INDUSTRIAL EXHIBITION COMMITTEE.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 4942, 5 March 1884, Page 3

INDUSTRIAL EXHIBITION COMMITTEE.

A meeting of the Committee of the New Zealand Industrial Exhibition was held at fr.3o p.m. yesterday, at the rooms of the Canterbury Industrial Association, for the purpose of receiving the balance-sheet; present — Messrs A. G. Howiand (Chairman), T. Pavitt, C. M. Gray, J. Waller, D. Reese, R. H. Wood, T. 11. Ker, T. S. Weston, R. W. England, E. H. Banks, H. B. Kirk, B. J. Hale, W. Langdown, F. Jones, M. Sandstein, P. Duncan, B. Hale, and R. Buchanan. An apology for non-attendance was received from Mr R. Shanks. The balance-sheet showed that the total receipts had been J83002 10s lid, including sale of tickets, J62171 193 9d ; fees for space, .£225 19s 8d ; catalogues, advertisements and sales, JJII7 ; and Industrial Association grant, .£3lB. The total expenditure had been .£2879 16s Bd, the principal items being— Buildings, fittings, <fee, .£976 0s lid ; advertising, printing, &c., £429 12s 4d; electric light, .£332 11s 10d 5 music and entertainments, JE537 12s 4d ; Secretary; salary and bonus, .£125 ; rent, £120 ; Industrial Association, interest on deposit, £18. The profit and loss account showed a balance of loss of £177 5s 9d, which, added, to the cash in hand, £122 14s 3d, and the refund of interest, £18, makes up the sum of £318 received from the Industrial Asspciation. The Chairman made the following statement : — Gentlemen, — This is an adjourned meeting, called for the purpose of receiving the balance-sheet and winding up all business connected with the late New Zealand Industrial Exhibition. The accounts have been audited and found correct, and a balance-sheet has been prepared by Messrs W. Jameson and N. Black, who kindly volunteered their services. The sheet chows receipts to the amount of £3002 10s lid, and an expenditure of £2879 16s Bd, which leaves a cash balance of £122 14s. Bd, after giving a bonus of £25 to the Secretary, as a mark of high appreciation by the Committee for the admirable way in which he discharged his duties during the period forwhich he was engaged, and in consideration of the extended time that the Exhibition was kept open. Sundry assets bring this balance up to £139 7s 6d, which sum you will be asked to hand over to the Industrial Association for future works for the advancement of New Zealand industries and productions. I have much pleasure in moving the adoption of the balance-sheet, and in doing so wish to cay that it is highly gratifying to me to be able to pronounce the New Zealand Industrial Exhibition of 1883-4 a decided success, both financially and as an exhibition of purely New Zealand industries and productions. I think you will all agree with me that the Committee did not misjudge the time for holding the Exhibition. Although so recently after the International J Exhibition in Hagley Park, exhibitors from ! one end of New Zealand to the other came i forward with their exhibits far more readily I than we ever expected. They responded | as if they were anxious for such an oppor- I tunity to place their industries and productions before the public, although there were no canvassers employed, but eimply a J circular sent through the post to nianu- j facturers, letting them know that there was such an exhibition to be held. The applications for space were so numerous that we had to build a lai'ger place than we at first intended, consequently the expenses were very much more than we had calculated upon. We did not care to shut out those who wished to exhibit, therefore concluded to go to the expense, and of course had to keep the Exhibition open much longer than was first intended. It was decided before openinc that we should have to follow in Messrs Joubert and Twopeny's wake in furnishing entertainments and performances to make the Exhibition attractive, in order that the people would continue to come until the receipts should amount to what had been expended. Of c,oursej as the time was extended, we gave more and better entertainments than we at first intended, but I am quite sure that the public will not blame us for giving them a igood shilling's worth. At the opening the Lyttelton Times and the Press were equally liberal in their congratulations as to the success of the Exhibition, and if it was a success on the opening day it was a far greater success later on, as exhibits kept coming in until the last week the Exhibition was open. People from far and near visited the Exhibition, and they were unanimous in its praise. Visitors from England, the United States, and from the Australian Colonies were surprised that manufactures are so far advanced in. New Zealand, congratulated us upon the quality and finish of our goods, and considered the Exhibition, a credit to any country. Even our own people in New Zealand, from the north to the south, who visited the Exhibition were surprised at •so many things being made in the Colony, and also that the quality and prices are such that will compete fairly with the imported article. Many of them spoke encouragingly, and said that we were moving in the rigut direction to make New Zealand a great manufacturing country. I feel that wo have done all in our power to place New Zealand industries and productions before the people in a creditable and satisfactory manner, and am pleased at the appreciation shown by the visitors that have attended the Exhibition. It was gratifying to Bee, during the