NEW ZEALAND AND SOUTH SEAS EXHIBITION.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 8556, 26 July 1889, Page 3

NEW ZEALAND AND SOUTH SEAS EXHIBITION.

MEETING OF COMMISSIONERS.

A special meeting of the Exhibition Commissioners, held yesterday afternoon, was attended by Mesßrs J. Roberts (chairman), T. Brown, G. Fenwick, A. Wilson, R. Hay, M. Joel, W. Carlton, R. E. N. Twopeny, B. Hallenstein, H. Mackenzie, T. Brydone, J. H. Morrison, J. White, A, Thompson, Dr Belcher, and Dr Hocken. It was reported that Mr Fenwick had been appointed chftirrnan of the Exhibition Awards Committee. , Mr R. L. Stanford, hon. secretary of the Tourists' Court Committee, wrote stating that Mr A. Wilson had been appointed chairman of that committee. The following report of the Tourists' Court Committee was read :—

This court Is intended to be a pleasant place of re--1 «ort for strangers viiiting the Exhibition _; a place where they may obtain full and reliable information regarding the various places of Interest in the colony, the best means of reaching them, the cost of each trip, and tho accommodation available ; and where, besides, they Way obtain, if possible, a ticket covering the entire trip. In ordSr to make the court u«eful and attractive it will be comfortably fitted up in the manner ol a club lounge, will be decorated with paintings and photographs of the most striking vie^s of Sew Zealand scenery, and will bo supplied with maps, writIng matetial, and iomd of the best British and Colonial newspapers. Further, means of communication by post, telegraph, and telephone ahouldbe readily available; and the whole court should be under the charge of a courteous official, able to tupply visitors with full information on matters belonging to the court The court will consist of flvfl baye, It.is expected that one of these will be occupied by the Bailway department, and by Messrs Oook and Son, who will exhibit their ar'ringements for conducting toura to all parts 'a! the world. Another bay will be occupied by the Union Steam Sbip Company, in which will !>■» exhibited full and half-models of aorae of its steamers; a chart of ita routes, showing dally the various positions of its fleet; water colours and photographs of scenery Illustrating its varioui tours, paintings of several of its steamerß; and pamphlets for distribution, describing the attractions of the oniony, and containing other information likely to Be useful to tourists. The rematnlng three bayi will be furnished by the committee, 'and will be supplied with writing material, newspapers, 4c. In this portion the exhibits will comprise maps of the Australasian colonies and South Sea Inlands, and special maps on a large scale of various districts of the colony, giving a bird's-eye view of theirtopograpblcnlfeaturej, routes of travel, coach roads, railways, fie. These special maps, it is nnderitood, tbo Survey department has agreed to prepare for the committee. It is estimated that the cost of equipping the court in the manner suggested will not exceed £50. In addition to this there will be the salary of the official in charge and a small outlay for keeping the court in order and providing stationery. ! Dunedin, July Si. &.. Witsasr, Chairman.

A letter was received from Messrs E. C. Reynolds and Co., who wrote on behalf of the Bank of New Zealand, offering the commissioners the use of the Grand Facifio Hotel during exhibition time free of cost on certain conditions being complied with. The Chaibman said' the letter was the outcome of a conversation he had with the Premier when in Wellington. Sir Harry Atkinson said if the commissioners thought they could provide suitable accommodation for the Governor of this and the other colonies, it would go a long way to secure the bT those gentlemen at the exhibition. He (the chairman) said that they might possibly be able to secure the Grand Pacific Hotel free of cost. The commissioners would, of course, not commit themselves to anything until they assertained what tho probable cost of furnishing and repairing the hotel would be; but if the presence of the Governors of the other colonies could be secured, the cost would no doubt be more than made up, and a better tone would be given to the whole proceedings.

After some discussion of the matter, further consideration of it was postponed until next meeting.

The CBaibman said it was intended during the currency of the exhibition to have a daily official programme, and it was proposed to call for tenders for the right of issue of this.

The Secretary read the conditions of tender which had been drawn up with regard to the programme re/erred to by the Chairman, and these were approved.

The Chaiesias said he had written to hit brother in Scotland with regard to securing a Scotch loan of pictures for the exhibition, and had received two communications from him on the subject, which Mr Hastings would read.

The Secretary read extraots from letters from Mr A. F. Roberts to the chairman. In one letter the writer stated that he had seen Messrs M'Kay and MTaggart on the subject of pictures for the exhibition. Mr M'Kay had already sent off one of his pictures. He (the writer) had also seen Shaw, Savill, and Co., who had offered to charge only half the usual freight for pictures to the exhibition. He had likewise seen Sir Charles Tennaot, who was emphatically of opinion that unless pictures were to be seat out and brought back (if unsold) free of expense, it was no use to approach good artists on the subject.

