INDUSTRIAL ASSOCIATION.

New Zealand Times, Volume LVIII, Issue 2746, 18 February 1896, Page 3

INDUSTRIAL ASSOCIATION.

WELLINGTON IiXIUIUTION TO IMS OPENED IN NOVEMBER. THE PR E PAR ATIO N 3. A gonotr.l mooting ,' f tho '<7oUington Imiuytrial Association tor tho purpose ol ilealing with biluineus connected with tho proposed Industrial Exhibition was hold last ni;dit in tho Chainhor of Commorco. Mr S. iirown (president) was in the chair. Thu President explained what stupa had boon taken in furtherance of tho Exhibition since last meeting in November. The Government had promised a contribution of .851X1, and a situ for tho Exhibition hud huen selected at tho foot of Cuba street, immediately behind tli3 School of De-

sign, and now fenced in. Tho City Council had lent tho ground and promised such assistance ns they could give. An application for a money grant was held in abeyance, ns it was not clear whether the Council had power to make one. Tho Drillshed grounds had also been considered, but they wore somewhat irregular and would involve a greater expenditure for building. Any extensions that might bo required would have to bo erected across a made street, and there might be objections to closing it in. Tin- owners of the sections on the opposite sl»!e of tlio street were willing to grant the free nso of them, but tho Art Society wanted -L'JOO for tho use of their hall. Then tho use of the Opera House for a month was offered for .8140, but two fatal objections to its serviceability were fI) that though a portion of tho hnildiug could bo used by sending people through tho stage doors, the full use could only lie got by sending people through the front entrances, and this would not carry ■ out tho idea of sending people through tho Exhibition before reaching tho concert halt; and (2) a month would bo too short a time for tho purpose, and then tho period could only be fixed when the house was not engaged, so that this offer could not be entertained. Tho Town Hall site had been definitely selected after careful consideration of ail tho points bearing on the subject. Roughly, lie estimated that it would coat {about -EliOO “to make a concert hall 100 ft x 40ft, and That when taken down the material would fetch about A'lDO. The inside of tho Drillshed would probably entail an expenditure of at least .850, and the rent for two months would bo JBSQ, making tho cost of tho Town Hail site £SO more than for tho Drillshed. It was considered to be an important point to locate tho Exhibition us near as possible to tho greatest lino of foot traffic, especially at night. Ten years ago, when tho last Exhibition was hold on a site adjoining the Drillshed, tho conditions were different. Since then some 10,000 persona had been added to the population, and the greater part of these people wore located at tho southern end of the town. It was ascertained by several weeks’ careful observation that a location as near as possible to Cuba and Manners streets would bo in tho best position to attract the largest number of people. The site was also close to To Aro Railway Station, as well as facing tho wharf, [t was contemplated in connection with this site to obtain a 5000 candle-power lamp from England, ns there was none strong enough in Now Zealand for tho purpose. Such a lamp would give a light that would bo seen from tho top of Cuba street, and bo a landmark from any part of tho town. It was also proposed to run tho machinery by electricity, as that would bo much more advantageous than steam for distributing power to small machines in different parts of tho building. It would also enable several novelties to bo carried out by electricity, such as cooking, ironing, pumping water, Ac. On tho Town Hull sito 40,000 square feet approximately could bo gob without crossing tho street, and if it were found necessary to cross the street it was an unformed ono and all tho land belongs to tho Corporation. As a means of enabling a suitable time to bo chosen for opening and closing the exhibition, information was procured from tho AssistantGeneral Manager of Government Railways, from the Manawatu Railway Company, tho Union Steam Ship Company and the hotels in order to ascertain which were their busiest months. This information tended to show that somewhere about the end of November to about tho middle of January would be the best period within which to catch the greatest number of people. It had been found desirable to appoint a finance Committee, and tho following gentlemen were appointed :—Mr Miilward (general manager Goar Company), Mr T. G. Macarthy (chairman Manawatu Railway Company and director of the Bank of New Zealand), Mr Martin Kennedy (director of tho Bank of New Zealand), Mr James Smith (director of tho Manawatu Railway Company), Mr N. Reid (of W. -and G, Turnbull), and tho names of these gentlemen wore a sufficient guarantee that the finances would bo well looked after. As to tho general prospects of the Exhibition, the promoters had been met in the most favourable manner on all sides. _ Both tho Government and the City Council had expressed their willingness to do all they could to help, and Bishop Wallis had written expressing hia desire to do all ho could for tho movement. The committee hud naked him to become a vice-president of tho Exhibition as well as Archbishop Redwood, who was also manifesting a great interest in it. Tho committee were under great obligations to the Canterbury Association for furnishing much valuable information, besides a plan and cross section of their own buildings. In short, the promoters had the support of tho press, tho Church, tho State, and the public, and it would bo their own fault if they failed to make a success of tho undertaking. Tho report made by tho president was adopted. ' A letter was received from Mr H. B. Kirk (who had been president of the ChristchiiDoh Exhibition) returning thanks for tho election of Mr R. C. Bishop (present president) and himself as vice-presi-dents of the Wellington Industrial Exhibitiou. _ lu answer to a question it was stated that the present number of guarantors was 59, but no regular canvass had been made for additions to tho list. The following committees wore set up with power to act; —Building and Lighting, Space, Musical and Entertainment, Printing and Advertising, Fine Arts and Power. A Ladies’ Committee is in course of formation. . . Tho President expressed the opinion that a large number of articles of fine work would be forwarded from the convents for exhibition. It was resolved on the motion of Mr Thos. Ballinger, seconded by Mr A. J. Littlejohn, “ That the Exhibition be hold on the Town Hall sito and adjoining sections, and that it be opened on or about Wednesday the 25th Noyember next.” It was also agreed on the motion of Mr Peter Hutson, "That the Building and Lighting, Space.Musioal and Entertainment, Printing and Advertising, Fine Arts, Power, and Ladies’ Committees be authorised in their several functions to carry out the objects of the Exhibition, and that the chairman of each of these committees form tho executive of the Exhibition." In answer to a question, tho President said tho first duty of the secretary would bo to ascertain if the gentlemen appointed to tho various committees would act, and then to call them together to elect their chairmen and get to .work. On the motion of Mr Miilward, the Finance Committee was authorised to use the finances of tho Association, and to make such financial arrangements as might bo necessary for the purposes of the Exhibition. . , The meeting closed after passing a vote of thanks to Messrs Kirk and Bishop, the past and present presidents of tho Christchurch Industrial Exhibition.