seventh week, so many people in the avenues — especially in the evenings — examining the various exhibits with the keenest interest, even when there were entertainments and performances going on in the Art Gallery, as, indeed, was promised to the public at the opening of the Exhibition. In considering the Exhibition in its financial aspect, it ha 3 not come tip to my expectations, although I do not attribute this to the want of interest on the part of the people. When the weather was fine there was always a good attendance, and had we not had such bad weather most of the time that the Exhibition was open, the results would have been up to the most sanguine expectations, and we should have had a good balance to hand over to 1 the Association. As it is, the money has been well spent, considering the large expense the Committee went to in building and fitting up the Exhibition so as to make room for the large number of exhibits, and to display them to the best advantage — which gave the exhibitors the greatest satisfaction, and has. made many of them feel that the Exhibition has been the very best means of putting their manufactures before the public, and that they are already reaping a benefit by exhibiting. We must also consider the benefit, that Colonial Industries will derive by placing' them before the public in the highly creditable way in which we have done. lam pleased to say that during the period of seven weeks that the.Exhibition was open, with the thousands %f people attending, there was not one case of misconduct brought under my notice, or even one complaint from the exhibitors ; and Inspector Pender informs me that he never saw a more orderly or bettor conducted place, where there was a public gathering, 'in all his experience. I feel that there is groat credit due to that gentleman for the precautions that he used in providing constables, and for the careful manner in which he watched over the interests of all concerned in the Exhibition. After summing up, I think you will all asrree with me that the Exhibition, both financially and as an Exhibition, has been a decided success and a credit to the Colony. In . looking over the names of the gentlemen on the Exhibition Committee, I see that there are twenty manufacturers that did exhibit, oight that did *not exhibit, nnd twenty-two members that aye not exhibitors or manufacturers. I feel that there is great credit due to those gentlemen that came forward and worked fo patriotically for the advancement of the industries of the country, who were not either manufacturers or exhibitors. I feel, also, that our thanks? are due to the gentlemen who so readily and willingly signed the guarantee fund, which amounted to £(550, and I am very glad that we wore not obliged to call on them for any portion of their respective amounts. Our thanks are due likewise to thoso who gave their Borvices in the various entertainments and | those who contributed in any way to the I

I working of the Exhibition, as well as to tho people for their patronage, and we trust that they will all decide to Support New Zealand industries in future, and by so doing be the means of benefiting this our adopted country. Mr C. M. Gray seconded the adoption of the balance-sheet, observing that he endorsed to a very great extent the remarks of the Chairman. In spite of tho difference of opinion as to the success of the Exhibition, he believed, himself, that it had been successful. It had been so in a financial sense, for though the Committee had lost half of the sum voted by the Industrial Association, he looked upon that money as well spent, and as money that would benefit the public, especially the manufacturing portion of it, who would feel the good effects of tho Exhibition in the future in no small degree. Mr England thought that nine-tenths of the people of the Province were of opinion that the Exhibition had been a success. As to the holding of entertainments, those were now necessary to secure the success of any exhibition, and would be necessary to attract the public if one were held five yeara hence. ' Mr Pavitt heartily agreed with the Chairman and Mr England. He felt sure that not more than a dozen persons in the community thought the Exhibition had been a failure. The , spending of money in entertainments, though it might have interfered with the profits of those persons who regularly provided amusement for the public, was necessary, and he would, remind them that the money spent by the public in patronising those at the Exhibition all remained in the place. He could quite understand the reason of criticism from certain quarters, but thought that the public, as a whole, agreed with the Committee. Mr Reese was of opinion that the results of the Exhibition were most satisfactory. The receipts showed that something like 40,000 adults and over COOO children had visited it — an attendance equal to half the population of the Province. As to the providing of extra entertainments, this had been done mainly in order to prevent the Committee from having to appeal to those gentlemen who had signed the guarantee list. He contended that during the latter portion of the Exhibition it had been conducted under great difficulties. A part of the Press of the city, for instance, was continually striving to throw ridicule on them for their efforts to provide extra attractions. But as to this question, and as to the alleged interference with the persons who regularly provided amusements, he did not think he need say much 