JUBILEE INDUSTRIAL EXHIBITION.

Otago Witness, Issue 2299, 24 March 1898, Page 29

JUBILEE INDUSTRIAL EXHIBITION.

THE OPENING CEREMONY. A BEILLIANT SCENE. The open'n? of the Otago Jubilee Industrial Exhibition came oft' TriLh great 6clat on Tuesday night. Tbe ■we.'.f.hoc, which had bseu somewhat threatening throughout the afternoon, cleared beauiifully by evening, and long before the iibpon^fd hour for eomcaencing the opening ceremonies a vast concourse oi people assembled outside the Agricultural Hall. When the doors v»t?re opened the crowd soon filled the building to an uocomfortable extent, and hundreds had to be turned away from the doors. The stage was occupied by the members of the Orchestral and Choral Societies, while on the platform were the Premier and members of both Houses of Parliament. As the Governor and suite entered the hall precisely at 8 o'clock, the orchestra struck up the National Anthem, and the audiercs joined in the singing. His Excellency was accompanied by Captain Browne, Lieutenant Freeman, Lieutenant West, Dr Bowie (of H.M.S. Tauranga), Colonel Pole Penton (Conamanda-nt of the Colonial Forces), Captain Alexauder (private secretary), the Hon. C. Hill Trevor (assistant private secretary), CaptatnWard (A D C), aud Captain Wellesley (ADC). The Vice-regal party was met at the entrance by the Hon. T. Fergus, Messrs T. Brydone and J. Haz'.etfc (vicepresidents of the exhibition), and escorted by them to the platform, where seats were occupied alao by the Premier (the Right Hoa. R J. Sdddon), his Honor Mr Justice Williams, tho Hons. S. li. Shrimski, W. H. Reynolds, ft. Oliver, W. D. Stewart, Gr. Rl'Lean, D Pinkerton, tt. Jones, and W. M. Bolt, M.L.C.'s, the Hon. W. Rolleston, Messrs Scobie Mackor.zse, J. A. Millar, W. Fraaer, T. Y. Duncao, J. W. i K»illy, A. Morrison, E. & Ailen, and I. Parata, ! M.H.R's., the Mayor of Duaedin (Mr E. B. Cargill), the Mayor of Gore (Dc Copland), the Mayor of Port Chalmers (Mr J. Mill), the Mayor "of Naseby (Me W. Guffie), Crs Solomon, Carroll, Ghisholoa, Hayaes, end Swan, Messrs T. J. Lethbridge, J. &lckmey, J. , C. Thomson, W. Catfceo, R Wilson, J. M'Rae • Gallaway, A. M'Farlane, R Campbell, W. T. \ Monkman, W. B. Taylor, W. Henderson, J. ] W. Brindley, C. R. Chapman, A. C. Begg, A. j Thomson, J. Shiel, B. Hallenateiu, A. Todd, J. Edgar, H. V. Haddock, G. Fenwick, A Bart, J. Cook, T. W. "Kempthorue, J. Angus, G. P. • Farquhar, J. H. Morrison, and J. C. Thomson. 'The large assemblage of people, representative of the whole colony of New Zealand, ( in the brilliantly lighted hall, was a gathering j fitting to the occasion. The combined Orchestral i and Choral Societies, under the conductorship j of Mr J. Coombs, went through a programme i of selections in a capable manner. The i speeches delivered for the most part dealt with j the Jubilee history o£ the province. On ( looking round the audience it was noticeable <hut a considerable number of those present were old identifies from all parts of the colony, who had come to b*, present at the opening of the exhibition. The gathering warf therefore truly representative of Ofcago, and iv nowise confined to the ] population of Dur.ediii alone. Affctr the pro- ! ceediogs in tbe hali v?fte {•ernimatsd, and the exhibition bud beea declared open by his Excellency, the crowd dispersed through the exhibition. The time ad the disposal of the Exhibition Committee since the project was first mooted has not been long ; yet, in spits of the difficulties that beset their path, they have made the Obago Jubilee Industrial Exhibition represent iv concrete form the industries and resources of Otago. v The remnant j of the pioneer settlers who were present last night may have been impressed with the mighty change that has been wrought in Otago during tha first 50 years of its colonisation. Although ihb extent of the Otago | Jubilee Exhibition is small when contrasted I with the New Zealand aud South Seas Exhibition 01 1889 90, yet as far sb it goes the present exhibition is as well got up, and reflects very great credit on the management. Tne whole of the exhibition is lit up with the electric ; light, wbich shows off all the exhibits to advantage. The number aud variety of fche exhibits ara great, and prove if anything can prove, that Otsgo has moved a long way along the road that leads to industrial prosperity. The whole proceedings last night were