WESTLAND EXHIBITION

New Zealand Herald, Volume LX, Issue 18584, 17 December 1923, Page 10

WESTLAND EXHIBITION

DIAMOND JUBILEE EVENT. - - OPENING CEREMONY. MINING AND DAIRYING. __ «"*. [JB7 TELEGRAPH. — -'RESS ASSOCIATION.] * HOKITTKA. Saturday. *- . The British and Intercolonial . Exhibition at Hokitika was opened to-day. Splendid weather prevailed, f and there was a large attendance. There is a largo and varied display of exhibits from all parts of New Zealand and Australia. Canterbury and Dunedin have specially large numbers of exhibits. The West Coast makes' a good display of its resources. The Westland, Grey, Buller, Inangahua, and Nelson courts contain a splendid collection of ; coal and other minerals, and have special place, while the butter and cheese products fill a substantial space. The whole of the stalls were practically completed for the opening, and the general effect was most pleasing, winning the high commendation of visitors. There is a large influx of visitors from the North, and many from the j East Coast, and the town is wearing a holiday appearance. At the formal opening ceremony tho Acting-Prime Minister. Sir Francis Bell, expressed -regret: at the absence of Mr. Massey. He voiced his admiration of the efforts of the West Coast in regard to the exhibition, and said that the confidence of the promoters in launching the enterprise had been .fully justified by the results. It was wonderful* he said, what a comparatively small community had done. , . , The Hon. W. Downie Stewart, in declaring the exhibition open, paid a tribute to the old miners of Otago and Westland. He congratulated the district on the happy thought to thus commemorate three eventsthe opening of the Otira tunnel, the drawing of attention to the importance of their secondary industries, and the commemoration of the diamond jubilee of Westland. Great and glorious as had been the past, this exhibition was going to prove that the West Coast did not rely upon the past or the present. , __ . Sir Heaton Rhodes congratulated Westland on drawing nearer to Canterbury through the opening of the tunnel. As Minister for Forestry, he said, he was taking a keen interest in the future of the timber industry. In congratulating the promoters on the exhibition, he said he, had never found so much enthusiasm as the people of Westland had shown. The buildings were brilliantly lighted this evening, and the champion B grade band of New Zealand,' from Runanga, rendered a special programme. The exhibition will close on February 2. Tho diamond jubilee of ' Westland will be specially celebrated on January 9, 10, 11, and 12, whep a large number of the early pioneers of the Coast are expected to hold a reunion.