THE EXHIBITION.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXIX, Issue 8278, 3 November 1906, Page 6

THE EXHIBITION.

GOVERNOR'S INAUGURAL BANQUET. By Telegraph—Press Association. CHRISTCHURCH, November 2. The Governor's inaugural banquet, last night, was a brilliant success. There was a large attendance of Ministers, members of Parliament, and foreign representatives and prominent local oitizens. Sir J. G. Ward proposed success to the Exhibition. Sir John Gorst responded. He said the motives of the British Government in sending contributions indicated their strong sympathy with the aspirations of the colony. He confessed ho had been astonished, at the opening ceremony, to note the wonderful ability witb which the science of music had been cultivated at the Antipodes. The opening ode, as ylayad, would have been received witb admiration end applause iu any of the old cities iu Europe. .The British exhibits illus trated wh'ns is being done regarding the children of the poor. In the days to come, that nation will be greatest which has succeeded in producing the healthiest and moat intelligent population. The people of New Zealand bad rare advantages in residing here. Within three days he had seen many 'things vvhiwh aatouiahed him, hut nothing more than the extraordinary healthy laco of boys and girls which the colony was bringing up. He had been acjCUPlomod to visit great schools, not only in the Uuited Kingdom, but in many parts of Europe, but ho bad never seen a more healthy set, of boys and girls than those of New Zealand. They were far in advance of any children produced in London, or any of the great cities of the United Kingdom. If those children were trained not only to be healthy but to be wise, they would produce a future race of New Zealanders which might challenge comparison with any race in the world. The Canadian Commissioners also warmly praised the colony. One of them, speak'ng for the others, said in all Americß he had seen no district to compare with New Zealand for dairying and sbeep-raisiug. Ho did not envy the New Zealanders their frozen mutton, but rather he gloried in their enterprise.