DUNEDIN EXHIBITION. MINISTERS AT A PUBLIC MEETING Dunedin, Dec. 17.

Te Aroha News, Volume VI, Issue 327, 22 December 1888, Page 3

DUNEDIN EXHIBITION. MINISTERS AT A PUBLIC MEETING Dunedin, Dec. 17.

The meeting held at the Princess Theatre to-night, in connection with the projected Exhibition, was an undoubted succe&fc, the building being tilled in all parts., The Mayor presided, and seats on the stage were occupied by Si)' U. A. Atkinson, "the Hon. T. Fergus, Hon. E. Mitchelson, Hon. W. H. Reynolds, Messi& J. Allen, W. D. Stewart, H. S. Fish, Dr. Fitchett, A. R. Ross, M.H.R.'s, Sir R. Stout, the Hon. R. Oliver, Hon. G. McLean and several influential citizens. The first resolution was moved by Mr John Roberts, as follows :—": — " That the proposal to hold an Exhibition in cele. bration of the fiftieth anniversary of the foundation of the colony has the hearty approval of the citizens of Dunedin and suburbs." Sir R. Stout, in speaking to it, said that the meeting reminded him oi one held in the sixties, when everyone in the city was full of hope in the future, and when the hated \rord depression was unthought of. If the Exhibition was to be asuccess there must be an absence of that pessimism which ha* been the curse of the colony for some years. He declined to look on it as a mere Dunedin exhibition, holding that the people of the colony had more love than that of mere locality, and he took it as a token <of the de> termination of the people that New Zealan i should, be second to none in the colonies under the British flag. Mr- Twopeny, in moving " That the thanks of this meeting be conveyed to the Government for the assistance they have already offered to the Exhibition," said that he had been con]} cerned in seven exhibitions, and he ielt that this was the greatest enterprise that he had I ever been engaged m. He was pleased to [ say that the Exhibition was not the outcome of any personal origin, but of public instinct. The Government had taken up the matter in a rery handsome manner, and deserved the thanks of the people throughout the colony. The Premier said that although it had not been in the power of Government at present to render much j service to the project, still those services had | been hearty and thorough, and he could ! assure them that . throughout the vrhole course of this Exhibition the Government would render every possible service within their power.' The scheme, he ventured to, think, would prove greatly to the benefit of New Zealand', and if the residents would only go into it as a people, the success of the Exhibition was secured. Both 1 the -resolutions weve carried amid enthusiasm, and votes of' thanks were accorded to the Premier and thn'Ohairmati. - I