The Akaroa Mail. TUESDAY, JANUARY 17, 1882. THE CHRISTCHURCH EXHIBITION.

Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, Volume VI, Issue 575, 17 January 1882, Page 2

The Akaroa Mail. TUESDAY, JANUARY 17, 1882. THE CHRISTCHURCH EXHIBITION.

At the mooting of the Fanners Club on Saturday a member pointed out the necessity that existed lor Aknron being represented at the coming Exhibition in Christchurch. As our readers are probably aware the exhibition is announced to open in April, and is now creating quite a stir throughout the Colony. Messrs Joubert and Twopenny were so successful with th"ir Adelaide Exhibition, carrying out everything with such skill and foresight, that exhibitors from all parts of the world gladly take any opportunity the enterprise of these gentle.iicn may offer to show the marvellous improvements, science and inventive genius are daily making in the industrial products Jof the world. This wondrous nineteenth century of ours sees more improvements in a decade than many a previous hundred years can show, and nothing has aided more in the march of improvement than the series of exhibitions that followed that first great effort which niiirked the commencement ot the second half of the century. How many a marvellous thought, how msiiiy a wi-Je spread benefit, how many a gathering of the nations for th •Iγ mutual advantage, has sprung from that great erection of glass and iron that tSir Joseph Paxton designed, and Albert the Good fostered. In advocating the holding of the Exhibition in Craiuner square, xMr Twopenny said:—

'• With regard to the character of the Exhibition, he might say that, so far as the promoters were concerned, it was entirely a commercial speculation, but in spice of this it would bo of great advantage to the city, in bringing to it a large number of visitors during the time of holding the Exhibition ; attracting the attention of other towns, and thus leading to increased commerce, and English and Foreign manufacturing firms would look on this city as a centre of commerce, from the fact of its being the place where the Exhibition had been held."

There can be no doubt whatever from the reputation <>f the promot'Ts that the Exhibition will bo a success. From the information sent Mi , Twopeny from Home, he anticipates a grand show of exhibits from Great Britain, the number of entries- be:ng very largo. The Aus rinn, French, and Italian exhibits will also be numerous, while it is expected that the Japanese Court will be a very interesting one. Mr VV, H. Mitchell, the Christchnrch representative of the Exhibition Committee, lias received some 70 applications for space from New Zealand, and Mr Grant of Dunedin has received almost as many from that town and Invcrcargill, and Ashburton has been ambitious enough to propose having a court of her own. The promoters intend erecting the building in Cranmer Squ ire if the consent of the City Council can be. obtained. It appears there are some legal difficulties in the way of charging for admission to a building cioctet: on Municipnl property, it being argued that any ratepayer could enter the Exhibition ami say, "I won't pay my shilling." It seems, however, that the same difficulty existed in the ease of Melbourne, Sydney, Perth, and Adelaide Exhibitions, anc that in all those places the good will of the. hurgessess was depended on with a most happy result, and no doubt the Chrisichurch citizens will not be a whit behind the.r Australian brethren in the encouragement of such a worthy object.

As the City Council appear, from the report of their meeting on Friday nighf. to have made up their minds t ■~?:uit the use of Cranmer sqr::: , -. 1 , to certain cond'tions, r : i;iv s little doubt Cm.' will bo erected there. Spc.ikiog on this point the Lytidton

Times s.'jys

"(Jranmer Square lias much to lecomiueiid it, for as fir ay situation goes, it is in a splendidly central position. But, lor tli'i holding of an Exhibition oC such magnitude as the one in contemplation by Messrs Joubert ar.d Twopeny, its area is rather limited. Supposing, therefore, that the Council grant bis application, Mr Twopeny will have to modify the original plan of the buildings very considerably in order to fit them comfortably into the space now at hits disposal. The present plan is, of necessity, a much mo/c compact one than that which appeared in our columns some time since. It will, in fact, approach somewhat in shape to that of the Ch-imp de M.irs portion of the if rent Paris Exhibit-ion of 7tf. That is to piiy, it will consist of a large oblong block of: buildings with an open space in the middle. Tbe main entrance will be it) Chester street, and the principal part of the structure will run round all four sides of the square, 50ft deep. An art gallery, with a lantern light, is aNo proposed, running , along the Chester street side, and connecting the two main entrances, which will be in that street. The necessary space for machinery will be provided by verandah*. 20l : t i" depth, around the inside of the main block. For the machinery, Messrs Joubert and Twopeny provide motive pov/LM , at their own cxpen.se. Following the plan which wo have here c-udi/Jivoi-./d to shadow forth, it will be that the interior will be devoted I to exhibits of machinery. And so numerous !',r« the-e likely to be that no room would be loft for free locomotion in the central space if it is carried out. This is I eeitainly a. great drawback, but the '■ ' --.:.!.,,• Ji,.,+ tl,n nrmtrnl SltlM-

tion so secured to them will make amends for in other respects. For the siiupls purpose of displaying exhibits, fcl'e propOM-d site offers plenty ol' sfuico. Tiie original* plans provided for 240 bays of 180 square feet each, but in Cranmer square the promoters will ha nble to obtain nnother 40 of the Fame size in the main building. Besides these, of course, there will be the interior space outside t'.ie long buildings to devote to machinery, agricultural implements, &0., &c."

We think we have said enough to show the vast importance ot this coining Exhibition, and the absolute necessity that exists for this couniy making an effort to be properly represented there. It will be a gathering of people from many parts of the world, who will look with a critically business eye on the food products exhibited. The amount of entries at present promised is larger than the Adelaide Exhibition would have held. It should therefore lie t c duty of every producer on the Peninsula to see that fa : r specimens of the products of this peculiarly favored district should be placed in such a position as to attract the notice of ihe many intelligent visitors from other lands that will flock to the Cathedral City. No time should be lost, for space should be at once applied for. The committee, chosen by the Farmers' Club to arrange this matter have a most important and arduous duty to perform. The reputation of the Peninsula is to a certain extent in their hands, and they should lose no means in their power to secure such exhibits as will worthily uphold it, and prove that, in spite of our rather drowsy reputation, the best-grassed promontory in New Zealand is not so far behind in the race of progress, and can show dairy products of such a qu ility as to excite the admiration of the world.

Let us hope that there will be no holding back on the part of those who are requested to exhibit. Let them remember that the mere fact uf their exhibiting will stamp them as of the better sort of producers, and that if their products are really good, an award from the judges will be the best advertisement possible. Let there be no hesitation or reluctance, but let all unite for the one great end of seeing Akaroa worthily represented in the first .New Zealand International Exhibition.