THE LATE INDUSTRIAL EXHIBITION.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 2, Issue 313, 7 April 1881, Page 2

THE LATE INDUSTRIAL EXHIBITION.

To the Editor. Sir, — I was surprised to hear the remarks made by Mr Grigg at the County Council meeting yesterday re the town of Ashburton and the late Exhibition,, when the question of grant in aid came on for discussion. With respect to Ashburton being “ a jumped-up” town, I take it Mr Grigg meant, that as a compliment, since even he must allow that the jump which has taken place during the short period of' five years is certainly creditable to the town and its surroundings; and should the next five years show (which it bids fair to do) a corresponding jump Ashburton will then be too large a place, in sooth, for Mr'; Grigg to understand. But my present purpose is to endeavor to disabuse Mr Grigg’s mind that the late Exhibition was “ a toy exhibition,” the best proof against which were the high encomiums passed on it by 110 less personages than his Excellency the Governor, the Premier, the Royal Commissioner, and—last but not least —the public Press in general. To descend to facts: There were shown exhibits of no less than nine or ten different colonial industries, a fair proportion of. which belonged to Ashburton alone, all of which can be started in the county with remunerative results. Add to these exhibits from all parts of the colony, from Auckland in the north to Invercargill in the south, which fact alone goes far to prove that Ashburton has by her Exhibition made herself known outside her own circumscribed county, the ulterior benefit, of which cannot be doubted. Had : Mr Grigg attended the Exhibition instead of running through the catalogue, he would no doubt have been as much surprised as all those were who by their presence showed ,an interest in the advancement and welfare of Ashburton. Further, had Mr Grigg attended the luncheon, ho would have heard the Premier say that the Government were desirous of assisting and fostering local industries, and that exhibitions of the present kind were a step in the right direction, and’ worthy of support from the local bodies.—l am, &c., Stephen E. Poyktz, Secretary late Exhibition.