entered into most heartily by all concerned, and it is evident that the feeling which msde the pioneer settlers set; ! in uniaon for the common good is not yet dead. On the contrary, that spirit which erabues any truly great nation fills tbe hearts of the people of Otago, and the present I reunion •mill do much to extend amongst their descendants and associates the spirit of interdependence and community of interest that actuated the pioneers. The exhibition under the brilliant electric light, with its tastefully arrayed exhibits, the machinery in motion, and the beautiful fernery, with its suggestion of cool forest shade, is a fitting copestone to the proceedings which have been arranged to celebrate the Jubilee of the settlement. THE SPEECHES. At the conclusion of the National Anthem, fcis Excellency the Governor, as president of the exhibition, who was received with enthusiastic cheers, called on the Hon. T. Fergus to state its objects. The Hon. T. Fergus (vice-president) said : Your Excellency, Ladies, and Gentlemen, — It is exactly 50 years to-day since the pioneer ship to this settlement cast anchor within Taiaroa Heads with a number of newcoroe settlers, who had "burst the bounds of habit and wandered far away," to use the language of Tennyson, and had come here to establish a nevr settlement under the dominion of her Most Oracioui Majesty Queen Victoria. There are evidences on every side — north, south, east, and west— oi' the success of this settlement, aid this success is a tribute to those men whose sagacity, forethought, and indomitable perseverance and puck laid tha foundations of the young province of which we are all so juslly proad. — (Applraisc.) ,Alnio«t all of us are related dibtr.ully ol' fcfcarly to the ea4y Battlers ; and IJo not think that anyone can look back without admiration to the founders of this province, who came awosß the ocean wkrn Ihe means of communication Tffcrs very different from what they now are, cutting o/f hose ties.to reach this new coJoriy. , We caunot at this tiir.o of the day corcelra tho j

diffioultia-e they !s*d So aecr.«;i»-«r f fur now :Vj naeaus of romrewriiciiiou wre co'urjaratively eaaj »t.d r<_f.dily pr.icifed. Bat, sl-s 1 -- this is nob a Sir.ing time for me to s\y r.tiy^i^'ag about tbe early fillers bud :'i?.ir V«..ables 5.;.-d te-?4s. A raore ti.U'.ig ofe.'.»r-i-.n will be prtsr.ted t-> ir..:«ow I'Jfll-t, "!•%**> thi-.-re will as^rabJa wit V.'i tlvas wills ail of i,ho c who are now above tho sod, fcsd h great uiaoy o*" their dcsjvndaals, to ret-.*-,/ the history cf the pa.so sad to take sweet ccu;;«e! tefcether. What I huve to do tonight is a consparsitively easy task. I have to toll you tbe origin of Hut exhibition, s,r.d ih»t c.R he told in a very few word*!. &-'<r=e jeare ago cue Agricultural ■ acl Pas'or«l &!/Oiet.y of Otago came to the conclusion tbAt it would be a wise and good thing hi the interest o? agriculture in this province if they were fco establish a winter show. The uica wl>o touk that idea into their heads were m*»n who were not likely to let a useful idea ».ip, and they very quickly put it into practice. Four years ago, therefore, there was estabI lished the Winter Agricultural Show, where j the product's of the province — especially the dairy, cereal, and ro3t products — were exhibited in the largest hall obtainable in this city. The success of the venture was sogreat that it was found, within a couple of years of the ! establishment of the winter show, that they had not nearly sufficient room for the exhibits that came forward. Then with commendable foreI sight it occurred to a, number of them that it I would ba well and wiae to have in this city a I building whie'a would be' large enough to meeS ! the requirements of the ever-increasing show. j And sir, this uoble hall, in whioh we are to- | night, is the outcome of their labours.