MELBOURNE EXHIBITION

Ashburton Guardian, Volume VII, Issue 1918, 14 August 1888, Page 3

MELBOURNE EXHIBITION

At the banquet given by the Mayor of Melbourne to the colonial Governors Sir William Jervols, In responding t_> the toast of "The Governors (f other colonies," jatd : — Aa the representative of New Zetland, I return yoa my hearty thanks for tbe honor you have done me In drinking to my health. This la the second time witbln the last aoven months that it hao fallen to my lot to represent In my aole person the three estates In the New Zealand Legislature. I need scarcely say that it was with great regret that my Ministers found themselves one and all | precluded from taking part In the festivities at the opening of the Melbonrne Oen--1 tennial Exhibition ; bat as you well know the exigencies of the Parliamentary session are Imperative, and though legislative enaotmentu are not displayed among other articles otcoloulal industry, yet yoa will, I am sure agree with me that the adherence 4 to the principle of 'buiineaa first, pleasnre afterwards" m the face of such attractions as are offered on the preßent occasion, stamps us unquestionably as an industrious community. It must not be overlooked that New Zsaland is m time, though not In mileage, praotioilly as far distant from Australia as Ireland from North America. In another month or so, however, I can answer lor it that New Zealand ers will stream over to Victoria to regard the wonders of Melbonrne, to enjoy the pi of use hospitality of this magnificent colony, to see what place New Zealand holds m her competition with her sisters, and to learn from them and from the teachers of the old world how belt to make good her shortcomings and tarn to account her undoubted advantages. (Cheers.) For myself I cannot forget that when I first visited Melbourne, now upwards of eleven years ago, it was to advise the Australian Governments on matters relating to the art of war, I am still always ready to render any assistance la my power m reference to these considerations, but daring my stay In Australia I have learnt what Is, I think, the best lesson that the colonies can learn, and I may fairly state that I have bent my sword Into a reaping hook, and that the shearing machine of Mr Wolaeley interests me now at least as muoh as the weapons wleMed by his brother at Ooomassfe. Tel-el-Keber, and the Nile, It Is therefore perhaps not unfitting that m what la probably my last appearance at a gathering of the kind m Australia I should represent a colony which spent Its early years m a military fashion, fighting for dear life with a gallant and highly organised race, and has only within the present generation merged from the conflict to devote herself almost entirely to the arts of peace. (Cheers) The struggle, too, has left its soars m the shape of debt, the price not of remunerative improvements, but of actual experience. (Cheers.) Such an ordeal was spared to Australia, and she has taken splendid advantage of her immunity, but nona the less she has her difficulties. If the early history of New Zealand more nearly resembled that of Great Britain, that of Australia, with its vast troploal areas, bears greater analogy to that of Amerioa. We know how, about twenty-five years ago, the problem of Amerloan unity was solved, and far be it from me to predict that auoh a drastic remedy will be neoessary In these fair 1 lands. Methlnks I see In this Centennial Exhibition tbe mddel of a brighter and happier ablution. Whether the 81-Oen-tennial Exhibition of 1988 will be held Id Melbourne or elsewhere, ye, % think, oan fairly leave to posterity to determine, bat all of us must earnestly hope that whereerer it may be the inscription over the entrance may run thus—" United Aus-i tnlU wolgomei »U caUoni," (Cheeri')