VISIT OF HIS EXCELLENCY THE GOVERNOR.

Taranaki Herald, Volume XLVI, Issue 11096, 9 December 1897, Page 2

VISIT OF HIS EXCELLENCY THE GOVERNOR.

THIS DAY. A btuoht blue sky, and the rays of the sun tempered by a gentle breeze— such was the prevailing weather o« the occasion Ilis Excellency the Governor, Lord RanI f urly, and party's first official visit to New Plymouth on Thursduy. Many of the business places remained open during the morning, but in the afternoon the town was en fHe. Bunting was plentifully displayed, the flags of all nations flying gaily from numerous flagstaff* in all parts of tho town, while in the main street were several lines of bunting extending from one side to the other, the whole presenting a very gay and festive appearance. His Excellency was not a great distance from the town on Wednesday afternoon and evening, for he and his party had remained with their j " special " afc Norfolk Road-, a#d as in formation to that effect was received on WednPßday, all possible doubts that might have been felt &s to the Governor not being likely to be here as expected, were set at rest. THE PUBLIC WELCOME. By 11 o'clock, a very large crowd of people hud assembled in the vicinity of the railway station and on the high banks in front, from which a splendid view of the proceedings could be obtained. The scene was a most animated one, and the ladies' dresses made the picture also a very protty one. A number of police were present under Inspector McGovern and Sergt Stagpoole, two of them, Constables McGill and Lynd being mounted and assisted materially to keep the crowd back and maintain order.

It was about 17 minutes past 11, after the ordinary train had come in, that the whistle of the "special" was heard, and a few moments later the carriages of the vice regal party drew up alongside the platform, where were assembled the Mayor (Mr Roy) and Borough Councillors, Mr Brown, M.H.R., Mr Stanford, S.M., members of local bodies, and Mr and Mrs Standish, the latter of whom received Lady Ranfurly on behalf of the Mayoress (Mrs Roy), who through ill health was unable to d% so. '1 he Misses Roy were also among' the party on the platform, and were presented to Lord and Lady Ranfurly.