— (ApI plause). They met with every encouragement I from the agricultural and paßtoral people i throughout the province, *nd they succeeded jin erecting this building. Bat it was soon found out that even this bailding was too small to contain the many exhibits which came from far and near, and it Wis tound than the benefits which had been conferred upon the agricultural and pastoral classes. and the benefits, too, which had been conferred upon the industrial claaees, were so great that the society deemed it wise to endeavour to expend the field of their operations, and 12 months ago, when it was realised that the Jubilee of the proviuce wai at hand, it whs decided to secure all the i<md available in this quarter in order to have at the Jubilee of our province an industrial exhibition ia connection wiib. the winter show of the Agricultural and Pastoral Society. At the tims my friond Mr G-rftnt P. Farqahar and two er three others endeavoured to form an Industrial Association, and the Agricultural and Pastoral Association enterad into correspondence with them, asking if they would take up the question of an industrial exhibition. Thsy gave us some encouragement, as they thought the thing should be done ; but after considerable delay and correspondence, and a good deal of labour on the part of Mr Farquhar and those associated with him, we fouad ia two or three months' time that the projecb was likely to fall stillborn. Thea some two or three of us met, and decided that it would not be well that this should bs allowed to happen. My friends Mr Brydone and Mr Hizlett and two or three more oE the committee of the Agricultural aud Pastoral Asscciation met and said that we would endeavour to hold an industrial exhibition in connection wiib. our winter show, prcvided the mercantile classes of Duaedin would give us a fair measure of support. We went round the city, and in 24- hours we got promises from various citizens, or, rather, we got cash from various eitizans arnouutiog to bstween £700 and £800, aad we got from £1600 to £1700 guaranteed ; proving distinctly that the mercantile clasße3 were afe one with the Agricultural and Pastoral Association in the idea of showing the products of this provinc« and of holding an industrial exhibition at its Jubilee. It was plain sailing thereafter — very plain sailing, — although it undoubtedly gave a certain amount of work to the commiLtee which was set up for the purpose of carrying out this objsefc. I ara very pleased and proud indeed to say that, without exception, the members of the committee have worked with one accord, aud to a very good and judicious and noble . end, as I am sure you will see when you go through the courts that have been set np in the annex. There has been really no difficulty in the matter at all. It is true this building had to b3 erected on dsbantures, because the Agricultural and Pastoral Society could-not take the thing over burdened with debt, and so six or seven genfclemea, who formed what is called the Agricultural Hall Company, put their hands in their pockets and subscribed £2000 as a n' uclus of a fund to complete this place ; but when they found that the money was insufficient to complete the building thsy took fche debentures they held and put. them in the fira in the grate. — (Applause.) They had no object in view except to beiufi l ; the City of Dunedin, and above and beyond all, I am bouad to say, to benefit the provincial district of Otago, to which we all belong and of which we are all so proud. — (Applause.) The only ' object which the directors of the Agricultural Hall Company Ixave &ti i'ne present time, and the only object which the Agricultural and Pastoral Association of Otago has, is that this building shall be handed over at an early date, without debt or.encumbrauce, to that body which I take it has done more than all the other bodies in New Zealand -put together to advance the prosperity and welfare of our province. Ifc is true that we owe much to every class of the community, and it is true that we owe most, I think, to the agricultural and pastoral industries. In the early days of the province, when this settlement was started 50 years ago, the total quantity of land set aparb for settlement was 120,000 acres, and the whole purchase of the New Zealand Company was but 4-00,000 acres. We have now under tillage in the Province of Otago 2,300,000 acres, and grazing upon natural grasses and upon cultivated land about 4-, 000, 000 of sheep.— (Applause.) We owe a great deal to the early settlers, who wjrs the backbone of the country, h»t we alao owe something to- those j who, like raysdf, cams in later years, and ' who wjm s*.il»<i, rs oppi=ied to "o'.d j identity,' 1 fche " *>«•*>• isiq^iiy "" — t-\e roen who ] earne with tbte oi'tf-reak of th« gold '«?£!!.