The Canterbury Exhibition.

New Zealand Illustrated Magazine, 1 December 1900, Page 160

The Canterbury Exhibition.

By G. E. Ai.dkrton.

Photographs by E. Wheeler and Son.

J|H§|^|VEN to the most world- travel led V{ Mk tourist, Christchurch, the Cathedral \Hvll °^ c a * ns ' must prove singularly attractive, for in its oldfashioned ivy-clad stone buildings, scholastic and ecclesiastical, there is the suggestion of age, while in its modern and up-to-date retail shops, admittedly the best in the colony, is seen the busy, bustling city — a prodigy of just fifty years' growth. There is evidence on every hand of great

skill, foresight, and taste having been exercised both in the laying off and the building up of this beautiful town — a replica of English style and solidity. The city footpaths, though narrow, are shaded by curved glass-roofed verandahs, artistic and uniform, the neatest and best in the colonies. Down every street channel runs artesian water, the side walks in many cases Vot,. n.-No. 15.-13.

are shaded by trees, while hero and Micro uoblo avenues, formed by the arching treos^ afford the citizens exquisitely beautiful and cool retreats. The Avon River, meandering for miles through city and park, is fringed with oaks and elms and drooping willows, whose leafy canes lazily strike the slowly moving current. Innumerable iron bridgos, symmetrically ornamental, span the river — a charming stream bordered with well-kept lawns and plots of pretty flowers, chiefly

bulbs, which grow so well here. It is a truly model city, and abounds in evidenccK of the wisdom and enterprize displayed by the past and present city authorities.

Level as a billiard table, Christchurch is the ideal home of the cyclist, and hero some 8,000 use the bike, to the detriment of the tram lines and the restaurants, as cyclists use neither. Cycling, on the other hand,

by eliminating distances has caused the town to expand so much that nearly fifty miles of gas mains are required to light its many streets, and it can claim to be the best, illuminated town in New Zealand, as easily as it can claim to have the fastest cab horses in the colony.

Fifty years ago, when the first four ships arrived (the " Charlotte Jane, " " Sir Greorge Seymour," and " Randolph " on December 16th, 1850, and the ' k Oressy " a few days after), where Christchurch now stands, was a swamp, and to-day a great Exhibition is being held to commemorate the jubilee. When one ponders to think over these things — that fifty years ago this land was practically uninhabited, and now we have these beautiful cities, equipped with all

the most up-to-date conveniences which genius and invention can suggest, that to carry our produce to other markets of the world, we have fleets of the finest and largest steamers afloat — it seems like a romance from the Arabian Nights. Yet here is the reality, and Christchurch is proudly celebrating its jubilee — the fiftieth year of its existence. The

marvellous progress made by Canterbury in that time is shown by the exports and imports, namely, for 1900:— Imports, £1,776,331; exports, £3,736,458, leaving a balance of trade in favour of Canterbury of £1,960,127. Obviously on these figures the community must be very rich, and in no part of the colony are public functions undertaken with greater zest and enterprise than in

Ohristchurch, whose

citizens are nevertheless the least demonstrative. They do not enthuse or show any outward manifestation and excitement. They are English, these people who live under the shadow of the Cathedral; very quiet in their semi-ecclesiasti. cal environment, but

they are very thorough all the same No better example of this quality need be quoted than the magnificent building, now being used for the Canterbury Exhibition, which they have erected to stand as an enduring memorial of their jubilee. The building and land cost £25,000. In this respect Canterbury has set a bright example to the other centres. One invariably regrets seeing so much labour expended in the erection of extensive buildings which are ephemeral, doomed to destruction after

they have served, practically, a very fleeting purpose. The Exhibition itself is very similar to the one lately held in Auckland, the iron annexes ventilated and glazed with calico are the same. There are no grounds attached to this Exhibition, aud consequently no side-shows, neither is there any machinery court worth the name. On the other hand, the exhibits are a complete surprise to most people as demonstrating the variety and quality of goods manufactured in the colony. Naturally in this province of the golden fleece, wool and mutton, in one form and another,

are most conspicuous in the Exhibition. The magnificent exhibits of the Kaiapoi and Petone (Wellington) Woollen Mills are, together with that of the Christchurch Meat Company, the leading features of the Exhibition. The variety of splendidly-finished goods shown by these

model woollen mills speak alike for the quality of their machinery and the skill of their employees. The exhibits which attracted more attention even than the dainty tailor-made gowns and " dreams " of costumes were those of khaki soldiers on foot and horseback, attired in uniforms made of this serviceable material, which formed attractive and life-like pictures, and the khaki squad, with the Maxim gun, was as artistic an exhibit as would be found in any Exhibition in the world. The handsome furniture exhibits of Strange and Co., and Ballantyne and Co., with their suites of

rooms furnished in the most elaborate and up-to-date style, deserve also special mention as splendid examples of what can be done with New Zealand woods. It is not, however, the intention in this article to go through the catalogue of exhibits, but rather to consider what can be learnt by our periodical exhibitions. Much, doubtless, in that they serve the purpose most effectually and attractively of " reporting progress." In a new country this is manifestly of even higher importance than in older established communities. They enable us to see at a glance what point in the race of nation

making we have reached, and to detect wherein there is room for improvement. They spur us on to fresh exertions and larger ambitions. Thoy are of incalculable advantage as an educational modium to om* young people.

In no branch has our colony made moro noticeable progress than in both the quantity and the quality of its manufactured goods. But a very few years ago, " made in the colonies " was practically a term of reproach, and astute manufacturer;-! here, confident of the quality of their productions, and recognising the necessity of pandering

to the prejudices of the public, were compelled to resort to the expedient of labelling their goods as coming from England. It was surprising what satisfaction they gave under that guise, and how infinitely purchasers declared they excelled the " rubbish made in the colony !" But such expedients are becoming every day less necessary, and to judge by the quality of the manufactured goods exhibited at the Christchurch Jubilee Exhibition the day is not far distant when this colony will take a high place amougst the manufacturing communities of the world.