After the formal introductions had taken place, the party from the Empire City, consisting of Hi 9 Excellency the Governor, Lady Ranfurly, Captain Alexander, Private Secretary, the Hon. Hill- Trevor, A.D.C., ar/d the Hon. T. i hompson, were conducted to a raised 1 dais in front of the station, the local officials following. As His Excellency uountod the dais, the Taranaki Rifles, i under Captain Okey, and the Hawera Mounted Rifles, under Captain Davies, saluted, and the Town Baud played the ] National Anthem, at the conclusion of i which the Town Clerk (Mr C. E. Bellringer) read the following address to His Excellency: — » To His Excelloncy the Right Honorable i Earl of Itanfurly, Knight Commander of the Most D stinguUhed Older of Saint Michael aud Saint George, Governor and Commander-in-Chief ia and over Her Majesty's Colony of New Zaaland and its Dependencies. ; We, the Mayor and Councillors of the Borough of New Plymouth, heartily welcome Your Excellency and Lady , Ranfurly on your firsc visit to thii town, and we recognise it as a proof of the interest which you take in every part of the colony over which you preside. We regret that your other engagements will , not allow Your Excellency on this present occaß'ou to visit some of the many places of native historic interest in the district; but wo hope that Your Excellency and Lady Ranfurly. will be able to visit us again with longer time at your disposal. Wo desire to express our loyalty to Her Majesty the Queen, and to yourself ai Her Representative. We ! trust that Your ExcoUency, Lady Ranfurly, and family may enjoy iualth and ■ happiness duriug your stay in New Zealand. Given under tha seal of the Borough 1 Council of New Plymouth this ninth clay of December one thousand eight huudred and ninety seven. J. ft ROY, Mayor. C. E. BELLRINGER, Town Clerk. To this, His Excellency replied as follows, afterwards handing his address to ihe Town Clerk : — , To tho Mayor and Councillors of the Borough of New Plymouth : Mr Mayor and Gentlemen, Please accept my thanks and those of Lady Ranfurly for the ■ cordial manner iv which you have received me to-day- a reception as warm as any I have yet received. I am glad that wo hove beon able to visit your totvn at such an auspicious moment as the present, and that my visit hos been so timed as to enable mo to take part in one of tho institutions of your town. I fchall hope at some future date to visit the many places of native historic interest in your neighbourhood. I thank you for your expressions of loyalty to He? Majesty the Queen; on every side I have received the same profe:sions of loyalty to the Throne, and I know these are not mere empty phrases, for, when occasion has arisen, the Colonies have ever been ready to stand by that Mothei Country, of which they are so justly proud, and which we all love to call Home. (Hear, hear.) I return you my best thanks for your kind wishes regarding the sojourn of mjself, Laely Raufurly, and family in this colony. Hw Wor&hip the Mayor, in a few appropriate words, thanked the G< vernor for his address, and his remarks were followed by hearty cheers for Lord and Lady Ranfurly and their family. Lady Ranfurly was thun presented by tho Mayor's youngest daughter, Miss Gladys Koy, on behalf of the Mayoress, with a handsome bouquet fastened with green silk ribbon*, His Excellency at the same time accepting a pretty buttonhole from Mis 3 Muriel Ho/. The carriages, each driven by four horses then drew up in front of the diaa, His Excellency, Captain Alexander, Hon T. Thompson and the Mayor driving in the first, and Lady Ranfurly, Hon Hill Trevor, Mr and Mrs Stan-lish in the second, the others being occupied by the Borough Councillors, &c. '1 he procession moved on, the vice regal party escorted by the Hawera Mounted Rifles, with the Thr.it.aki Riflts and the Town Pand also formed in, the whole proceeding to the Criterion Hotel by way of Queen street and down Devon street. The streets on the route wore lined with peoples, includiug numerous visitors from the country, while in fron f of the Criterion Hotel, where the official luncheon was to take place, a dense crowd had collected, Rome of the many natives present indulging in a song of welcome THE LUNCHEON. At half past twelve His Excellency was entertained at luncheon at tho Criterion Hotel by His Worship the Mayor, when the following gentlemen sat down, having been previously presented to His Excel lency :—: — His Excellency the Governor ; Captain Alexander, Private Secretary ; Hon. T. Thompson, Miuistor of' Justice ; Mr Henry Brown, M.H.R.; Mr B. Dockrill, Mayor elect; Councillors T. Avery, J. Belliing.-r, W. F. Brooking, P. R. Carthew, F. P. ( orkill, D. IWi, VV. Walton, ami J. Ward, Borough of Now Plymouth; C. E. Bollringer, Town Clerk; 'J. K. Sliinner, Borough Engincci ; i\Jr il. Okoy, Chairman Taranaki County Council ; Mr R. H. Pigott, Chuiiinan (jlilton County Council ; Mr J. Mackay, Chairman Nt>a> iord County Council ; Air 0. Poaree, Chairman Waitani Harbour Board und Raleigh Town Board; MrJ. C Peach, Chairman Ingle wood Town BoarJ ; Air R. L. Stanford, S.M ; MrJ. fcJtumuhon, Commissioner of Crown La ds ; Coloi c Trimble ; Colonel Btapp, N.Z M.; \! j tr Ellis, N.Z SI.; Civpiuin K. h wis Wul;»ur, N.Z.M.j Ca-jtuio. Cupel, N tf.M.j (Jautum

