THE LOUISIANA PURCHASE EXPOSITION.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXIX, Issue 11872, 25 January 1902, Page 6

THE LOUISIANA PURCHASE EXPOSITION.

LETTER FROM THE UNITED STATES CONSUL. INVITATION TO NEW ZEALAND. The American Consul for New Zealand (Mr. Dillingham) has addressed a letter to His Excellency - the Governor, at Wellington, re the coming " Louisiana Purchase Exposition," which » is to be held_ at St. Louis, Missouri, United States of America, in 1903, of which the following is a copy: — . "I have the honour to call your Lordship's attention to the; ' Louisiana Purchase World's Fair,' which is to be held at St. Louis, Missouri, United States of America, in 1903. In. speaking of this coming Exposition, President Roosevelt, in his recent message to Congress, said: 'I bespeak the most cordial support from the Congress and ; the people: for the St. Louis Exposition, to commemorate the 100 th anniversary of the Louisiana purchase This purchase was the greatest instance of expansion in our history. It definitely decided that we were to become a great continental Republic, by far the foremost Power in the western . hemisphere. It is one of the three or four great landmarks in our history. great turning-point in our development. It is eminently fitting that all of our people should join with heartiest goodwill in commemorating it, and the I citizens of St. Louis, of Missouri, of all the adjacent region, are entitled to every aid in making the celebration a noteworthy event in our annals. We earnestly hope. that foreign nations will appreciate the deep interest our country takes in this Exposition, and our view of its importance from every standpoint, and that they will participate in securing its success. The National Government should be represented by a full and complete set of exhibits.'. It is desired by the directors of the- ' Louisiana Purchase Exposition,' and by the commissioners of the United States Government, that New Zealand should appoint a commissioner or commissioner-general to this Exposition, with a necessary staff of assistants; that it should appropriate a sufficient amount 0i money to participate on a,scale worthy of it as a colony, and, if possible, to erect a suitable building, and that it take favour- ■ able action as soon as possible, in view of the short time that will elapse before the formal opening in April, 1903, of the Exposition. As, -moreover, the period of application for space will probably be limited to November 1, 1902, no time, should be lost by the Government of New Zealand in taking the necessary steps to be worthily represented. The plan and scope of the ' Louisiana Purchase Exposition' is of that comprehensive, practical, and gigantic scale which should invite the ready and hearty confidence and participation of all countries, among whom it ie earnestly hoped New Zealand will be prominently included. In speaking of the importance of the Exposition, . I may say that it will surpass the Columbian Exposition of 1893, and the Paris World's Fair of 1900, in cost of construction and preparation, in area of ground, in size and number of buildings, and in variety and character of exhibits. Over 30,000,000 dollars (£6,000,000) of gold will have been expended when the Exposition is in complete running order, of which the United States Government, by special Act of Congress, has. appropriated 5,000,000 dollars (£1,000,000). Congress is giving the Exposition the practical support and cooperation of the National Government, which is so requisite to secure the confidence and active interests of foreign Governments, and it is now thought probable that the present Congress will appropriate from 500,000 dollars (£100,000) to 1,000,000 dollars (£200,000) more. The City of St. Louis has appropriated 10,000,000 dollars (£2,000,000), -the State of Missouri 1,000,000 dollars (£200,000), and otner States corresponding amounts. I desire to say to your Excellency, that the advantages to New Zealand of a large and comprehensive participation in this greatest of international expositions cannot be denied. Attention is also called to . the profound interest throughout the United States re Australasia, due,' first, to the recent federation of Australia, and second to widespread concern in the development of American . commerce and trade with the Pacific lands. The Exposition will give Australia and New Zealand their first great opportunity, since Australia's entrance upon a new era of material and political progress, to show to the world in general, and to the United States in particular, what are their actual resources, industries, "and possibilities, as well as their true conditions of governmental, educational, economic, and social developments. This, of course, applies equally as much to New Zealand as a State as to the Commonwealth. In brief, the unquestioned good that will accrue to all Australasia from participation in such a mighty exposition, held in the very heart of the United States, must surely more than repay the necessary financial outlay. President McKinley, 'in a proclamation issued shortly before he passed away, formally, but strongly, invited the nations of the world to participate, and President Roosevelt, as already shown, has strongly commended the Exposition in his message to Congress. In conclusion, I beg to state to your Excellency that nothing would please me greater than to see this progressive colony represented at the Exposition. There are many reasons why New Zealand should become better known to the people of the United States, and I believe,, as before remarked, that if the colony were properly represented at the Exposition by commissioners and exhibits, great good would result to it- therefrom."