THE JUBILEE OF OTAGO.

Otago Witness, Issue 2285, 16 December 1897, Page 67

THE JUBILEE OF OTAGO.

AN INDUSTRIAL EXHIBITION. It will be with feelings of pleasure that the - information will be received by the public that , the fiftieth anniversary of the settlement of . Otago is to be celebrated by the holding of an ( industrial exhibition. The directors of the Otago Agricultural Hall Company (Limited) | bave had the matter under consideration for . some time, but they were disinclined to move , definitely uutil an opportunity had besn s afforded tb.9 New Zealand Manufacturers' \ Association or- some kindred, body to taWe the , initiative. After a considerable delay and a , great deal of correspondence the proj.cfc for an ( exhibition, to be promoted by the association j in question; uuforlunately fell through, bub it t was fiaally decided by a few gentlemen that , the scheme should not be allowed to be abandoned altogether, and that s|eps should be ( taken with the object of ascertaining what sup- , port might be expected from the business community and general public. We are informed that the promoters have been accorded a very cordial reception from a l .! quarters, and that although the preliminary meeting was only held on Tuesday last a considerable sum of money ' ha 3 been guaranteed — suflbienb to enable thorn I to immediately proceed wiib. the ertction of a j bnildifig in addition to the- Agricultural Build- s iogs. The director*' of th.v Agricultural Hall Company have acsordiogly secured aheidy a 1 lease of six sections adjoining their own build- '' ings. _ i The c»nva«s tfcat has been made of business ] psople for guarantees to cover the cost of the t erection of addition al build ings has revealed tha ] £xisteuce among the community of a stroDg i feeling that the occasion of the Jubilee of ] Ofcago should be marked by some display of a ] more ex f euded character than has yet been i publicly proposed, and with a view to assisting 1 in the holdiDgjif such a display the whole of ] those firms and cifcfzans who have_ given ] guarantees have alao made ca*h donations to ] mn exhibition fund, the result beiug tint a very ] eubstautial sum has been received. ( No details have yet been arranged with regard i to the scope of the exhibition, but it is proposed that it shall comprise &H clams of No .v Zealand i manufactures, agricultural implements, curios, ' works of art, technical exhibits, and native pro- j ducts generally. It is contemplated that the ! exhibition shall be opened on Jubilee Day (the ] 23rd March) and that ib'&hall clone at the time i of the Otago Agricultural and Pastoral Society's \ winter show, which will be held on the closing j day of the Industrial Exhibition. It is proposed j also that entertainment] will be hold almost ■ nightly during the period for which the exhibi- ] tion nill ba open. 1 6 is expected th&t a pros- < pectus will be issued in a few days, and it is ] hoped that all manufacturers ia particular and i the public in general will cordially support the < movement and rriiko the exhibition worthy of : Otego and of the interesting occasion which it i is designed to celebrate. A special meeting of the directors of the Otago Agricultural Hull Company (Limited) was held on Fiiday afternoon,' the Hon.. Tho »as Fergus in the chair. The Chaihsian explained tha.t the object qf ttie meeting was to discuss the advisability of holding an indust-ial exhibition, opening ou Anniversary Day, during the Jubilee year. Ho explained what had so far been done, and said he was extremely pleased to be a.bla to report thai the few gentlemen who had canvassed the town for guarantees hftd been received in nil directions most cordially, and they had now secured a sufficient guarantee to practically cover tbe initial cost of additional buildiuget required. This showed a strong feeling existing among buiim-sa men that such an occasion ma the fiftieth anniversary of the settlement of the province should be fittingly celebrated. In addition to guaranteeing the promoters ftom any loss business man had a.lio liber*! y &ubBcribed to the exhibition fund. Mr Brydonk, ia suppotting the chti.-mau's remarks as to the cordial manner in which tbe canvassers were received, said he hoped that all '■ those firms and lessees of pUces of business who would receive pecunury benefit; from an exhibition in town would conae forward and lend fiuancUl assistance. He moved—" That an Otago Jubilee Industrial Exhibition be held daring M*rcb, 1893." Mr Jambs Hazlett seconded the motion, which was carried unanimously. Several applications received for the use of various portions ot tho Agricultural Building were referred to an executive appointed tb arrange and carry oub aU details in connection with the exhibition. Several other applications were referred to the same committee. Messrs Duncan and MacGregor wrote intimating that they would be plcaßed to subscribe to the scheme. ' A letter was received suggesting that the Victoria Hall be utilised as an art gallery, the writer stating that in his opinion the building was second to none in Now £easaod for such a purpose.— The secretary was instructed to thank the writer for his suggetHoo, and tha letter was referred to the executive for favourable consideration. Mr James Hazlett said there was one matter lie would like to make clear to tbe public so bs to disabuse the minds of some gentlemen who felt disposed to think that the director* iv initiating the exhibition at this date had taken advantage of some institution intending to hold a somewhat similar project. The directors some eight months ago h»d the matter under consideration, and the only reason of the delay was the question of the New Zealand Manufacturers' Association forniiDg themselves into an industrial association similar to thote iv Christchurch and Wellington, so that the exhibition should be held under their joint auspices. Host people were aware that every effort was made to focm this association, but unfortunately it fell through; therefore the directors decided to go on with the project themselves. He only wished to make this ' matter clear. As a proof of tbe bona fide iuteution of the directors he would poinb out that they had- secured iv May last the six sections adjoining the building, and had paid rent on them since that date. Mr J. H. Morrison proposed, and Mr Thomas Brydonb seconded, that the Hon. Thomas Fergus be appointed president. — Carried unanimously. . . Mr James Hazlett proposed that Mr Thomas" Brydone be appointed vice-president. — The motion was seconded, by Mr William Patrickand carried unanimously. His Honor Mr Justice Williani3, his ■Worship the Mayor, the president of the Dunedin Chamber of Commerce, and the chairman of the Otago Harbour Board were appointed hon. vi ce-presidents. Oa the motion of the President, it waß decided to communicate with his Excellency the Governor asking him for his patronage. The following committee were appointed with power to add to their number : — Messrs Thomas Brown, Eobart Campbell, G. P. Farquh&r, James Hazleth, T. W, KemptUorae, James

Smith, B. Hallensfcein, G. H. GUroy, William Patrick, J. M. Ritchie. J. H. Morrison, R. Gleaaining, James Sbiel, P. R. Sargood, and Andrew Todd. On the motion of Mr William Patrick, Messrs Thooias Brydone, J. H. Morrison, James Smith, and James H&zlett were appointed a floacoa committee. Mr John Aagua was appo<uted hon. treasurer, and Messrs E. A. Cog an aud Ed. F. Duthie, joint secretaries. Messrs James South, J. H: Morrison, William Patrick, Robert Campbell, James Sbiel, G. H. Gilroy, James Hazletb were appointed the building committee, who immediately after the meeting was over inspected tho vacant sections, aud decided, should satisfactory arrangements ' bs made with Messrs Maclean and Co:, that the new building should extend up to that Bern's new store. The secretary was instructed to at once write Mr James H'slop, and rvsk him to prepare plans for the proposed addition, to be submitted to the General Committee at as' early a date as poesibl9. Oa Ilia motion of the President ib was decided to defer app iotiog the other sub c 3mmittees required until next meeting.