R. 11. Davies and' Lieutenant Matthews; Ilawora Mounted Rifles ; Captain E. N. L. Okey, Taranaki Rifles ; Inspector McGovern ; Rev. C. H. Garland, Chairman Whiteley Memorial Church Building Committee ; Messrs Newton King, Chairman Taranaki Chamber of Commerce ; E. J. Allen, Bank of New Zealand ; N. K. MacDiarmid, Bank of New South Wales ; A. 15. A. Clarke, National Bank ; A. J. Mclntosh, Bank of Australasia; Dr. Leatham ; Dr. Christie; Messrs D. Berry, W. Bewley, A. Goldwater, 0. W. Govett, P. C. Morton, and J. E. Wilson, New Plymouth; C. E. Halloran, Waitara ; J. Hine, Tikorangi; W. J. Perm, Taranaki Herald ; J. Parker, Taranaki News. The following gentlemen through absence from Now Plymouth were unavoidably unable to accept invitations to be present : — Right Hon. R. J. Seddon, P.C . M.H.R, Hon. A. J. Cadman (Minister for Railways), Hon. T. Kelly, M.L.C., Mr W. Symes, M.H.R , Mr District Judge Kettle, Mr 0. Samuel (Borough Solicitor), Mr E. Maxwell (Chairman New Plymouth narbour Board), and Captain Cornwall. Mr A. Standish, Crown Solicitor, was also unable to be present, owing to the fact that he and Mrs Standish were entertaining Lady Ranfurly. Lord Ranfurly was supported on his right by Mr Dockrill (the Mayor elect) and Captain Alexander, and on bis left by the Mayor (Mr Roy) and the Hon. T. Thompson, Minister for Justice. After justice had been done to the excellent collation provided by the landlord of tho Orjteiion, Mr Keith, a short toast list was presented, the first toa^t being, of course, The Queen, proposed by the Mayor, who afterwards proposed the health of His Excellency the Governor, briefly expressing the pleasure it gave him to welcome Lord Ranfurly to New Plymouth.

Lord Ranfurly responded, saying how pleased he wa3 to have been able to visit New Plymouth, and intimating his intention to return at some future time and spend a few days ia the district. The only remaining toast on the list, tbofc of the Legislature of New Zealand, was proposed by Mr Dockrill,who coupled with the toast the names of the Hon. T. Thompson, and Mr H. Brown, M.H.R. Both these gentlemen having briefly rpsponded, and the hour for laying the foundation stone of tbe Whiteley Church being close at hand, an adjournment was then made.

His Excellency, accompanied by the Mayor, the Hon T. Thompson, and Captain Alexander, was then driven to the site of the new church, the Boiough Councilld'rs and Mr 11. Brown, M.H.K., following in other carriages. La»ly RanfurJy, acoompanied by Mr and Mrs Standisb, Captain Hill-Travor and^jirty followed a few moment's later, on tbeir way from Mi Standish's residence. LAYING THE FOUNDATION STONE OF THE WHITELEY MEMORIAL CHURCH. On the arrival of the vice-regal party at the site of the new church in Liar Jet street, the two bands accompanied the combined choirs and the large crowd of people in singing the National Anthem. His Excellency, Lady Itanfurly, lion. T. Thompson, and His Worship the Mayor were accommodated on a platform facing the foundation stone. Among the party with His Excellency and Lady Ranfurly were Captain Alexander, Mr and Mrs Standish, and Miss Muriel Roy The Rev. C. H. Garland first read and then presented the following address to His Excellency from the Wesleyan Church: — To Hh Excellency the Right Hon, the Earl of Ranfurly, Governor of the Colony of New Zealand. Your Excellency, — We, the Wesleyan Methodists of New Plymouth, on the occasion of Your Excellency's gracious visit-to our town for the purpose of layitg the foundation stone of the Whiteley Memorial Church, desire to assure Your Excellency of our loyalty to the throne and person of Her Most Gracious Majesty Queen Victoria. We likewise offer to Your Excellency and to Lady Ranfurly our sincere assurance of personal respect and our most hearty welcome. We are grateful indeed for the honor Your Excellency has conferred upon us by your presence nnd participation in our undertaking. We pray that Your Excellency an\ Lidy Jfanfurly's residence in our beloved Colony may bo richly blessed of Huaven.

