THE EXHIBITION.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 6377, 24 October 1888, Page 3

THE EXHIBITION.

THE NEW ZEALAND COURT. The following spirited letter appeared last week in the Hawke's Bay Telegraph in reply to some animadversions which a correspondent had made with reference to the New Zealand court : — Sir, — Be the New Zealand court at the Melbourne Exhibition, referred to in a prominent paragraph in your issue of today, I venture to think that you must have misunderstood the impressions of onr New Zealand vi sitors. Certainly no feeling of shame could be attached to onr exhibits . in themselves, although deep regret was felt that the untimely parsimony of our Government, and the apathy of our Chambers of Commerce, and, indeed, of all public bodies, should have curtailed the number of exhibits. Our court did not occupy much more than one-half of the space that the Tasmanian one did — admittedly gaudy adornment was wanting in ours, but to the thoughtful and to the business visitors, whether merchants, farmers, or graziers, our grand exhibits of grain, grass seeds, preserved meats, timber, coal, stone, and other minerals were most impressive, and supported as they were by reliable data, showing our large yield of grain and other produce per acre, have already attracted a great deal bf notice, and many enquiries from farmers and others visiting the Exhibition, so that great benefit to our Colony must result. Thanks, in a great degree, for the arrangement of these exhibits are due to Mr John T. Matson, of Christchurch, and Mr William Evans, of Timaru, whose labours were arduous and unremitting in all matters connected with this Colony. To Sir James Hector is due the highest praise for having, with the means at his disposal, made a very small court most solidly attractive. The mineral wealth and exports are fairly represented. The capability , of our lands for pastoral purposes iB also well displayed in plain figures placed under (purposely) a rather indifferent wool display. The acreage all told is 65,000,000 ; number of cheep 16,000,000; against Victoria, with a somewhat larger acreage and with only 10,000,000 sheep. Also, the average pricei of our wool is one halfpanny per pound above that of Victoria ; indeed, the highest average in the Australian Colonies, as shown in a tabulated statement published in the Argus last month. These facts are all matters of novelty and wonder-to the. great majority of visitors, and of snch substantial interest that • our grand' Colony will early benefit by the publicity given; -to them at the Melbourne Centennial. Exhibition. Passing from the magnificent display-of ' the Mosgiel woollen. goods, lam sure that, had you taken the troubled looking" over i the New Zealand catalogue, you would. | never have given such a hard rub as in your concluding lines you.give to our New Zealand artists. That part of our court, if limited in extent, contained about three, hundred exhibits, some of them being the; choicest works of Moultray, Gibb, Gully,, Barraud, Beetham, Gear, and othera?. three paintings by I. D.-Mouliray were.sold at 2GOguineas each the first week after the, opening of the Exhibition. I had no intention of waiting ; -at--.auch length, or-so hurriedly— if I did write at, all— on thia subject. Business calls me from town, but I cannot close without.- --; expressing my deep regret at the tone o£' your paragraph ; it is all the old story, "I i ■ told you co." I assure you that on all sides, with aU I cameJn:contac*tin Victoria,; - and New-South Wales, New Zealand and NewZeah-nde-swerespoken-of withsespect, * and appreciation— with one exception, the.. New Zealanders themselves. They were the croakers ; it was they who-were<__farays_ ? -crying "stinking fish.'* _hdee<_, it is to. this miserable feeling, this senseless ; depreciation of the Colony and themselves,, that much of our depression may be .attributed. The persistent way we run -down our own property and assets has done more to frighten away capital, and. to allow Banks and Loan Companies to batten and fatten on us by extorting high rates of interest, than the decline in price; of most of our products has done. Victorians believe Boilirmly in their Colony that they inspire confidence in outside capitalist-., and money flows in on them at-: ' low-rates of interest. In Nexr South Wales., it is the same, and notwithstanding the big deficit -not so very long ago, her credit now is as high as evor. The politicians- of those Colonies, although they may throw dirt at each other, do not run down the position of their own countries, as is -thei habit -of our own political quack doctors^—;_kam,;&c., ' M. B. Ml__i_Eß. ,- : , N&pie-i.Oofc.JiJ, 1888. *•