THE IMPERIAL INSTITUTE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXI, Issue 9479, 7 April 1894, Page 5

THE IMPERIAL INSTITUTE.

INTERVIEW WITH SIR WALTER BULLER. INTERESTING PARTICULARS. [BY TELEGRAPH, —OWN CORRESPONDENT.] Wellington, Friday. Sir Walter Buller has been interviewed upon the various uses to which the Imperial Institute might be put for the benefit of the colonies. Ho is opposed to the "smoke concerts" and some of the minor entertainments which are encouraged "in a very high quarter," but the musie is excellent. Great Britain has half the space allotted to her, bub she has done nothing with it. India and the colonies have as yet done all that is attractive for the other naif. Nevertheless the Institute is doing " noble" work, and cannot fail to be of immense service to the colonies as a means of intercommunication between colonists, and of mutual appreciation of each other's resources and social aims.

The statement of Mr. John Burns that the institute was becoming a rendezvous for " diplomatic Johnnies" is referred to as a coarse way of objecting to the purposes of such an institution.

Sir Walter Buller is giving a strenuous opposition to the proposal that there shall be an alternate year for exhibitions wholly English and European. He advocates a standing exhibition from year to year, and all the year round for Great Britain, Europe, and Indian and colonial products, so that the comparison of works and produce may at all times be present to comparative estimate. He considers Sir Frederick Abel and Dr. Cook really able men, and men of good sense and large experience, whose influence will.work things round to common sense for the common good ; but they are at present handicapped as to the " music hall entertainments " derided by "some portion of the press." The statements are misleading, the music is of the highest class. The people of London throng in large numbers to hear it, and as entertainments these are of the best, and of high artistic value so far as music is concerned.

Sir Walter says :—"All that the AgentsGeneral do at present is to hold their receptions and other social functions there. Lord I Herschel, the chairman of the governing body, set an example in this respect, and entertained a large and distinguished company there. Sir Charles Mills, the AgentGeneral for South Africa, and Sir John Bray, the Agent-General for South Australia, have each given a reception, with the usual refreshments, and a high-class musical entertainment. This kind of thing is expected in Anglo-Colonial circles, of the London representatives of important colonies like ours; and the convenience furnished by the Imperial Institute such as large conference rooms for receptions, supper-rooms, smoking-rooms, ctc., are admirably adapted for such a purpose ; for you must understand that apart from its technical and industrial aspects the Institute has its social one, the object being to make it a common meeting ground under the most attractive conditions for visitors from all parts of the empire. The building itself is one of the most majestic in London. Its architectural beauties are not confined to the exterior, and its splendid marble hall with tesselated polished floor is simply matchless. There are about 10,000 Fellows (half of whom are ladies), and the subscriptions from this source, amounting, roundly speaking, to £2J,000 a-year, form our clnet source of revenue. For the convenience of these Fellows there is club accommodation of the highest class; newspapers, and ladies' reading - rooms, writing - rooms, smoking • rooms, billiard - rooms, refresh-ment-rooms, a post office, and a wellequipped library (which is being added to every day)—in a word, for the small sum of two guineas per annum (without any entrance fee) a Fellow has all the advantages of a first class West End club. In the case of Fellows resident abroad, the annual subscription is only a guinea.