His Excellency replied as follows : —

CJ jntlemen, —On behalf of Lady Kanfurly and myself, 1 beg to thank you for the manner in wHch jou hive welcomed us here to-day. It given us both great pleasure that we have been able to vjsit New Plymouth, so as to take part at the laying of this foundation stone, No more fitting memorial could hive been ereoted to the memory of Mr Whiteley, a man who was in life universally respeoted, and who gave his best endeavours to the advancement of Christianity and of peace, ever given his life for the splendid work in which he was engaged, and whose name is destined now to be handed down to posterity by means of tha Whiteley Memorial Church. Not so many years have passed away since that tragic event, but to-day s proceedings will doubtless bring back to many of you remembrances of the time when this country was not in the peaceful state it is in now,when there was war and bloodshed all around, and when, in hu efforts to promote that peace and goodwill towaids all men, Mr Whiteley met bis sad end. I thank you for your assurances of loyalty to the Throne, also for your kind wishesregardingour stay in this colony. This was followed by the singing of the "Old Hundredth" by the combined j choirs and the reading of Genesis xxviii, , verses 10 to 22, and the Te Deum.was then sung. The Rev W. Drew read verses 11, 12 of Ephesiins v, and the Rev J. H. White offered prayer. The firgfc portion of the offertory was ihen taken up, the band playing a selection. In introducing Mr E. Okey, Treasurer of the Church, to Lord Ranfurly, the Rev MrGarland spoke of his faithfulness to the Church of which he had long been a member. Mr Okey then presented His Excellency with the trowel and mallet, and read the following address :—: — Your Excellency, — This trowel is made of the ironsaud of our r each ; the iron being manufactured- in Onehanga, undur the superin tendency of our townsman, Mr E. M. Smith.. This mallet is carvad by Mr. Andrews out of the first English oak grown in New Plymouth. It is my honor as the Treasurer of the Wesleyan Church of New Plymouth, to present those to Your Excellency for the purpose of laying the foundation stone of the church to be erected in honor of the laib Reverend John Whiteley, a notable pioneer missionary, with whom it was my privolege for some years to labour ; who, through a long and arduous career, wore the white flower of a bhraoless life, and s^ilol it with a martyr's death. He lives to-day in the warm affections of the people of Taranaki, who are deeply grateful to Your Excellency for tha mark of esteem giveu by Your Excellency's gracious presence on this ocsasion. After going through the usual procedure and adjusting the stone with a spirit level, Lord "Ranfurly then, on behalf of tin trustees of the Wesleyan Memorial Church, declared tho foundation stone ro bo wofl and truly laid. Tho Rtono bore the following inscription : "This stone wns laid by His Excelloncy the Govornor, the Right Hon. tho Karl of Hun furly, Dec i), 18l>7. Tho following aro the contents of the largo bottle undur the foundation stone : Minuto* of Australasian Conference, 1851 ; copy of Taranaki Herald, 8/;{,s(> (taken from the foundation stone of tho former Church on that site) ; minutes of N Z. Confereuco, 1897 ; N.Z. Advocate, 4/ 12/07 ; circuit plan for Dccomber ; printed programme of procoedings ; copy of Wednesday's Herald and Thuiadaj's News; photo of Rev. John Whiteley ; photo of ola Uiuicli ; untograph «nd print of H«» Jfc.*«<jll«iwy,