• iv , 1862, atwi ii later yc*z<t — I cams iv ]tfo9 ray- , self. 1 refer to tbivie T»ho o.me botaTtwi the! years 1&69 and IP7O. We awe a ovat,b deal to them and to.tb« miners *>lo o»rtir J lisre troru the Australian colonies. s?h«> Pro-vice* o? O:>*go undoubtedly or'tr. soir.vtbing to eba&i for nnearthing no less than 625,000,000 urorEli o» gold wfcich was won From ths bcwela of tun %&rth. Then, too, I am piond to »ay there has fca*n no difficulty witb rK£j\fd to lsiwniEftiiuree, s.rul yor, will see as you go tlu-cugh thy courts v/);n.t i strides, what gigantic &Lrides, raj.uuFafiUires have made during tfee last lew years. Yon will sc» combined together our bgricrObutf.lanty piw:tor&l industries, our gold mmmg — which io jur.i now likolyto rise in iraportitDce, foe tho production of gold is going up year by jaur, — and with those wa havo oar ruannfaotiuf.'., which are^ spreading everywhere ; so that in every way we fled t.b&6 1 we ura working together for the on* glwicas '■ cud—tiie ijoQii o£ Qte&9, ta a go-id vi liw Zea- '

I m li IMH-— ■ hi iw— mil ■■ill I— w>ii iiiii— imn i 7 land, tnd A© good of the glorious Empire cf ! which vr« «re §o proad. — (LoeA and is-j.^tictitil | applause,) i Tha Right Hon. R. J, Sxaaw-i Premie*. s»«isd * ! Your Excellency, Jdr Tioe-presidenfc, Ladlet *nd Gentlemen, — I *.««ure yoa 5b h*r- given me vary great plca-soro indeed to octne to Dunediu on this most mtmor»ble occasion. I.wt year, in the great, city of LundoD, there were gathered together from all parts of the world representatives of monarchies and repablics, including those of the vast Empire to waiob we all feel »o proud to belong. — (Oheers.) They wera ! gathered together fco do horaage to oar beloved ■ Sovereign— (applause),— and among other parts I of the Empire our colonies were well repra1 Bented. Aud our Parliament waa well ropreeented on that occasion. — (Applause.) There were — and there are — ties of kindred which are growing stronger year by year, and on that occasion the Imperial spirit that waa shown electrified the civilised world. — (Cheer?.) During tha last few days thousands of people have come to Danedin. I gee before aie this evening those who come, probably, from the North Gape to Invercargill. And what is the object for which one and all are gathered together? It is to do honour to those who first came to Obago — those who are , still with us and those who have gone to settle . in other parts of Ocago, — and to honour the memory of those who are gone. And for those ! who have settled in other parts of the colony I • may tay that wherever they have transplanted ' themselves they have proved to be good [ colonists, and have been able to hold their own no matter where they hare been locate^.— i (Applause.) There are here to-night the sons j and daughters of those who first came to Otago ; they are here to assist in making a success of tho celebration of the Jubilee of this great province. Further than that, they are here fco i do honour to those restivo spirits of Scotland, those who, labouring under great; difficulties — difficulties almost insurmountable, — succeeded in planting the first «ettlement in Obago. I allude to the Free ' Church of Scotland. — (Applause.) It is well that the sons and daughters of the early pioneers, who come here from all parts of the i calony, should meet with you in enjoying that J which you have provided for them, and ao j show to the world that we in this colony of i New Zealand are sympathetic towards each j other, whether it be in joy or in sorrow, aud j are determined to assist all we can in making j this a great country. — (Applause). The vice-president, a few moments ago, said J thi3 was net the cccasion to refer to ] the pioneers or the work they have done, ! and that to-morrow night will be a more fitting opportunity for so doing, but I cannot refrain ■' on this occasion from mentioning the nama of : Captain Cargill, who was instrumental in help- ' ing on the province and fco whose judgment and good care we owe a great deal. — (Cheers.) Ifc i was not only in this land that he was ; serviceable to our country. He had done ■' good work for it before he left for New ! Zealand, but although that is so I do say [ that the great benefit done to the Empire by j him in this Province of Ofcago will ever stand | to hia record, and will ever keep his memory ' green in the minds of the people of our country. — (Cheers.) Then there was Dr Burns. To the older generation particularly I am sura thab the mere mention of that name is suf> , flcient to command respect and admiration.