NEW ZEALAND ABROAD.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1695, 24 August 1904, Page 21

NEW ZEALAND ABROAD.

AMERICAN OPINIONS OF THIS COUNTRY. In tli© (£ St. Louis Globe Democrat” of Sunday, July 17 —a mammoth illustrated paper of forty-eight pages—there appears a three-column article contributed by Mr Thomas Clarkson, of the “Lyttelton Times’' staff, who is reporting on the St. Louis Exposition for several New Zealand journals. Mr Clarkson’s article opens thus: — “New Zealand!” These are the words that involuntarily spring from almost every visitor who passes our exhibit at the Worlds Fair. The words are drawled out with an indescribable intonation that suggests many things. One might believe that the speaker had just discovered a new country and was particularly proud of the achievement. This, indeed, is very much the way the exhibit strikes the American. He is firstly surprised beyond measure at being suddenly confronted with the exhibit of a country he had scarcely heard of, and having survived the shock, becomes immensely pleased with ,himself for having brought these countries together from the uttermost ends of the earth. So he proceeds to investigate. “Gee! Look at these shawls. I’ve never seen shawls or blankets like these. My! But I’d like to have one.” The visitors handle the product of the Mosgiel factory lovingly and longingly, and then comes the question that in time become monotonous: “What is the pi’ice of these ?” “These goods are only on exhibition, and not for sale.” In the Agricultural building farmers and seed and grain merchants predominate. All day long they may he seen handling the grain and seed contained in a dozen sacks that comprise the modest exhibit of Maoriland, and all day long comes the same magnificent tribute to the productive qualities of our country,: “This is certainly the finest grain I have ever seen.” “You’re not from New Zealand?” is a favourite query, which, answered in the affirmative, brings forth another. “But you were born in England?” “No ; bred and born in New Zealand.” “But—and then tho questioner r. trifle shamefaced, as he or she realises the enormity of the mistake. In this respect it must be conceded that the policy of the Chief Commissioner, Mr Donne, in surrounding himself as far as possible with New Zealanders, is an eminently sound one. After all, a typical New Zealander is the finest exhibit that can be put on the stand. A good second would have been a refrigerator with glass front showing a few carcases of prime Canterbury lamb or mutton. “"What’s that picture supposed to represent?” is another stock question. Three well-known paintings, depicting tho arrival of the Maoris in Now Zealand, the Maori Tohunga, and the.tatooing of a Maori chief, which were borrowfrocm New Zealanders by Mr Dcnne for the Exposition, attract remarkable interest, and hold visitors spellbound. “Is that amber?” exclaims the spokesman of a little group that stands in front of the kauri gum exhibit. Few Amercan people have heard of'this important Now Zealand product, and are astonished when they learn what it is, where it comes from, and that it is used for making high-class varnish. A man comes forward with beaming faoa and outstretched hand, and looking as though he would fall on the neck of the attendant. “I’m a single-taxer,” he yells, as he “grips” with the greatest enthusiasm, “and. I’m intei*ested in your fine country.” Now and again a well-dressed gentlemen passing by says to a (friend: “New Zealand; that is the finest country in the world.” And by subsequent conversation shows that where we are known in America it is by our legislatve enactments rather than by our produce, our scenery,or our climate. Whilst these are explained and illustrated by tbe views hanging around the walls, the visitor stands open-mouthed, freely punctuating the conversation with, “Is that so?” and finally comes to the conclusion: “New Zealand must be a mighty fine country.” Flashes of humour are expected in the country that produced Mark Twain, Artemus Ward, Max Adler, and others, but the effusions of these writers sound tame and commonplace beside the expressions of some of their fellow-Ameri-cans. Thus the. old lady who, looking at the picture in which tho old Maori, with hands behind Ixim because he is “ tapu ” (sacred), occupies the foreground, and where a Maori hut can be seen in the rear, immediately exclaimed: “There’s Uncle Tom’s Cabin; poor 15 old fellow,” reached a dizzy height. <l There are the wingless birds of New Zealand,” politely remarked the attendant. New Zealanders, and occasionally Australians, who happen along express regret that the agricultural, pastoral, and manufacturing interests of our colony ax© not fully represented, knowing

that had this been so, we could have challenged comparison even with the magnifioent display of America’s great (States. To have made an adequate representation of New Zealand’s products would have involved an excessive expenditure.

In the remainder of the article the writer deals with the climate, agricultural and pastoral interests'. Government railways, labour and other legislation, etc. The article is illustrated with fine photo-engravings.