The second hymn on the programme, " In the Name of Earth and Heaven," was then f,uag, and the Rev. C. H. Garland, after apologising for the unavoidable absenco of the Rev. G. Bond, Chairman of the District, said — The Rev C. H. Garland apologised for tho absence of tho Rev George Boud, Chairman of the district, who, according to the custom of these occasion, was to have enunciated the tenets and polity of the Methodist Church. He would not attempt to do the Chairman's work, but would only pay tha l ; the trustees and congregation he presided over were working in tho full assurance tint the church about to bo erected would represent an integral part of the Holy Catholic Church ; that within its wall's would be preached the pure Word of God, and the Sacraments be duly administered according to Christ's ordinance. They were undistuibsd by those discussions which would make the existence of a Church dependent upon tho ecclesiastical validity of ministerial ordination ; they rested upon the utterance of Our Lord, " Where two or three are slathered togerher in my Name, ther* am I in the midst of them "; and, as for himself, he heartily accepted the comment on these words of Tertullian, the great African Apologist of the second century — übi ires tunt laid ibi fst ecchsia. He believed the Church would never again be the dictator of dogma ; but vas -confident it would always be the fostermother of religion. He trusted that the Methodist Church of New Plymouth wjuld hold an honorable place among the forces which make for righteousness, and that their breadth of active sympathy would never fall below the motto of John Wesley : " I desire to have a league, offensive and defensive, with every soldier of Christ."

Mr Garland then read a letter ha had received this week from Mr Whiteley King ou behalf of the Rev, John Whiteley's family. Rev. 0. 11. Garland - Reverend and Dear Sir, — I regret moat keenly that I cannot be with those who will a-somble on the 9th of December to take part in honoring and perpetuating the memory of "so noble a sire, ' as Sir Georgo Grey, in a letter to me, describes my beloved grandfather ; but I feel that however unworthy I may be to represent the members of* his family, I cinnot allow the occasion to pass without asking you to say a few words on our behalf. We feel that no better tribute to the honored dead could ba devi3ed than to erect to the service of " that cause, in which he laboured unceasingly for a period of forty years, the beautiful Church your people have designed. Our own affection for our npblo relative can nevfcr die, and it is mosS gratifying to us to know, from this tribute to his memory, that those who knew him, loved and esteemed him as highly as do we. This is not the occasion upon which to mike reference to the tragic nature of liii death ; butitsaem-t right to say here that the tender sympathy which we received at that time from all denominations, f ram all classes, from both wees, sprang from the love which he had won from all. And now after thi-ty years your people and the community in which ha lived and died are taking ste a to perpetuate his memory in a form that would satisfy his heart. In the consummation of the work you are beginning on Thursday, the 9th proximo, we see the beitowal of the martyr 8 crown For there can be no greater reward for life's duty well done than to live thus greatly in the hear) 8 of the people. Will you, on behalf of the family honored this day, give our thanks to the noble Lord, who has so kindly consented to perform the initial ceremonies, and to the many friends who in many ways are affording their assistance. Yours most truly, Whiteley King. The ceremony was brought to a conclnsion by the singing of the Doxology, and the pronouncing of the benediction by the Rev. W. L. Blamires, of Victoria. During the course of the proceedings, the Rev. C. 11. Garland read a telegram from tho Rev. F. W. Walker (Anglican) regretting his inability to bo present, and also one from the Rev. H. R. Ddwsbury, congratulating tho Wesleyans of New Plymouth, on behalf of the District Synod sitting at Wellington. The hymns weie sun,g by the united choirs, aicompanied by tho .bands. INDUSTRIAL, ART, AND CURIO EXHIBITION. THE OPENING CEREMONY. Jt was about twenty minutes, to three wheq the Governor, Lady Ranfurly an 1 party, still escorted by the Hawera Mounted Rifles and the Taranaki Rifles, were driven to ifro Theatre Royal ufttr the conclusion of the ceiemony of layiug the foundation stone. The party was shown over th,j Exhibition by Air Walt jn, Chairman of the Committee, and other membeis, of the Committee, and evinced special interest in the display of curios upstairs.

