DUNEDIN EXHIBITION.

New Zealand Times, Volume LI, Issue 8969, 21 April 1890, Page 3

DUNEDIN EXHIBITION.

THE CLOSING CF-RKMONY. (PER PRESS ASS'K lATH.N.) Dunedin, April 20. The Now Zealand aud >onth Seas Exhibitiou, after being open 'or four month-i and a half, was brought to a close on Saturday in a blaze of glory, The afternoon was very fine, and so was the evening, except that it was a little cold. In the afternoon there was asteady stream ol visitors to the Exhibition building, and it was evidecc ihere was to be theattendancerecordof the season. Everyone was anxious to have » last view of the exhibits, the garden, fernery, oto , but it was in the evening that the crowd commenced in real e rnest, and from 7 to 8 o’clock the turnstiles were so besieged that another open’ng had to be brought into use. The crowded state of the avenues, etc., during the evening can be estimated by the attendance, which reached 18,434, and as scarcely any of those who had come in the afternoon had gone away, the whole number were present in the evening. At 7 o’clock the Volunteers mustered at the Garrison Hall to the number of about 400 and marched to the building, where they were dismissed to join their friends. Theconcert hall, where the formal closing ceremony was to take place, at 8 o’clock was well filled by that time by those invited. The attendance of members of the Legislature was not large, those present being Messrs Reynolds, Martin, Shrimski, McLean, M.L.C.’s, Major Steward, Messrs Rosa, Fish, Stewart, Scobie Mackenzie, Pratt, Barron, Ward, M.H.R.’sMr Justice Williams, Sir Robert Stout, and all the leading citizens were present. The Garrison Baud having performed a selection, Mr Roberts read a telegram from Lord Onslow, who hear ily congratulated the Commissioners on the success of the venture. The fact that the number passed through the turnstiles exceeded the population of the whole Colony spoke volumes of the way in which the people of Otago supported the enterprise. The Premier telegraphed his congratulations and regret at not being able to attend, as also did Mr T. Fergus and Captain Russelh At the request of the President, Mr T. W. HUlop then gave an add t ess. He expressed regret at the absence of the Premier, as a speech from one who had taken a part as he did in the early settlement and in the struggle of subduing the wilderness, would have been of special interest, and who had taken part in many movements which had eventually resulted in reconciling the two races. Ho compared the condition of the Colony now with that at the close of the 1865 Exhibition, stating that, notwithstanding mistakes and errors of judgment, the progieta was very marked. He noticed that the present project came to a head in the mouth when the Colony bad sustained the largest loss of population it ever bad in one month. It spoke volumes for the enterprise of the promoteis and their faith in the future that they took the matter up when the cloud of depression was darkest, and ho was sure such faith and enterprise were requisites for building np a great nation. It had checked the How of population, and although the tide had ebbed and flowed, still, on the whole, there had been a gain. The patriotic spirit with which they had been prompted was creditable. It had required boldness on the part of the Government to give a vote to the project at the time they were applying the pruning knife to ovary department of the public service. The way in which it was received by the House showed how they could rise superior to local prejudices, and the Exhibition had assisted in causing these to disappear. Its effect had been to inorcise the faith of the people in the bounties of nature, to show the skill of our artisans, and to inculcate a spirit of sclf-reiianco. We had been able to compare the results of labour and increase our confidence in ourselves. The foundation had been laid also of a better knowledge of each other, and also of the other colonies, and we had been better able to realise the dependence of the colonies on each other. Increased knowledge bad thus been gained of the colonies, with which probably we would at some later period be in political alliance. After referring to the educative part of the Exhibition, and the education exhibits and manufactures, which showed that our large expenditure on education was bearing fruitful results, he said he was glad to learn that as a memorial of the Exhibition there was a project on foot to plant a Workman’s College in Otago, thus setting a noble example to the other parts of the Colony. (Applause.) The list of awards was then read by the Secretary as follows, the band playihg a suitable selection after each, such as “RoleBritannia ” fur Great Britain,” “ The Marseillaise ” for France, “ The Watch on the Rhine ” for Germany, and “ Hail Zealandia ” for N ew Zealand :—Great Britain, 1 special, 102 first, 17 second, 4 third, 2 commended ; France, 41 first, 5 second, 33 second, 3 third, 4 commended ; Germany, 3 first, 1 second ; America, 21 first, 14 second, 3 third, 2 commended ;' Mauritius, 9 first, 7 second, 9 third , Ceylon and India, 22 first, 20 second, 9 third, 1 commended; New South Wales, I special, 106 first, 24 second, 9 third, 6 commended; Victoria, 2 special, 116 first, 66 second, 34 third, 4 commended ; South Australia, 3 special, 26 first, 20 second, 3 third ; whole of New Zealand, 11 special, 627 first, 419 second, 192 third, 68 commended. Mr John Roberta, President, said they had come to the end of their labours with mingled feelings of pride, gratitude, and regret. Their self-reliant policy and success were matters of pride. The support they bad received from all quarters was a matter for gratisnde, and the fact that they had arrived at the last day was a cause for regret. The Exhibition had brought them friends from all quarters and had given them an opportunity for exchanging views, and thus led to broading their notion*. There ' was a universal feeling that they had, on the whole, had a rare good time of it, and naturally thi<*y were reluctant to say good-bye to it. A most pleasing feature was that the Exhibition had not been confined to any one sectionjof thehommunity all joined together to make it a success, and if it had had no other object than,to cause them, to rub shoulders with each other, it had done a wonderful work. The proposed Workmen’s College would have the warmest support of himself and the Commissioners, and also, no doubt, of the shareholders. If the building realised well he hoped they would be able to present the four octagons to the Museum and the University, atd the main building for the proposed College, At any rate, if they were not able to make a gift of itfthey would give it on most reasonable terms. After pointing to the debt of gratitude they were under to all countries'and colonies w hich had exhibited, and also to other districts of the Colony for the manner in which they had given support, he gave , his, testimony as to the zeal add energy - of the. staff, and then touched upon the advantages derived from the venture to, education, music, and art. Beside this it had proved an excellent advertisement for the Colony, and ho concluded by saying that the prayer which had been made at the opening ceremony had been amply answered. The band then played “God Save the Queen,’’ and most of those in the concert hall found their way to the gardens, whore a fireworks display was made. About 10o’clock the crowd commenced to go out. and though there was a steady stream it was not till after 11.30 that the building was empty. At a quarter to 12 the. list cornet player played a few bars of the National Anthem, and the New Zealand and South Seas Exhibition closed its doors. The attendance for the past week has been 43,659, of which poid admissions number 20,831. ■ Up to the very closing, the Exhibition yassed off without any serious accident in

connection with it, but one occurred at the eleventh hour. Mrs Winkfield, wife of "a well known pig dealer, was run over by an aerated water cart just after she came out of the Exhibition, and died during the night.