West Coast Times. FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 22, 1889.

West Coast Times, Issue 7554, 22 November 1889, Page 2

West Coast Times. FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 22, 1889.

The news from Dunedin that the Exhibition will practically be confined to Colonial exhibitors, comes both ns n surprise and a disappointment. We have been told that all the available space has been taken up and that the original plans had to be extended and consequently thought the Exhibition would be fairly representative of the world or at least of the great States. This, it appears, it will not be. For one reason or another tbe great nations have ignored us and we have to be content with a good intercolonial show and nothing more, As we are a businesslike community the first question we ask ourselves is : how will this effect our pockets ? We have been looking upon the Exhibition as a something that will attract thousands of visitors to our shores and not only leave many substantial tokens of their visit, but also publish abroad our many natural resources and hence lend valuable aid in their further development. This hope is not now so bright as it was a month or two ago. If manufacturers, who have so direct an interest at stake, neglect the opportunity, there will not be much prospect of tbe ordinary sightseer being attracted. Of course this refers to those from the Northern Hemisphere. Australia is taking a very great deal of interest in our show and seems bent on improving her relations with us. Of Australians we may expect large numbers who will make the exhibition an excuse for doing a tour of tbe Colony. Even this reduced influx cannot fail to largely benefit the country. Every year our relations with Australia are becoming more intimate, the island continent now being a very large market for many of our productions. It is also quite likely that a fair proportion of those who come to look will remain permanently ; the more especially when they see the highly favorable conditions under which many pursuits are carried out in New Zeaa land as compared with Australia. It is also possible that the interchange of though and idea may lead to some modification of tbe tariff, under which tbe products of each can be admitted duty free. Intercolonial Freetrade seems too good a thing to expect at once but if even a step forward is made there is so much gain. A few years ago and intercolonial freetrade would have alarmed us but not so now. Our mannfacturers are quite able to compete with their fellows in the neighboring colonies whilst tbe productions of our soil are so great that we must cultivate every possible market and that of Australia is especially well situated. Even if tbe exhibition fails in all that the fond hopes of its promoters anticipated it is at least certain that substantial good will result and with this we must be content. After all it is only tbe Jubilee year of the colony— when we celebrate our Cens tenhial, as did our neighbors recently, we may accomplish as much if cot more than did they.

A regent cable announced that Mr Hislop, the Minister of Education, had been awarded the decoration of the Legion of Honor and many conjectures have since been hazarded as to why the award was made. One statement, which gained credence for some time, was to the effect that the Education Department had sent a number of exhibits to the Paris Exhibition, exhibits prepared by Mr Fisher when in office, and that the decoration was a graceful recognition of the Minister in charge of the Department. After this rumor had gained sufficient credence to be generally regarded as correct and allow of many expressions that Mr Hislop should hand the decoration over to Mr Fisher, the story changed although the same connection was preserved. It is now said that no educational exhibits weio sent from Now Zealand to the Paris Exhibition, but that Mr Fisher was very civil and very complimentary

to the French representatives nt f,lie Melbourne Exhibition who had charge of the French educational collection, a very large and unique collection. Indeed, so pleased were these gentlemen with Mr Fisher's appreciation, that they recommended the Minister for Education for tbe Legion of Honor. The j Government of the Republic, after considerable delay, complied with the recommendation, the honor for this reason falling on Mr Hislop. Mr Hislop, according to this story, has been decorated because Mr Fisher was polite to some Frenchmen. The Wellington Post, which is responsible for much of the foregoing, advises Mr Hislop not to accept the honor as it was obviously intended for some one else. Whether such is the case or not, the position has become most amusing, and any further development will be watched with interest.