ANOTHER EXHIBITION PROPOSAL.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume VII, Issue 2311, 21 December 1889, Page 2

ANOTHER EXHIBITION PROPOSAL.

-A. Dunedin contemporary says that " it was coDfidently asserted m an afterdinner speech some time back that when he got to Heaven Mr Joubert's first proceeding would be to propose an Exhibition." However that may* be, it is at least certain that Mr Joubert is a born £ showman, and it would appear that the old Latin saying " nascitur non. fit " is as true of the showman as of the' poet, for Mr Joubert is always successful, jghether the scene of his labors be at Calcutta, at Christchurch, or at Dunedin. Bat he sighs, not exactly for more worlds to conquer, but for a still bigger theatre of operations, and offers to exploit the 'capabilities and resources ot New Zealand m the most effective manner by holding an Exhibition m London m the buildings of the Colonial Institute, where, as we gather from information which he has forwarded to us, space can be obtained for nothing. Mr Joubert thinks that the nucleus of such an Exhibition exists within the buildings of that now open at Dunedin, and proposes to arrange with exhibitors to permit of the transfer of their exhibits to London, the cost of packing and freight to be defrayed out of the London Exhibition Fund. He says that from "the feeling evinced by exhibitors m regard to the proposed Bcheme, he feels confident that m addition to the valuable goods now being shown m Dunedin, an even larger number of exhibits would be secured free, but that exhibits of gold, wool, and soraa other articles would have to be purchased, But his idea is not merely to hold a show of New Zealand products ; he proposes to join with this an Intelligence Bureau, a New Zealand restaurant, and to have other attractions calculated to induce tha British public to attend, among which will be a model dairy m full operation. Then he desires that an officer should bo appointed to represent the New Zealand Government, with power to sell or lease Crown Land, and able to give every information to intending immigrants, such officer to be amply supplied with handbooks, pamphlets, maps, models, etc., and that his efforts at disseminating a knowledge of the colony should be supplemented by lectures illustrated by limelight views of its towns, buildings, and scenery. Of another feature of the scheme the " Evening Herald " says : — "The most unique proposal of all is to establish a New Zealand Restaurant. Here the very best French chef that money can procure will place before Londoners m the most attractive form possible New Zealand foods of all descriptions, frozen meat, game, and fish, bread made from New Zealand flour, New Zealand fruits, New Zealand tinned goods m countless variety, washed down with Auckland wines. If this does not raise the price of frozen mutton and boom the trade nothing will. . . , Arrangements are to be made with fruitgrowers all over the colony to forward m cool ohambers of direct steamers every month while the Exhibition is open their very best fruit, packed with the utmost care, 'i his will come to hand m the English winter and spring, just . when fruit is dearest, and if well selected and properly shown, cannot fail to attract an amount of attention which will result m a most lucrative trade springing up with Home dealers." The same paper adds " Among the attractions it is proposed to have a colossal New Zealand Fernery, before which the lovely gem m the present Exhibition would fade into insignificance. This alone m full frond during the frosts of a London Christmas would create a great sensation, An imitation New Zealand gully with cabbage palms, rocky creek, flax, toi toi, raupo, ti-tree, and manuka growing on the banks, backed by slopes clad with quick growing New Zealand grasses, would, Mr Joubert thinks, also be a great attraction, and give a capital idea of a glimpse of our country." The scheme altogether appears to have been very completely elaborated and Mr Joubert declares that it can be carried out m all its details provided the Government of the colony will advance £20,000. This, he is confident, would be recouped by the takings for admissions. We, however, think that is altogether too sanguine a view— if half the amount be refunded well and good, and m view of the advantage which the colony mayreasonably hope to derive from so magnificent an advertisement as this Exhibition would undoubtedly be, the remaining half would not be at all an unreasonable sum to ask Parliament to vote, Provided that Mr Joubert and the gentlemen who are associated with him m the present New Zealand and Poutb Seas "Exhibition are willing to give an undertaking to carry out this new scheme without further cost to the colony than £10,000, then we think it would be cheap at the money, and we believe that the taxpayers generally would approve of such a contribution being made, .

(Rough on Rats — Clears out rats, mica roaches, flies* ants, bod-buqe, beetles, (meets ikunkfl, jrok rabbits, Bparrowe. sfoph.ra, A ' bemiite and drnggiita !