— . (Applause.) There is ano&her name I frill mention wifch reverence. I aliudf. to the -late Jamet Macandraw. — (Applause.) A patriot and an unselfish statesman, he sacrificed his life for the good of this part of our great colony. — (Applause ) Bat I would probably do hiia an injustice i were I to go further, because there are present some who were engaged with him in this noble work of colonisation, 'Tho, in this part of fchs colony, have been strengthening the Empire and showing to the world thafr, when transs planted from the old land, although we ara ! divided by sea, there still remains that strong I tie of kindred — beautifully named by the late 1 Sir Henry Parkae "the crimson thread"-— 1 between those in the motherland and tha { colonies, and that here we are working togeshec for the good of each other, strengthening tha i work in which otheri have been engaged. — j (Applause.) Ladies and gentlemen, the vies- ; president referred to some of the work that ha 3 | been done ; he mentioned a few of the result* j fchat have been achieved. Now I thick it ia ( my duty, holding the responsible position I do, > to place before you that whioh will cheer tha younger generation and redound to the credis and give heart to those who did the work. First of all, the population in 18*8 was 745 souls; in 1897 it was 169— (laughter) — that was, nob mentioning tho thousands. — (Applause and laughter.) — Then, in 1897 the land under cultivation in Obago proper was I 2,200,000 acrss ; there were 185 000 cattle, four millions oi" sheep, and 53 000 horses. In 1896 the number of hands employed in factories was 7000. The output per annum of manufactures was over two millions sterling. The gold produced in O^ago to data was va'ued ah £21,246.774 ; last year it was £342,137. Last: year the imports amounted to £1,891,562, and the exports to £1,959,104-. Taking the population, then, as 169,000, I think you have a record in respect to that amount of exports. It shows that thore who did the work of colonisation in this part of the colony in the early days are entitled to the thanks of every good friend of | the country. — (Cheers.) Then, I believe tha first school opened in Ofcago was attended by about 40 scholars. There are now -attending the pnblic schools of Otago 31,729 scholars ; and ■what further redounds to your credit is tha fact that you have 75 public libraries, and 86,931 books in circulation. — (Applause). I do not think that the early settlers ever dreamed that results such as these would be achieved. I inspected tha various exhibits to-day, and I think that the people of Obago have fairly shown what can be done here in the way of products and manufactures. It may be in keeping on this occasion if I give you a few words that fell from a great prince some years ago on an occasion similar to that for which we are gathered together at present. He said : Gentlemen, — I conceive it to be the duty of every educated person closely to watch and study the time in which he lives, and as far as in him lies to add his humble mite of individual exertion to further the accomplishment of what he believes irovidenoe to have ordained. Nobody, however, '■\j2o has p"id any attention to the peculiar feai'.uss f our T-r^senfe era will doubt for a moment i\ie± we are living at a period of most wonderful ij.\miiioD, which teuJs rapidly to accomplish that •grot tftid to which indeed all history points — the i.^'Hsation of the unity of mankind ; not a unity which b"°aks down *::• limits and levels the pjw'il:^- oii.ajjar sties of the different nations of tfcs iTjctii, br.t rs-r&er a vuily the result and proor.ot i.f thoie very ati^o^al varieties and r.uti.goutdU; q-.j.slitfea. 'ibe distances which s*'p:mit«d the dlfovtfc tuUcr.s and parts of tho globe are i\\v-:dlv vs.tlsV.cg before the aohi«Tetn«stJ ef modern Inruntion, and we f!»u Irsvoi-Fo thss^j vsits. iscntdibia ease. The latufoajetf of *•.*,! nations aiv k-towi, Mid tbeir, acquirement plixo*;-! vith-ln 1.5w rock c-f evu.-y-body. Thought i-j cucm-mic/tel vl**h th« rapidity and ey«n by tT;« po*"?.- o.' li.fMrii.rfj .On the other hand, the t'r*a'3 pv'.nfilvla of d'vUiot. ol iabo«r, wliich iuwy hs ct,\l:s tLe moving power of civilisation, is hthx?. asAt.ViMrl to s,ll K'&i\ob«s ot sn-evoE, iiK'-v.Mjry, unit arv. WhU,j h 'ineily tfca rrmtest reeeUl enemies strove at unilttsaii

