CLOSING OF THE New Zealand Exhibition.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume VI, Issue 22, 31 May 1890, Page 8

CLOSING OF THE New Zealand Exhibition.

F one were asked what was in * ■ New Zealand the most import- ■ Jji Qß ‘ vT ant event of the past twelve W months, he would have little fryt/T fhesitation in answering. - The 13a Exhibition at Dunedin.' Both to ourselves as New Zealand colonists, and to the world at large the New Zealand and South Seas ' Exhibition has been the centre of attraction in this colony during the past six months. rjEtp "e now look lack to it with pride, as we s\ f or some months beforehand looked forward to it with hope. Its success has been greater fZ than the most sanguine could have imagined : and certainly was so great as to surprise the whole of the colony. It is natural then that we should take this important event as the subject of our special supplement page of illustrations in this our first number. The Exhibition is closed, but the memory of it is yet fresh, and the interest in it lively. The effects of the Exhibition will not perchance be felt in their full force for some time, but none the less are they most important. It has held New Zealand up to the eyes of the world, and in answer to their call, ‘ Come and see what we have done, and what we can do,' thousands of people have visited us from other lands, and have viewed with their own eyes the work of a short fifty years, and the evidence of almost boundless capabilities yet undeveloped. The feeling common to all visitors to the Exhibition, common even to New Zealand colonists, was one of surprise. People thought it might be a pretty good show in a small way, and they were quite unprepared for the fine show they witnessed. The good impression produced was therefore all the stronger, and will lead people to talk of us and sound our praises in all parts of the earth. Articles and sketches, notes, ami extracts from diaries, have appeared in many papers, and nearly all have been most flattering. Though the Exhibition was the centre of attraction, our visitors were generally unsatisfied by a sight of Dunedin alone, and the whole colony came in for inspection. That inspection it could bear very calmly, and without much fear of the effect on men's minds. The Exhibition had the further good effect of cultivating closer relations with the other colonies, the most important of which were represented officially and by numerous exhibits. And of the visitors the majority of course were brother colonials, come to see perhaj>s for the first time their neighbours over the sea. Their pleasure at our success, expressed in their hearty congratulations, cannot but lead us to feel that there is true sympathy and at the bottom unity of feeling among the Colonie.'. In the Exhibition itself, each of our provincial districts had a chance to show its resources, and all took full advantage of the chance. Of course, Otago being at home, made the best show, but the others were not far behind, as their exhibits were at any rate thoroughly representative. And one of the best features about the show was that it proved the innate self-reliance of our people. After years of bolstering with borrowed money, and after months of depression and groaning, we seamed determined to show that there was something ot real gnt in us. The exhibits were prepared, the Exhibition was started, managed, and paid for by the people. By all, a hearty interest was taken in it, as the appropriate jubilee celebration, and of its splendid success we may well feel proud. In the various courts of the building were displaved the products of the country, natural and manufactured ; from wool just off the sheep's back, to the finest tweed ; from ironsand to the steam engine. < »ur varied mineral products were well represented ; and we showed what a variety of agricultural products can lie brought to perfection in our great range ot climate. In the Early History Court people gained some idea of the ‘ good times' of fifty years ago ; and they must have felt the contrast keenly on stepping into the Art Gallery, to view some of the fine paintings by New Zealand artists, or in listening to the glorious music in the Concert Hall when Santley gave his concerts. Then there were the Armament Court, the Aquaria, and the beautiful Feinerv. all appealing to different feelings. Other colonies had their courts in which to display theirown attractiveness in friendlv rivalry with New Zealand : while the islands of the South Seas sent their products to add to the general effect. The credit of starting, organising, and carrying to a conclusion this splendid show rests almost wholly with the peopleof Dunedin: and never before were theirplu’ck, energy,

