Concerning the Exhibition.

Wairarapa Standard, Volume XVIII, Issue 1713, 29 July 1885, Page 2

Concerning the Exhibition.

The Wellington people are apathetic and very alow to move. Scarcely anybody in the Empire CVy appears to care a single straw about the Industrial Exhibition, and there seems to be a general impression amongst the hotel keepers, drapers, shopkeepers, and letters of furnished lodgings that the big show is going to be a failure. In tnuh, the good folks of Welling on talk in rather a contemptuous way of the Exhibition business, and the newspapers haven’t gut a single word to say concerning it—barring that they publish a lot of squibbling letters concerning the cantata composed by Mr Thomas, The

feeling ia very different in some of the country dia I riots. We are rather afraid that the Wairarapa may not make quite such a good display of exhibits as might be desired, but other places have been pouring in “goods,” and the building is certain to hold a lot of things “ on show.” If there ia to be a great influx of country visitors to Wellington, the people of that city have not troubled themselves to afford them much amusement during the;r stay. AMr Reeves, writing to the Wellington Times on this subject, remarks ; “ What have the Wellington citizens done in preparation for the expected visitors from the country districts ? I fear very little. Where country readers look in the Welllington papers for accounts of what is being done for their entertainment and instruction, and full descriptions of the Exhibition buildings and their contents, they find an almost contemptuous silence. Would it not be well that our citizens should take active organised steps to make Wellington attractive on so unique an occasion 1 Visitors will want something more than simply to attend the Industrial Exhibition every day, and its programme of amateur music every evening. They have a right to expect, besides plenty of amusement in the shape of races, and any outdoor sports suitable for the season in our parks ; a first class opera company in our theatre ; first class professional and amateur dramatic companies in our halls ; and banquets, balls, lectures and other entertainments of a like nature. I would suggest the formation of a Citizens’ Entertainment Committee to draw up a programme for the months of August and September, and to call on the public to subscribe liberally to carry it out. ” Mr Reeves is a very sanguine man if ho expects that the Wellington people will trouble their heads about their country visitors or get up any special amusements for them. If the Exhibition is a good one the country settlers will be able to take what delight and instruction they can out of it, but there won’t be much else bssides to amuse them in Wellington, which somehow or other appears to be in a very dull condition just now.