THE New Zealand Herald AND DAILY SOUTHERN CROSS. SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 8, 1888.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXV, Issue 9154, 8 September 1888, Page 4

THE New Zealand Herald AND DAILY SOUTHERN CROSS. SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 8, 1888.

We thought that we were quite done with that troublesome question about the Melbourne Exhibition, and the representation thereat of this colony. We thought it was admitted 011 all hands that a huge mistake had been made, and that in no respect did the representation do justice to New Zealand. We were not disposed to go into the question of who was to blame, but rather to see to it that the error which had been committed was as far as possible rectified. But now the question is raised by Mr. Callis, Secretary to the New Zealand Commission at Melbourne. It will be observed that he scarcely attempts, as was attempted at iirst, to deny that the display of minerals was absolutely inadequate, and calculated to give an utterly erroneous and insufficient idea of the resources of the colony in that respect. The only struggle he makes on that point is to cite a letter from the Minister of Education of New South Wales, who says that "a more comprehensive and typical array of specimens could not well have been brought together." Perhaps so. But then " a typical array of specimens'' is not what is wanted for such an Exhibition as this is. That might do if the attendance were confined to a few scientific geologists. But the vast majority of persons who visit the Exhibition can make nothing at all of an " array of typical specimens" of minerals. What was wanted, and what Dr. Hector, and Mr. Callis, and the whole of the members of the Commission ought to have known was wanted, was such a display of ore from different quarters as would have made manifest to all that we possessed many mines having large and valuable lodes, extending uvX,. ° .. ' ■ j."" 1 district of country. But in reality the oflccio wuuv.,.j w'th the New Zealand Court apparently now consider that almost nothing can be offered in the way of defence, and that the only question for discussion is, who is to blame? We are not; disposed to dwell on that point at all ; but, since it has been brought forward, we may say a few words upon it. The case for the officials of the Commission appointed to see that the colony was properly represented is, briefly, that circulars were sent round, " but nothing but opposition was met with." We do not know what Mr. Callis calls opposition, but we are quite sure that nothing deserving the name was manifested. Probably, he means " apathy and indifference," which is the phrase used by Mr. Tolhurst, of Wellington, who was one of the commissioners. Mr. Callis, as evidence of the strenuous exertions of the Commissioners to obtain a representation of the minerals of the Thames district, states that he sent a telegram to the Mayor of Thames, inviting him to form a local committee, and that the answer was, that a meeting had been called, but that the interest shown was so small that no committee had been appointed. This was accounted for by the manner in which a local committee had been treated in connection with the Indian and Colonial Exhibition. And there the exertions of the Commission to obtain a representation of the mineral wealth of the Thames district seem to j have ended, and the whole blame is now cast on the people of the Thames themselves.

We think the Commission entirely mistake what their duty was. They were to see that the colony was properly represented at the Exhibition in all departments. Their duty was not to be confined to issuing circulars, and then if tittle or no attention was paid to these to simply allow the matter to slide, washing their hands of all responsibility. They seem to have calculated greatly upon the desire of persons connected with the mines from which ore

would come to advertise their claims •out that was art entire mistake, Th general public in Auckland are anxious to see the district properly represented in order that capital may be attracted to develope its resources. But th owners of particular mines do not care so far as to send away large Uan tities of valuable ore, which the. may never see again. There U no advantage to be gained by any particular mine, ' which is now bein worked, being extensively advertised But the main point we think w thV that the Commission should have con' ceived that their duty ended with th issue of circulars. They should have seen that what was required was done When they found that apathy was shown owing to former experience, they otHit to have sent some one to the Thames and Auckland, so as to arouse the general public in the matter. If they had done so we should have given them our best assistance, and we are quite certain that as full and complete a response would then have been obtained as there has been now when public attention has been roused by the information published in the newspapers from Melbourne.