and enterprise shown to better advantage. Mr D. H. Hastings suggested the. project to Mr John Roberts, and on October sth, 1888, the subject of an exhibition was first publicly discussed at a preliminary meeting in Dunedin. The citizens took the matter up with enthusiasm, and threw themselves heart and soul into the project. In a very short time over £15,000 capital was subscribed. It was intended that the undertaking should be a national one, and a proof of the people's self-reliance. But some subsidy would be required from Government, and an application was met with the offer of £lO,OOO. Mr John Roberts, an enterprising and successful Dunedin merchant, was made President of the Exhibition. He visited the other centres of population, and soon stirred the whole people of the colony with something of his own enthusiasm. Messrs Twopenny (then editor of the Otago Daily Timet} and Joubert, well-known in connection with the Christchurch Exhibition of 1882, were appointed Executive Commissioner and General Manager respectively. The experience of these gentlemen, gained in colonial and European exhibitions, was of the utmost value. The project became popular, and every little town in the colony had its committee at work preparing for the New Zealand and South Seas Exhibition. On November 26th, 1889. the Exhibition was formally opened by His Excellency the Governor, the Earl of Onslow, who ha,l succeeded Sir William Jervois early in 1889. The Premier (Sir Harry Atkinson) and the other members of the Ministry were present, with the representatives of Victoria. New South Wales, South Australia, and the Mayors of the principal towns in the colony. The crowd of visitors from all parts was very great. The ceremony was most imposing, ami amid general rejoicing a message was read from Her Majesty the Queen congratulating the people of New Zealand on the opening of their Exhibition. The buildings ami grounds occupied about 12, acres in South Dunedin, ami were very conveniently situated. The main building, designed by Mr Hislop and carried out under his instructions, was 2,252 feet long by 465 feet wide. The Concert Hall is the finest part of the buildings, and was built as a permanent structure. In the main building courts were occupied by the chief provinces of New Zealand, bv Fiji, bv Tonga, and other South Sea Islands. Victoria, New South Wales. South Australia. Great Britain. United States, Germany. France. Japan, Costa Rica. etc., etc., in which each gave an idea of its capability. Then there were the Armament. Education. Early History and various other courts, containing interesting and instructive collections. This Exhibition was the fourth held in New Zealand. The others were Dunedin 1865, Christchurch 1882. and Wellington 1885. The attendance at Dunedin from the opening to the closing was twice as great as at the other three put together. Over 625,000 admissions were registered at the turnstiles, or more than the total population of the colony, and 400,003 admissions were paid for. The total receipts were about £57,500, including £lO.OOO from Government. The buildings and grounds cost £32,473, and after the Exhibition was closed the overdraft was only £2.800 : but the buildings are a good asset, and there will be very little loss to shareholders. Such a satisfactory financial result must have been very pleasing indeed to the shareholders, and is a matter for general rejoicing, the more so that it was quite unexpected. It reflects great credit on the management that such a large undertaking should have been carried to a successful issue with so great economy. The ceremony of closing the Exhibition took place on Saturday, April 19th, about five months after it was opened. His Excellency the Governor was unable to be present at the ceremony. Mr Hislop, Minister for Education, represented the Government, and referred to the manyad vantages, immediate and remote, which had been confer rd on Dunedin in particular,and on New Zealand in general, by theholding of the Exhibition. Mr Roberts, President, in his speech declaring the Exhibition dosed, mentioned that a movement was on foot to keep some part of the building for a Workmen's College, which might be a permanent memorial of the even*. He thanked the Executive Commissioner (Mr Twopenny), the treasurer (Mr Bartieman), and the staff, especially Mr Joubert, the manager, and Mr Hastings, the secretary, for the valuable services all had rendered. The attendance at the closing was the largest of any day during the whole time the Exhibition was open, there being 18,434 persons present, of whom 13.683 paid cash for admission. The prevailing emotion was one of regret that such a successful undertaking had come to an end. Before the day of closing presentations were made by the exhibitors, contractors, and others connected with the Exhibition to Messrs Joubert and Hastings. On the 25th April the citizens of Dunedin, to demonstrate their appreciation of the services of Mr John Roberts during his presidency of the Exhibition, entertained him at a banquet in the Grand Hotel. Dunedin. There was a very large attendance of representative men. the chair being occupied by Mr J. M. Ritchie, Chairman of the Chamber of Commerce. Among those present were Mr Twopenny, Sir Robert Stout, the Hon. G. McLean, Hon. W. H. Reynolds, Messrs Robt. Wilson. Andrew Maxwell, and Bishop Moran. After the toast of Mr Roberts' health had been honoured the Chairman presented to that gentleman three fine pictures as a recognition of the services of himself and Mrs Roberts in connection with the Exhibition. Mr Roberts was also presented with an album of some sixty or seventv photographs of those most closely connected with the Exhibition. The health of Mr Twopennv was drunk and he was presented with an album similar to tfiat presented to 3lr Roberts. Our illustrations, taken from some fine photographs bv Mr D. A. de Maus, will give some general idea of what the general appearance of the Exhibition was on a casual view. The whole building has an excellent apj>earance. and was much larger than people expected. It is not possible to go into great detail, but the general effect is verv well shown.

An infant was crying fretfully in his mother's arms in a street car the other dav, when she turner! to a man at her side with the request of: ‘ Wud vou plaze to luk cross at him, sort He'll think it's his father, and ka(>e shtill !’ At a Confectioner's.—Oh, mamma ! do buy me some of those lovely sweets with mottoes.' • Yes darling, if you'll divide them with your little brother.' * Certainly. I’ll eat the streets and give him the mottoes ; he's awful fond of reading.'