THE NEW ZEALAND COURT IN THE MELBOURNE CENTENNIAL EXHIBITION.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXV, Issue 9164, 20 September 1888, Page 6

THE NEW ZEALAND COURT IN THE MELBOURNE CENTENNIAL EXHIBITION.

TO THE EDITOR. Sir, —In order to prevent misunderstanding, and at the risk of going over hackneyed ground, allow me to address you regarding our Court in the above Exhibition. As a whole this is said to be a better than the Glasgow Exhibition. The ground covered by this splendid display is over thirty-three acres. It is being frequented by thousands, and many of these from all parts of the world, It is a magnificent opportunity for making our boundless resources known, particularly to that section of the cosmopolitan public who are endowed with capital. Great Britain and the other European countries, America and our sister colonies, have all taken this opportunity to display their wares. This will doubtless lead to the extension of commerce and the diffusion of wealth. . And surely of all countries in the world New Zealand requires to pay attention to the securing of these advantages. Now think for a moment what an exhibition ought to be. It should not be merely a cabinet of curiosities, nor a general museum, nor a school where by patient effort you may acquire learning. These are all valuable in their way, but the concentration of all these in the Centennial Exhibition would still leave it inadequate to accomplish the primary purpose. The persistent attempt at defence by the colony's Commissioners makes further rejoinder necessary. It has been said here by those who are most closely interested in maintaining the perfection of our Court that the other Courts are shoppy. To the honour of the Commissioners of the Courts adverted to the allegation must be admitted. And, while acknowledging the talent and ability of our own Commissioners, it will be conceded that they have not been much heard of in the commercial world. There iB a striking contrast between the New Zealand Court, and, for example, that of Queensland. The exhibits in the former are more valuable than those in the latter—both from a pecuniary and scientific point of view. But the commercial ability displayed in the Court of the latter is much more evident than in that of the former. We can hardly over-estimate the importance of science, but it will scarcely serve as a substitute for breakfast. The productive capacity of our colony is the main consideration in an Exhibition. Our object should be to show, to impress, to captivate the observer. 1 overheard a gentleman make the remark which, though somewhat vulgar, deserves to be recorded, " Our Commissioners may be tiptop men, but they can't run a show." This is emphatically true, and we suffer. It is not brilliancy alone, although of that we have little, that is wanted ; it is utility ; it is the exhibition of the different forms of our natural wealth in impressive quantities. This is exactly the idea which the official mind cannot comprehend, and consequently the golden opportunity is lost. One must recognise that the exhibits displayed represent generally but small samples and specimens of the resources we possess. Those of the Mosgiel Woollen Factory, of McLeod of Dunedin, and the splendid exhibits of the grain productions of New Zealand, are worthy of a place in any exhibition. The mineral Court was a section, however, which no New Zealander could contemplate with equanimity, although at the time I write it has been greatly improved. But where in the Exhibition outside of our own Court will you find such want of taste ? The entrance to the Court is tame and commonplace in the extreme. The calico wall, painted dingy hematite, is insufferably ugly. The arrangements are so faulty that the whole of the New Zealand Court would require re-casting, though that is now impossible. There is a total absence of elegance and grandeur. Other Courts owe much to the art of their Commissioners; not so, however, in the case of that of New Zealand. We cannot believe that the Government took efficient .steps to encourage exhibitors. Zeal ana diligence would have been followed by a different result. A plea is put in for the Government on the giound of the cry for retrenchment. It is unworthy to suggest such a defence. A farmer though poor must sow the seed. A man forced to economy does not begin by refraining from food. Had this opportunity been fully appropriated it would have repaid us ten times over. It is surely to be regretted that our Government and our Commissioners could not rise to the commercial idea of the Exhibition. This seems to be the distinguishing merit of the whole Exhibition, and it is a merit absent only in our own Court. It has been said that those who complain injure the colony. This is a contracted view. The strength of a people lies in its freedom. Improvement follows criticism. The blunders of today are the beacons of to-morrow. The lesson taught is that in the management of our public business, even in the most simple matters, we are much below the level of decent mediocrity. When we learn this there will be hope of amendment, but not till then.—l am, &c, Melbourne, Sep. 8. John Buchanan.