Those who held special tickets were enabled to gain admittance to the Exhibition by the side -door, but it was not until a tew minutes before three o'clock that the main door was opened, and the distinguished party then assembled on the stage . His WorsLip the Mayor welcomed the Governor on behalf of, the church trustees, and expressed the gratitude of the whole district at Lord and Lady Ranfurly's action in visiting the town to-day (applause). He further alluded to the cordial relations always existing between Her Majesty's representatives and the people (applause), and referred to the objects of the present Exhibitioc as an industrial display and to "get money." Three presentations to Lady Ranfurly were then made : —A photograph of the Recreation Grounds (with Mount Egmont) by Miss Maggie Collis ; a bouquet by Miss Lily Goodacre, who also reid and presented an address from th 6 Horticultural Society ; and a copy of the " Exhibition Daily Post," printed on satin, by Rev. C. H. Garland. This 'atter had just bsen printed on the premises. The following is the address from the Horticultural Society, presented by Miss Goodacre :—: — To His Excellency the Right Honorable the Earl of Ranfurly, Governor of New Zealand, &c, &c. On behalf o£ the Horticultural Society of Taranaki we desire on this occasioa of Your Excel lency's visit to New Plymouth to express our loyalty to Her Most Gracious Ma je»ty Queen Victoria, and to offer to Your Excellency and Lady Ranfurly a most hearty welcome to this, the Garden of New Zealand. Taranaki is peculiarly adapted to horticultural and pastorial pursuits and we regret tima will not now permit of your seeing more of tho natural btauties of the district ; wo trust, how ever, that Your Excellency and Lady Raufuly 8 residence iv the colony may be a lengthy one, and that on some future occasion New Plymouth may have the hor.or of another visit from you. We would ask the acceptance by Lady Ranfurly of specimens of the horticultural pioductions of the district. H. Goodacre, President, S. Ward, Hon Sec. Mr W. Walton, Chairman of tho Exhi bitiou Committee, presented Ilia Excellency with a paper knifo of puriri, and the following address: — Your Excellency.— As the Chairman of tho N.P. Ii dustrial and Art Exhibition, it is my duty to ask Your Excellency to accept of a small souvenir of todays event. This paper knifo is of puriri wood, and made of one of tho palisades which fort Red Hone Heki's renowned p ih at Ruapi kapeka, which fortification fell before Her Majesty's troops in the year 1816, at.d thus ended tho first Maori war iv which Great Britain was engaged. If this small historical mem nto wilt be acceptable to Your Excellency, we are proud to offer it, and, at the sime citne, to express our deep sense of gratitudo Jot your kindness in granting your patronage to our Exhibition aud in graciously coming to declare it op< n. x

Lord Ranfurly thanked the donors for their gifis, and mciuioiteii that shonly Liu'y liaiilarly hrp^l iv sco tho uc ii 3 <mal of tho photo. The paper kujfu iiu wvuid

always value because of its native historic interest. His duty wa3 a simple one, and he expressed l\U pleasure at the displays in the Exhibition, some of which he had just had an opportunity of inspecting. The curios especially formed an excellent collection. He was immensely struck by what he believed in called an etching or drawing, " An untidy man's table." However, it was not his intention to particularise the exhibits, and ho had much pleasure in declaring the Exhibition open and wishing it success (Applause.) The Hon T. Thompson made, a few remarkf, saying he was sare tho audience did not want a very long speech. lie had to express hi-j regret at Mr Seddon having been obliged to remain in Wellington on account of his Parliamentary duties, which prevented him attending this ceremony. He wished the Exhibition tho succoss that it deserved. As an old colonist, and one who had the pleasure of knowing the late John Whifceley and the good work he was engaged in, he 'was pleased to be able to take a part in today's ceremony. He hoped that the Exhibition would assist materially to increase the funds of the Church, and again wished it every success. Before the conclusion of the ceremony, Oia Wo r ship maie a*fow remarks, sating he was extremely pioud of tho people of New Plymouth for inaugurating such an Exhibition, which was so very comprehensive. He congratulated the Committee and hoped that their labour would meet with the guccesßit deserved' The vice-regal party then partook of refreshments, while the general public proceeded co inspect the displays. At the conclusion of Mr Roy's remarks, the Rev C. H. GarlaDd called for cheers for His Excellency the Governor and Lady Rin Curly, and these were given most heartily by the large concourse of people. Hearty cheers were also given for the Hon T. Thompson, and Mr E. M. Smith was similarly honoured by those in tbe vicinity. " Highly creditable, and far surpass'n'j my expectations '- such was the remark made on tho New Plymouth Exhibition of 1897, to day (Thursday) by one who had been privileged to inspect the exhibits prior to the admittance of the general public. And this opiuion, it is believed, will be re-echoed by the majority of the visitors to the Exhibition. There seems to be but little doubt that if tbe promoters had been desirous of doing so, an Exhibition on a far more extensive scale could have been cirried out with but littb extra trouble, though not perhaps without entailing considerably more expense — for which th<i promoters might not have been adoquately compensated - aud it wou'd have also have necessitated a more representative Committee. Not that we wish in any way to detract from the value of the existing Committee's labours, upon the result of which they are to be congratulated, and which deserve the fullest measure of financial success.

