CHRISTCHURCH JUBILEE EXHIBITION.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXVII, Issue 11546, 4 December 1900, Page 4 (Supplement)

CHRISTCHURCH JUBILEE EXHIBITION.

OPENING CEREMONY. SPEECH. BY THE GOVERNOR, NEW ZEALAND'S PROVINCIALISM. Chkistchttkch, November 1. The celebration of the jubilee of the Canterbury settlement began to-day with the opening of the Jubilee Exhibition in the Agricultural and Industrial Hall, just completed, in Manchester-street. The function was a success from all points of view. The weather was brilliantly fine, the attendance large, and the arrangements perfect. A talf-holiday was observed in Christchurch and Lyttelton,»and flags were flown on most pf the" numerous flagstaffs in the city. The opening was appointed for two p.m.. fend an hour earlier the doors of the hall -were unlocked bv the Mayoress of Christchurch (Mrs.Reece) with a golden key A large crowd gathered around the building early in the afternoon, while visitors and holders of reserved seat tickets were admitted to the hall at a-quarter to two. The Garrison Band, and the Christchurch companies of the North Canterbury Battalion, under Major Day, marched to the hall, and formed a guard "of honour in the street and vestibule. Meanwhile the hall was being filled with a throng of the principal residents of Canterburv, among whom were many of the pilgrims "and other early settlers. The loftv and handsome hall, with its decorations of pale blue and gold, the white dresses of the ladies of the choir, and the brilliant toilettes of the ladies of the audience, j formed a scene of most pleasing effective-1 ness. . ; A few minutes before two the Premier, the Hons. J. G. Ward and W. C. Walker, Mrs. and Miss Seddon, and Mesdames Bean and J. T. Matson, arrived, and, punctually at .two. the vice-regal party drove up in a carriage drawn bv four grays, escorted by the Canterbury Mounted Rifles, under Captain Snow. His Excellency was accompanied by Colonel Pole-Penton, and was received bv the president and executive, presented with the gold badge of the Exhibition, and escorted to the seats reserved in front of the dais, the audience rising to their feet, and the orchestra playing the National Anthem, which was immediately afterwards sung with fine effect. The choir of 270 voices, with an orchestra 60 strong, under Mr. F. M. Wallace, then rendered the jubilee ode, the words of which were written bv Mr. 0. T. J. Alpers, and the music composed by Mr. Maughan Barnett. The performance was admirable. THE PRESIDENT'S SPEECH. The Governor, the Premier, the President, and the Mayor then mounted the dais, and the President (Mr. R. Allen) requested His Excellency to open the Exhibition. He congratulated Lord Ranfurly on his safe return from his recent important mission, and expressed regret at the absence of Lady Ranfurly. While recognising that the basis of our "prosperity lay in agricultural, pastoral, and mining pursuits, he felt confident that an undoubted factor in it arose from the varied employment offered in and around the centres of population. He had been president of the first Industrial Association in New Zealand, 21 years ago, and was proud of the progress made in local industries. The term, "Made in New Zealand."' would in a very short time signify all that was excellent. He was proud to claim this happy little country as his native land, and proud also of the part the colony had borne in the stirring occurrences of the last year. He warmly thanked friends in ■ Dunedin, Wellington, and Auckland for their assistance, especially for lending pictures. He also thanked the Industrial Association, the musical talent of Christchurch, Messrs. Alpers and Barnett, the members of his committee, the Government, the architects (Messrs. Clarkson and Ballantyne). and the contractors (Messrs. Rennie and Pearce). THE GOVERNOR'S ADDRESS. Lord Ranfurly, who was heartily greeted, said :—" It is hardly necessary for me to say how pleased I am to be present to-day. I desire to express my sincere regret at Lady Ranfurly's absence She has especially directed me to explain that she was unable to be present, as when we heard the ferand news that the Duke and Duchess of f-and news that the Duke and Duchess of .York would visit this colony— (applause)— it was necessary for her to leave on a holiday to England, and at an earlier date than usual, in order that she might return to the colony in time to do her duty on behalf of the people. lam glad to have the pleasure of opening this grand Exhibition to-day, an exhibition which I am informed will be second to non? held in New Zealand. I understand that exhibits have been sent almost from the North Cape to the Bluff, and that all parts of the colony have come equally forward. I consider that such exhibitions rss these are a great benefit to the colony generally, and not alone to the City of Christchurch, as they show to a great many people what New" Zealand can really produce. The manufactures of our country are not thoroughly exploited yet; there is much that- still can be done, and how can we advertise 'the products of the colony more than by these exhibitions? (Applause.) This undertaking is a fitting tribute to the pioneers who 50 years ago landed on these shores. Fifty years ago, or rather in 1851, the population here was only j2OO. What is; the population at the present day? It is about 146.000. In 1853 the imparts amounted to £3982; in 1899 thev were £1.569.000. The exports in 1853 were only £3396. What are they now? They are £3,037,769. But one of the most striking increases during the 49 years is shown by the Post Office returns. The letters carried numbered 25.777 in 1851, and in 1899 they were 7.081,517. The papers carried also show an enormous increase, and what do these enormous increases mean? They simply mean that the sons of England, who have left British soil, have gone forth, not to idle, but to work; gone forth to produce and to add glory to the Empire of which we are all so proud. (Applause.) When they have gone forth thev have not forgotten their Fatherland, for, in the words of this ode, " In England's cause we tarried not," Canterbury and all New Zealand have not tarried when men were wanted for active work. They have always been ready, and, in my opinion, always will be ready when they are wanted. (Applause.) The people in this country are too fond of what is called provincialism, and of setting up one province against another. We are all •New Zealand, and New Zealand pure and simple. Provincialism is a mistake it is a weakness. Fair emulation is a good thing for the different districts, and it is emulation that should be encouraged, but provincialism, as I am afraid it exists in this colony, should be abolished. (Applause.) I feel that during the term of mv office here I shall see New Zealand take great strides. She has taken great strides already in the Imperial cause, and I feel sure that she is not going to stop. What I want to see is the colony united, without any jealousy, and all working with the utmost pains for her advancement. (Applause.) I have now much pleasure in declaring this Exhibition open." (Loud applause.) SPEECH BY THE PREMIER.

