition, stating that all the nations of the world have been invited to take part in it. It shows that the object of the Exhibition is to demonstrate the resources of New Zealand from every point of view; the colony’s possibilities as a food-producer for the world, its mineral wealth, its attractions as a tourist resort, and its advantages as a field for industrial and commercial enterprise. It points out that special rates for coastal, oversea, and railway passenger fares will bo arranged to encourage the presence of visitors, and .popular excursions will be promoted to all places of interest in , the colony. Applications for space are now coming in freely, and among the recent applications is one from the manager of the Kodanaad Estate, at Kotagherry, India, who states that he intends to send an exhibit of tea grown on that estate. A letter has been received from the Deputy Minister of Agriculture, Ottawa, Canada, in which he states that his Department has taken in hand the organisation of a general exhibit of the products of the Domnion of Canada. Other advices from the Dominion indicate that the Canadian exhibits will be one of the most extensive and interesting features of the Exhibition. The “Danish Export Review,” of October, contains a lengthy notice of the Exhibition translated into Danish. It quotes fully from the “ Official Notice ” received, and gives full particulars of the objects of the Exhibition, as‘well as of the statistical portion of the “ Official Notice ” relating to imports from foreign nations, and trade generally. The ceremony that will take place at eleven o’clock on Monday, on the occasion of the laying of the foundation stone, promises to be of considerable interest, and it only requires fin© weather to ensure a vary large attendance of the public. A large platform will bo erected near the stone, which will be occupied by the Premier and the Ministers, the Mayor and Mayoress, Consuls representing foreign nations, and official representatives ; and ■on each side a space will be enclosed, and chains provided for about eight hundred guests, including members of the various committees, members of borough councils, and their wives. The Ministry will he represented by the Premier, Sir J. G. Ward, the Hon W. Hall-Jones, the Hon J. Carroll, and the Hon Colonel Pitt. The chief speech will be made by the Premier, as president of the Exhibition, and Sir J. G.'Ward will also give a short address. The Mayor, as chairman of the Executive Committee, will receive the Ministers, and ask the Premier to perform the ceremony of laying the stone. A handsome trowel will be presented to the Premier by Mr James Jamieson, on behalf of the contractors. As soon as the stone is laid,,a verse of the National Anthem will be sung by the school children and those assembled to witness the ceremony, after which will come the Premier’s address. The Mayor of Wellington has accepted the invitation of the Executive Committee, and will he present at the ceremony on Monday. A considerable number of the Volunteers and School Cadets will take part in the proceedings, and after the addresses there 'will be a march past. The Burnham School will also attend, and the school band will assist with the Doxology tend National Anthem. _ Special trains have been provided to. convey Volunteer and other visitors to Christchurch, and arrangemauts have been made for delayed trains in the evening. An interesting leading article appears in the Argentine “ Standard ” of October 6, on the subject of the New. Zealand Exhibition. After explaining the objects of the Exhibition, and giving copious details as to imports and exports, and trade generally, mineral resources, and the unrivalled alpine and other scenery, it proceeds to point out the wonderful progress the colony has made of late years, and its marked prosperity. After stating that it is not likely the Argentina will take part in the Exhibition, for the reason that : t is a competitor in the markets of the world for practically the same articles, it concludes by suggesting that “it might promote the political piogress of this country (Argentina) if a few Argentines, who have plenty of money and time at their disposal were to avail themselves of the opportunity to visit New Zealand, , where they could amuse themselves with deer stalking, fishing, shooting and mountain climbing, to study the institutions of the colony, which affords a remarkable instance of advanced democratic government under a monarchy.” A letter has been received from the secretary to the Local Advisory Committee, Auckland, stating the steps taken to set up sub-committees on mining, home industries, industrial affairs and. Maori representation. He reports that great interest is taken in the undertaking, and indicates that the Auckland Society of Arts is making inquiries as to space. A communication has been received by the inward San Francisco mail from Messrs J. D. Spreckels and Bros., general agents of the Oceanic Steamship Company, stating that the United States railways terminating at San Francisco have agreed that goods going from America to the New Zealand Exhibition, which shall have paid the full rat© of freight to Christchurch, may be returned by the same route by which they wont forward at one-half the regular rates.