THE EXHIBITION.

Timaru Herald, Volume L, Issue 4823, 21 April 1890, Page 3

THE EXHIBITION.

THE- CLOSING CEREMONY. (By TisLKonAi-n.) DUtfKDIN, April 20. At*?r being open four nnd a half months, tho Now Zealand and South Seas Exhibition was closed onSiilurduy. Tho weather was lovely m Iho extreme, and from an early hour m tho afternoon crowds poured into tho building, tho dream 'at tho turnstiles being incessant. About 7 o'clock the real rush 6Ot m, and tlic'ro was a donso crowd waiting admission, tho altcridauU' efforts being tuxed to tho utmost Ib direct the crowd through Iho turnstiles. Afr T; o'clock the Voulnlccra mustered at tho Garrison Uall m goodly number*, and with bands playing marehod to tho building, wberolhsy worb temporarily dismissed to join their friends. The concert hall, whore the formal closing cerotnony'.wua t:> tako place, commoneod to /1 11 ut 'I o'clock by Ihoso who had received invitotione, und by 8 o'clock it was comfortably ftllrd. Among those preaont wore Iho Hons. Messrs lUynoWs, Sbrimaki, Martin, and" Mo-Lean, M.Ti.G.-a. ; Major Steward, Me«arj Kobs, Stewart, Fish, Seobio MmA.nsio, Pratt, Barron, and Ward, M.U.R.'s., air Kobort Stout, and tho principal citizens. Tho Gnrrißon Band having performed a soleetion, Mr Hubert?, Iho pro'idont, read telegrams from Lord Onslow, Iho Fromier, Iho Hon. Mr Fergu.i, and the ITon. Cuptain Hussoll, congratulating the Commissioners on tho success of Iho Exhibition, and expressing regret at not boing nblo to attend. Tho neerelary read tho Commissioners' roport, tho oubetuneo of which is as follows: — Tho idon'of holding an Exhibition to commoinorato tho Jubiloo of tlio colony took practical shapo at 11 publio meeting on October 23rd, 1888. A company, not for profit, was formed and attractod 1050 subscribers whoso total subscriptions amounted to £1G,680, supplemented by 11 Parliamentary Tola of £10,000. Altogether about IGO citizens of Dunedin and ovor 4(0 m various parts of tho colony have taken part m tho committco work— tho ncrvicrs of nil having boon honorary. Hp3cial rccognilion ir matje of tho erlat Eiven to tho ISxliibition by tho proaeir 0 of Iho Governor, and tho distinguished visitorn ho untortuinad. Hnfernnco H niadi 1 to tho building", tho flno art* collodion, tho Customs, nnd tho oerricos of Iho policn and firo briftado. JTho instullulion ar.il clußriliuatlon io Mnli'd to roflcot croilit on tho commitlecß and 011 l 'era. Tliofio Viho vleiled (Ik; oonitn on tho cvo of tho oponinp, or even ut 1111 c.-irlv Inmr, on tlm | 20th N-.ivombei-, will uclniov.ledgo (liut it was.

at Herculean task to havo had Oio Exhibition ready for tho oflicbl opening (it noon. 1 ho admirable mid harminious working of tho committees well-deaerros special praise, all vicing with eaoh other to miiko their sections n success, and to contribute to the goncral success. The juries worked assiduously and smoothly, and the protests woro limited to 21. Tho exhibits entered for competition amounted to 10,500, subdivided into 36 sections and 203 classes, for which 107 juries had to bo appointed, consisting of 383 jurors, the total awards being 18 special, 1120 lirst, 593 second, 2G4. third, and 87 highly commended, Deference is made to the services rendered by the Railway Commissioners and tho steamship companies for tho reduction iv fares and tho facilities offered to bring visitors. It is impossiblo to say what will bo the financial outcome, but tho 14 Commissioners feel justified m saying that the guarantors will uot be called upon to contribute any portion of their liabilities, and shareholders will uot suffer tho loss which thoy liavo all along been led lo believe. Tho actual icsutts will depend upon the amount realised for tho aßeote.

The Hon. T. W. HUlop then delivered au addrosa. Ho made slight comparison between the condilion of tho colony nt tho cloee of tho Exhibition m 1865, and nt the proaent ono, painting out that although errors had been made, still progress wan Bteady. Ho noticed that tho movement for tho present Exhibition took practical shape m tho month wlion the colony had sustained tho greatest loss m population. Thus tho promoters showed that enterprise which bstokons that faith m the future rjcoessary to tho building up of a groat nation, at a period whon tho cloud of depression was blackest. Tho tide had ebbed uud flawed sinco'lhon, but on the wholo there had been a steady gain. After pointing out that tho Exhibition would tend to cause- jealousies to disappoar, he reviewed tho effects it was likely to produce aud to tho educative training it hud given, concluding by express- 1 ing his ploasuro at hearing that as a memorial of tto Exhibition it was under consideration to establish a workman's college, thm sotting an oxamp!o to other parta of the colony. * Alter tho applause had subsided tho list of awards was read out. as fullows: — Great Britain— l special, 102 firat, 17 seeor.d, 4 third, 2 commended j Franco— 4l first, 5 second, 3 I bird, 4 commcndocl ; Germany •- 3 lirst, 1 second ; Amoricii -27 first, !4 second. 2 third, 2 commended ; Mauritius — 0 first, 7 second, 8 third ; Ceylon and India — 22 first, 20 second, 9 third, 1 commended j New South Wales— l special, 106 first, 24 second, 91 third, 6 commended j Victoria — 2 special, lCi first, 66 second, 34 third, 4 commondod ; South Australia— 3 special, 2 : i first, 20 second, 3 third ; the provinces of Now Zealand—ll special, 627 first, 419 second, 192 third, 68 commended.

Ab tho aQnounceuient of each country was made, the band played appropriate Beleolions, " Eulo Britannia " for Grout Britain, "Tho MarseiUaißo" for France, "Dor Waehfc am Bhino " for Germauy, ond for Now Zealand " Jtlail ! Zealandia "

Mr Eoberts, the president, then delivered an address, m which ho referred to tho mingled feolings of pride, gratitudo, oad regret, with Tvbioh they concluded their labours. Success vac not due to any ono section of tho community, for all hud joined heartily. He announced that tlio moveinont to retain tho main portion of tho building as a workmen's collogo would have tho noxious euro and support of all. Aft?r thanking llio other countries, tho colonies, and tho provincial districts, for tho supp.irt they had given, ho concluded by saying that the prayer with which they had opened tho Exhibition bad been umplv answered. After tho ouplatiao hud sub-Wed tho band played " God Savo Iho Queeu," and moss of those m the hall malo their way to tho ijurdons, where a fireworks display was raudo boforo an onormoua crowd. All the avjnuea wi'Vi) also crowded. Tho attendance was 13,431, being the largostof tho season. Abo\.t 10 o'clock tho people commenced toroliro, trnd though there was n steady etrc:i:n the building was not emptied until 11 30 p. m.

Up to tho very closing the Exhibition passed off without any seriona accident m connection with it, but ono occurred at Iho eleventh hour, lira WinUfield, wifo of t.ho well known pig-drnlor, urn run over by on icratod wnter curt just after fcho camo out of tho .Exhibition, rind died during tho bight.