The Imperial Institute.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 5022, 1 June 1889, Page 2

The Imperial Institute.

(By Telegraph.)

WELLINGTON, May 81. Sir Somers Vine explained to a crowded meeting of the Chamber of Commerce the objects and scope of the Imperial Institute. He said that his mission was to ask for the sympathy and co-operation of the colonies, and especially of the Chambers of Commerce. A large and valuable tract of seven acres, formerly held by the commissioners of the 1851 exhibition, had been handed over to the Institute, and this could be increased to ten if necessary. A building was in course of erection, and would bo finished in two years. The Prince of Wales was in hopes that the colonial court would be well filled with the products of the colonies, but he was anxious to make them understand that there would be nothing of the “ bazaar ” about it. Sir Somers Vine went into details at some length, and answered a number of questions put to him by some members. Part of the scheme, he said, was to establish a branch for the collection of specimens of produce. It was shown that in a few years scholarships would be established in connection with the Institute. A monthly journal was to be published which would be issued broadcast over the world. The chairman and other members expressed their gratification at hearing a true explanation of what they confessed they knew very little about, and a hearty vote of thanks was passed to Sir Somers Vine. He intimated his intention of cabling the chamber’s appreciation to the Prince of Wales who had told him when leaving England that whatever the Governments might say it was the opinions of the commercial men in the colonies that he was anxious to hear.