knowledge, &.ail that keo'Alsdgs v?ss confined to ' the few, «off tbsy »ra df^ccsd oi> sp*ciAlt:ea, and in these «gain events the raiaatest i-oints but the kno-Aiedse f<c«i».''*-?d beccmed bt. occethe property of the co*rniMmity at large, for wkilat i formerly discovbrr w*a "wrapped in etcrccy, th.B ' publicity of *?•.'> pmennb daj cause.= that no < sooner #:s: s & dUcovtry ov iuvantion. lttatJs , than it is auraily i.n proved upoa &n.A \ surpassed by cviopeting 'efforts. The pro- j ducts of all qu&iterss of the globe are placed at j our disposal, and w« have otilv to chcoso which is ' the best and Ihs cheapest for our purposes, and j the powers of production aye enuusud to the j stimulus of competition and capita}. So man ia j approaching a more complete fulfilment of that ! great and saf-rau mission which he Las to perform in this world. Ilia reason being created after the image of God Le has to U3C ifc to discover tbe laws by which the Almighty governs His creation, ; and, by making the^a law 3 his standard of actioc, j to conquer Nature to his use. Himself a diviuo j instrument, _«-pii;ace discovers these laws of power, ! motion, and transformation ; industry applies ; them to tbe raw matter which the earth yields r.s ' in abundance, but which becomes valuable oo'/ ! by knowledge. Art teaches us the immutable j laws of beauty an-i symmetry, and gives l-» au? j productions for>j;o in accordaace to I herd. | The mind thas coucoived, the voice tbat istterefl ' those words is silent now forever. I have been reading to you the words of the iafce Prince Courorfc at the opening of the exhibition ia 1851. For far-sightedness and for greatness oi conception concerning the renulfcs and the benefits to bo conferred by exhibitions the words are truly prophetic. In different j parts of the Empire theae exhibitions have, done | a grsat deal to make our nation wh»t it is to- j day, and it speaks volumes for those in Dun- j edin and Oago who have provided the cshsbi- ; tion with the many products ife contains. Ie is j eaid that "Heaven helps those who help flieinselves," and in this assistance the leaders oi , the movement have Leiped themselves c- «.;• siderably, with aiigLt assistance .fftra tbe I Government, bui; the extent of our tjeip is ' hardly worth mentioning. Of cour*6 there are i matters in which we help as far as possible — ! the development of our itulustries and the ! development ami settlement: of our land, — ! and the good^ work taken in hand by { the Exhibition* Committee was also de- I serving of support.. — (Applause). Ladifs and • gentlemen, I have no more to s&j-, except to ; again assure ycu that I am very pleased to ba i present on this great occasion, and I sincerely • hope and trust that one and all will now ivork ' ■with bat one object in view — to make New Zta- ! land a great nation. — (Appiauee ) l^er. tbe [ memory of_ the pioneers ever be kept gteec. • then, and let all that we do ii? conducive to r^s - benefit cf our fair 'and. Thtie irtif oe j^'gviccial prejudices and jt>alous«i&. "out abjve al! . this Imperial patriotism should be Leid in view, ( and ib should be the fcitn of all who are con- \ earned in the welfare of our great Empire. — j (Cheers.) 1 will now ask yon, ladies and i gentlemen, to give * token of encouragement I to the president of the exhibition, and to the ! vice-presidents «.nd managers, who, under j difficulties, have brought this gte«s question to j a most sucres«ful issue. I ask yuu to give them ; three heaefcy choers, ! The audience, led by the Premier, res^onifed i lnstily to the request. j The JViArOR (Mr E. B Cargill), ftho was im- \ perfectly heard, was understood to say : Your | Excellency, Vice-presidents, Ladies and Gentle- ■ . men,;— l can hardly hops .to say much that will . make an impression npon you following oa the" ', eloquent spesches to which you have just | listened. i fetl tbafc my being called on to | offer some remarks this evening is very much a ,' comiiliment to my office as mayor of the city. • However, there is just a word or two thab I am happy to have t-iie opportunity of saying to you. TLub assemblage to-night is to celebrate the opening of an industrial exhibition — an exhibition which, I ; believe, is most fittingly held as a part of our Jubilee cekbrations. We have arrived at a ; point when we are called upon to look