The Premier, who was warmly received, eaid that admirable as lie was assured the products in the Exhibition were, he had no need to see them, for when he saw the youth and beauty before him, contented manhood and womanhood, and happy and contented old age, he could rest assured as to what [the exhibits, which must naturally be the outcome of such a people, would be. He differed from His Excellency concerning provincialism, and believed that the emulation of the provincial districts had had a most beneficial effect on the colony. He claimed -to be a Canterburian, though almost disowned, as his first coming to the colony had been to the west coast of Canterbury. He referred to the assistance given by the press towards the Exhibition. To show the progress of Canterbury he would say that its capital land -value was now £30.000,000, that as Colonial Treasurer he received from Canterbury £76,000 in land tax, £80,000 for lands leased, £338,000 in Customs, and £198,000 from railways, altogether over £700,000 a year. A great factor in promoting the industries of Canterbury was land and land settlement. Forty years ago the sheep of Canterbury numbered 20,000, now they were over 4,000,000. Mr. Seddon paid a high tribute to the value of exhibitions, and urged the people of the colony to use colonial manufactured articles as much as possible. He said it was the duty of the ■State to assist such an Exhibition. He concluded by thanking the committee of the Exhibition, and by a highly appreciative re-

ference to Canterbury's patriotism in connection with the South African war. THE MAYOR OF CHRISTCHURCH. The Mayor of Christchurch said the exhibits should bring to mind the great value of industries to the colony. He urged the duty of encouraging local industries in every possible way, and expressed a hope that the relations between capital and labour might vention, and the question of continuing --md increasing, in ffie rising generation, the business knowledge and technical skill requisite to keep abreast of other countries, were yell deserving the attention of the State. /<ew Zealand had shown on the battlefields of Africa that she could produce soldiers *nd patriots. Let her also show that she could produce men and women capable of increasing and fostering those things which tended to the peace and prosperity of the colonyindustry, science, and art. CONCLUSION OF THE CEREMONY. Heartv cheers were given for His Excellencv, who then sent for Messrs. Alpers and Barnett, and congratulated them upon 'he success of the Jubilee ode. The orchestra played Sir A. Mackenzie's overture, •' Britannia," and the Governor and party were conducted through the Exhibition by the committee.