Mr A. F. Roberts, in a subsequent letter, stated that he had a talk with Mr.Saunders about pictures for the exhibition. Mr Sannders was quite of the opinion wbich he (Mr Roberts) bad given previously—that unless pictures were to be sent out and Home again free, of all expense artists would not send them, and he suggested that if the exhibition.executive thought of offering any money to defray such expenses to cable the amount that they would place at bis (Mr A. F. Roberts') disposal. If this should be done, he j would ask two or three to form a committee with himself to select them. The cost of sending out and bringing Home pictures, &c. (including insurance at sea, but not in the exhibition) would be £4 or £5 for each picture. To make anything of a good exhibit, he thought, from 50 to 80 pictures from Scotland would be wanted. Should a cable be sent to him putting £250 at his disposal he would have everything done as cheaply as possible, and need not necessarily spend the whole. He thought the better plan would be in writing the artists to say that all expenses would be paid, but that were pictures were sold in Dunedin the coßt of sending them out would be deducted from the price. He would require to give the artists an estimate of the cost of sending them our, which they could add to the price of the pictures, and in that way the Exhibition Company would meet the expenses only of pictures sent back unsold.

An extract of a letter from Mr J. Sanderson to thechairman was also read with regard to the same subject.

Mr Sanderson said that Messrs A. and T. Roberts had informed him that they were willing to contribute £100 for expenses, and he offered either £50 or £30 and two or three of his pictures free. This of course would not provide for many; and there should not be less than 50 sent. ■

A letter waa also read from Messrs Sanderson, Murray, and Co. stating that the pictures Mr Sanderson wonld send were by Peter Graham, Clara Montalba and two email ones of Erskine Nicol.

Mr Haixenstein asked what expenses the commissioners were committed to at present in connection with pictures for the exhibition.

The ChaibMan replied that their only committal was as regarded the Anglo-Australian collection. He wenfc ou to Bay that he thought there would be a great probability of selling Scotch pictures here if they could be got. He had been speaking to Mr Hodgkins about this matter of obtaining some good pictures from Scotland, and be highly approved of the idea, and thought that such pictures, if obtained, would form a very attractive feature of the exhibition.

It was resolved that tbe sum of £250 be set aside for the purpose of obtaining some pictures from Scotland.

The Chaibsian said Mr Watson, of the Colonial Bank, who had been in Ceylon, had made a request on behalf of the Ceylon Tea Planters' Association that an arrangement might be made by which some Cingalese servants of the association might be permitted to bring tea to the exhibition in bulk and make it up into parcels and sell it in the exhibition. This was a departure from the lines laid down, and the Executive could not undertake to grant the permission asked for unless the coinmiteionc-rs were prepared to do so.

Mr Mackenzie stated that the association had set aside £300 to be expended in the exhibition.

Mr Twopeny said if tho request of the association were granted, he did not see bow the commissioners could refuse any other company a similar request.

After some consideration of the matter, it was agreed that the permission asked for could not be granted.

The Fine Arts Committee, after examination of the designs for the certificate of award, came to the following decision, which they forwarded to the executive:—" That the certificate accompanied by the motfo ' Tenakautou 'be recommended for acceptance by the executive, subject to its completion to the satisfaction of the Arts Committee. The committee also beg to express their appreciation of the merits of the designs with the following mottoes: —' Crux et corona,' ' Inventor,' ' New Zealander,' ' Nil desperandum,'' Ninety-four,' ' Nuitireni (No. I),' ' Per Ardua,' ' Revereeco,' 'X or V.'" Upon the envelope of the successful competitor being opened, it was found to contain the name of Mr T. S. Lambert, architect, Chriatchurch. The envelopes containing the names of those competitors who have received honourable mention will not be opened until it has been ascertained whether Mr Lambert can complete his design, as required, to the satisfaction of the committee. Tbe designs of thfc other competitors are to be had en application a" the exhibition offices. It was mentioned tbftb Mr Lanjb?rt had been unable to complete tho design owing to some bereavement in his family. He, however, telegraphed stating that he would be willing to

complets it, and would come to town to see the Fine Arts Committee with regard to it. The recommendation of the Five Arts Com* raitteo was agreed to. EXHIBITION NOTES. At the first meeting of the Judging and Awards Committee Mr George Fenwick was elected chairman. Draft regulatious for the guidance of jurors and exhibitors were submitted and consideration deferred. The latest contributions to the guarantee fund are I—Rev. Rutherford Waddell, £10; Judge Denniston, £26; James Mills, M.H.R., £100. Messrs Smith and Sons (Greenfield) have applied for 25 shares;. G; A, Birch (Invercargill), .6; G. O. Mathesen, 3; J. S. Macdonald, 10.