5 for even a church, when in difficulties, went in for a " tea fight " or a concert. Ho would like to remark that, in addition to the children who paid for admission, large numbers wore admitted free* such as the inmates of the Orphanage, Industrial School, Kaiapoi Native School, and many others who were let in by the generosity of the President. The Chairman said that some persons had deprecated calling the Exhibition the "New Zealand Industrial Exhibition," maintaining that it was really of a Provincial character. In reply, he would like to say that one-fourth of the space had been applied for by exhibitors outside of the Province, and that nearly every town of importance in the Colony had been represented. The motion for the adoption of the balance-sheet was then put, and agreed to unanimously. The Chairman read a letter from Mr C. Hull, Chairman .of the Official Reports Committee, giving details of the progress of the reports on the various sections, and stating that these reports were Blow in coming in. He had, however, requested the members of the Committee to Bend in their reports as soon as possible. Mr Howland remarked that, probably, the report would be ready in time for the next meeting of the Industrial Association, which would be held in a week or so. The Chairman asked the meeting to pass a resolution to pay over the balance in hand to the Industrial Association. Mr Reese remarked that he thought the Committee should apologise to the Association for losing half of- their grant. Mr T. S. Weston moved—" That the balance in hand be paid over to the Industrial Association/ He did not think that any apology was needed, because the. whole of the grant could not be refunded to the Association. Tho object of this Association was to foster, encourage and stimulate local industries and manufactures, nnd there could be no doubt but that the Exhibition was a thing that would largely assist that object. If they could, O3 they had done, place .the industries and manufactures of the Colony betore the public in a way which would give a correct idea of their importance and real position, they were doing precisely the wqrk which the Association had been formed to carry out. He would like to mention that the Exhibition had been got up and supported con amore. It was supervised, not by paid labour, or for the sake of gain, but by volunteer efforts, and he thought great credit was due to those gentlemen who had devoted a deal of their valuable time to this work. He would like to mention, without wishing to be invidious, that a good deal of the work had devolved on comparatively fow, of whom, he was sorry to say, he, himself,* had not been one. He thought that they should hand over the balance to the Industrial Association, which body could not do better -with it than apply it to the holding of another Exhibition at come future date. Mr Kirk seconded the motion, which was carried nem con. On the motion of Mr England, seconded by Mr Howland, a hearty vote of thanks was passed to the auditors, Messrs Black and Jameson. Mr Reese had much pleasure in proposing a vote of thanks to the Chairman of the Committee, Mr A. G. Howland. (Hoar, hear.) He knew that Mr Howland had had a difficult task, as the Committee was composed of several nationalities (laughter), and its members did not always agree. He could cay, however, that, no matter how much they differed overnight, they were always at their posts in • the morning, and lie felt sure that this was largely due to the excellent way in which Mr Howlaud had kept them in order. (Hear, hear.) Mr Pavitt seconded the motion, which was carried by acclamation. t Mr C. M. Gray moved a vote of thanks to the Hon Treasurer, Mr E, H. Banks, who, he remarked, had worked hard to secure the success of the undertaking. (Hear, hear.J That gentleman had boon always at his post, and had, on the whole, done his duty (which had been very difficult) in a manner that deserved their heartiest thanks. He (Mr Gray) did not wish to be invidious, though he folt ho was treading on dangerous ground in singling out one member for special praise. StfJl he felt all would agree that Mr Banks doserved such. (Hear, hear.) Mr R." Buchanan seconded tho motion. Messrs Koeso and Weston, briefly impported the proposition, the latter remarking that Mr Banks' might even be considered to have performed a public, service in the excellent and painstaking- manner in which he had dischnrged the onerous duties of his office. The motion was then carried by acclamation. The Chairman briefly thanked the Committee for their expression of opinion. nv.<\ assured them that whatever he had don-, he had done from a desire to advance the interest of the indus v rirs of thu Colony, and also because lie felt it was his duty to do it. He hud certain! v had difficulties to contend against, but even had thoße difficulties been greater life would have thought it his duty to d.» his best for the success of tho Exhibit i >a. (Applause.) Tho Committee then adjourned, it being understood that a resolution of the Industrial Association was roquired to dissolve it.

In a recent duel near Paris between a lieutenant of dragoons and n civilian, the military man's pistol bullet Bt:mck 4iis opi)onent, but could not penetrate his thick clothing; Avhcreupon the 1 eiviliau politely declined to continue the fight becaueo he "would not risk spilling the blood of a French officer, whose life belonged to hie I country." Then tlio pair marched off and I breakfasted together.