back on ' our past history from its very origin — to look * back on the la^t 50 years to see what has been accomplished. The firat thing that is put - before settlers coining to a new country is to possess the land, subdue it, drain the sw&mps, bridge the river*, open up communication, and • do all that is done to bring land from a state of i nature iuto a state of cultivation. We sometimes hear the cultivation of the soil spoken - ef as if it were the beginning and tha end j of all, but I need scarcely say to you that cultivation of the soil and the deriving from it of the products of tbe earth are only the ' beginning of the application of human labour. It is very weii to make some sort of saying such as "everything comej out of the land" — raw products ccme cut of the land, — but all thab goes to make up what is known as merchandise is the result of the application of human labour to these products ; and no'hing is more gratifying than that at this time those who have j taken a prominent place in encouraging the agri- | cultural and pastoral industries of the country — tbe Agricultural and Pastoral Society — should take this opportunity of setting forth what has been achieved as tbe resn't of the application of human labour, and particu'arly of skilled labour, of all kinds to thrf raw products of the eurtb. If we look at the Home country and at i all great countries, what do we *cc ? Ifc is not j by the cultivation of nh'jat that Great Britain j has become rich, but tha nvgft iceuniulauon of j ■wealth that is going f.n from year to year is • coming from tbe application <-.- hurc«.n labour ; in ail its different departments, :n: n its manufao ' tures, iv its gteat factories, in its trains ' and ships, aud commerce. These are 'the j things which sire accumulating wealth and ; which make nations great. I hope it will not { be supposed tbat I am saying anything iv disparagement of agricultural and pastoral pus- j Euitj. I bave been in connection with them ! more than anything else for the greater part of j my life, but 1 did think it well to poinb out thab s vpe are reminded by tlrs exhibition that we-j faave to look beyond those pursuits — thab there ! is something that will lead U3 much further. If this country is to become a great country — lo become a country that is at all to be compared with the country from which we come — ife rounS ,be by the establishment aaaougsb us of the manufactures and arts which have made the old country great. — (Applause.) There i 3, I believe, no country iv the world where the soil yields mere generously to the labour and capital pu', iy. if i than ifc does in this country, bub all die sh;h<?, . if we look into tho future and atteir.pt to for'- ' Eec the progress thab the colony is to make in i anobher 50 years, I hope that when the center.- : ary comes round the people will be able to poinb j ; to a great wealth of manufactures and to the * ; increased application, in it 3 various depart- -j : ments, of human labour to the work of pro- • i rluclion. With these remarks I beg to con- : gratulate the Agricultural and Pastoral Society i Dn ifc« happy thought cl an exhibition. — lLoud appHuse.) 1 Mr Thojias Bbtdoke: Ib f»lh to mf lot to , i Bay a very few worda on this occasion. With- i out doubt we may congratulate ourselves on i the success of our undertaking when we see the i large assembly here to-night to sh^w us that « they appreciate what we bave been atfcernp'ing lo do during the past few weeks. We thuujib'j : it appropria^f that bin Excellency the G.-iVfruoc •, should be president of this industrial ex'uibi- ' won oi ours. When we asked him bo do us thai :

rnri r<mr-iTiri*i|-|~ .iTMn-miniiii.-iiiirM ii i- —lf .m ' iiojjour he agraed mosb pleasantly, and we have hixdi nothiog bub succesa attending our efforts up to the pre*enb stage. E7eryone h%a come forward with support ; bafc we must attribute a 1 lot of the success we have had lo the fact ■ fci)&t we hdi'e his Excellency as president. — I (Applause)' We also applied to tha Gjireini ment and Ministry for a lifctle pecuniary asaist:j ance— (laughter), — and they granted it most | readily and willingly. We thank tha 1 Premier *n« those associated with him for th&fc | assistasice. — (Applause). It showed that they j took a gitifet deal of interest in what we are ; flosug here, and thab they had confidence that ws would spend the money given