Naturally the local Exhibition c mnot fairly ba compared with numerous others held in different parts of the world, including New Zealand ; and it suffers by comparison with the Taranaki Exhibition of 1891, aud the recent eminenUy successful Canterbury and Wellington Exhibitions, which were most favourable exponents of the industries of the colony, and may be correctly termed " iuterpro vincial" rather than " interpolonial." There were many who were disappointed with these two last-mentioned concerns, yet it will not be disputed that they were most beneficial ond instructive in many respects, and this last remark applies equally to our own Exhibition. One of the very last public ceremonies performed by our late Governor Lord Glasgow, prior to his departure from these shores, was the opening of the Wellington Exhibition, and New Plymouth and this district has now been honoured — and this has truly been said to ba a noteworthy coincidence — by having the colony's new Governor, His Excellency Lord Ranfui ly, to perform the opening ceremony in connection with the local Exhibition — the executing of which function will rank among the first of the public ceremonies performed in New Zealand by Hh Excellenoy. This nineteenth century whioh is now drawing to a closa is a memorable one, and amongst the things which will recom mpn-i it to posteiiiy is that -thu latter halt' of it is •what may be lermeJ an ora of exhibitions. The first year of this half century saw the opening of the Hyde Park Exhibition ia London, practically the first exhibition ever held. Speaking on this sulrjeofc when opening the Wellington Exhibition, Lord Glasgow said the idea caught on, and as year after year ensued more aad more exhibitions hive tiken place in Europe an 1 ol.<erhere, nn 1 the century is going to end with the great exhibition which U to be held in Paris, where tho French are doing theii utmost — for th*y have begun already— to mike that exhibition the best that has ever been held. Tho French Government has ev°n a'reaty invitee! the coope ation of Great Britain and all other countries to make that exhibition a success, and they have asked thii colony, as well as all the other colonies of Great j Britain, to send exhibits there. When, therefore, it is considered that such oxhibitions are always the means of drawing people tojether and encouraging peaceful and friendly rivalry in trade, we may hope that tho 20th century will be ushered in by an exhibition which may, as Lord Glasgow hoped, promote peace and goodwill among men.

Throughout Wednesday, and tvell into the night, and also this morning, a large army of workers were busy in arranging disp'a>s and getting things in order. A detailed description of the exhibits will appear in to-morrow's issue, but for the guidance of tho public we herewith give aa idea of how the exhibits are placed. In the main hall are miscellaneous trade displays, aid others of the same class are situated in the supper room, where will also be found a model in accordance with Mr E. M. Smith's idea of forming a harbour at tho bieakwater. On the stage, besides innumerable pot plants, is a sile of work, while in one of the r»>oms at the back, space ia s?t asi-Je for the competitior. in home-made bread, scones, &c, and also for afternoon tea. In a large room directly above Messrs Fischer & Jones' warehouse is situated the concert hall, in which the singing and elocution contests will take place, and round the walls of which are hung numerous pictmres and other works of art. Adjoining this is the curia room—one of tha most attractive features of the Exhibition —»wbile in the corridor^, &c, are hung more pictures and photographs. At the back of the dress circle are some specimens of fancy sewing, handsome patchwork and other quilts, &c. ]