us in a proper manner and for the good of tue province. And i 1 think everyone here, whfju they see the eshi1 ijicion of industry that we have got together — | the exhibits being almost entirely produced in • Otago, — they will be thoroughly &,i';idfied tJL&S ! the object we have had ia view is aboub to be [ fuiniled. I have no doubt we will veiy : gteat assistance, nob ouly from Ofcago, i v trujn | the whole of Now Zealand, towards making | c>ur projsft a successful one. — (Appr<in.T v . : His ExcErLENcr s^id :In the iirsfc ;ilsc» I | desire to express my extreme regret .hat Lady Kanfurly is unable to ba present tfcii* t wning. She 18 unfortunately confined to fact bed, but I hope she may be abla to take part in the events thab are to orcar to-morrow. Ib is hardiy necessary Tor me to tell you with what p?a*ua» I am able to be present od thin auspiciour 1 fcas:oa of jcur.Ju&ilee. Ihaveicdred h-i-^iab'': ai--)sy short months in your cuunir3 r , but <s ".Ue >>w lr.ouths I have b.i°d at my dispotal f<,r travelling I have tried in that short time* to see a? nath'of your country as was possibif., and I nave oerlM'niy been able to see a £(.0$ part of CiV» -^Applause.) This province, which c-.*es ]}•? origin to the energy and tae persuver- •■ ::u o? iuose. wbo are mostly if i»ot Jsl' of HaciL'tn i-.etLeni- and Scottish biri.li, nas made vx these 50 years a most marvellous m ride in civiiisstiou. Ia my *-our around this ilisfciicl, whan I saw the woollen manufactures with ths latest appliances and machinery, wheu I s*w the rrjosb modern snttbo^s in tlie mining districts i'fsr getuug and winning the gold from ihe earth, wbtn I saw t.he .Tianner ia which you v/on :'isoti<e gold i.-om 'oeneafch the water by dredging — wfcen I saw iba reault of all ihese I could not iielp •..tiinking thab »lthough in the present djs.y there was las* labour etnployed. possibly, at the nioznen% Bcill you a^e prob&bly only on the eve of a great industry which in tha future may employ even more labour than it has done in tho pa3b. — (App'-ause.) I had the pleasura of viewing the exhibition tnis aic ruing, and in ifc I noticed toat nearsy avery requisite of an inhabitant of Otagc, no aaritser »;hat bis pursuit in life may be, seemed to me to be manufactured in this colony — (applause) ; — and one thing I was much pleased to see was that in that exhibition there appeared to be very little else than home manufactures. — (Applause). As your mayor said, it is Lot ;;<> woeat alone that a nation can look for prosperity. It is to your manufactures acd your industries, and in th'S province du-iog the short term of, I believe, of years — for your manufactures have not, bees established, I believe, much longer — they have made vast progress. The energy shown by the founders has indeed been great, bafc tomorrow we are to see what are here ca'led the old identities. — (Laughter and applause ) Your old identities are the people who started tte ball roiling. Tbe present generation are keeping tha ball up ; bub what of the future P Let tha present generation, I ssy, teach their children that if the old identities have pub New Zealand into the prominent position it is now in, ifc is not for thosa children to sit down at their ea«e and spend the money, but ib is for them to pufe their shoulders to the wheel and Leave tha ball up the hill. — (Applnu*e.) It ia by energy, and energy alone, that New Zealand will tftkfi its places as one of the foremost British colonies, and, I trust, a British colony always. — (Loud applau»e.) The old identities recognised England and Scotland — the United Kingdom — ps their home, ihpir motherland ftlany of you here, no doubt, have been born in New Zealand, but still I trust thab you will use the word " Home " and still thiuk of " Home " as the land where that Sovereign lives who ha 3 ruled over us for so maDy prosperous and happy years. I have much pleasure in declaring the Exhibition now open. — (Lcud applause.) The proceedings were diversified with.appro"priate music, which was rendered by the Caoral Society and the Orchestral Society. Besides the Natioual Anthem the pieces eompr.sed " Ths One Hundredth P*a!rn (iv which the audience joined wioh much spirit), the chorus from " Elijah" " Thanks be to God," and the "Hallelujah chorus" from "The Messiah." Mr James Coomb 3 was conductor, and the music was rendered with admirable precision and effect