THE EXHIBITION.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 38, 8 November 1907, Page 3

THE EXHIBITION.

NEARLY BACK TO ZERO. ' JIR. G. S. MUNRO INTERVIEWED. [IIT TELKGBArn.—OWN CORRESPONDENT.] Dunedin,'November 7. I'fio "Star" publishes an interview with Mr. (1. S. Monro, in which ho says':— " Tho realisation of the estate of. the Exhibition is just about completed. Up to date forty-one sales -by auction have been' hold, and three further sales will just about clear up tho remainder ,of the buildings', fences, etc. During the first four months of the realisation bi-weekly sales wore held, but during tho past month, as the material lessened, weekly sales only have been held. Tho prices, on tho wliblo, have been very satisfactory, and it was remarkable how the buyers turned up sale after sale, and absorbed everything that was offered. The result of tho two first sales was disappointing, because it was found that the sizes of the timber as recovered from the buildings were not suitable for general trade requirements. This necessitated the introduction of a small sawmilling plant, which converted the larger sizes of timber into smaller sizes more suitablo for ordinary building purposes. The result of this was that from 3s. to 4s. per 100 ft. more was realised, and it brought into tho market a very much increased number of buyers.

" All business in connection with the Exhibition is being brought to a close, and, so far as I can judge, there seems little doubt that everything will be squared up before the end of tho year. Tho total amount of money involved in the transactions of the Exhibition is just about £400,000—that is, the total receipts and expenditure amount to that sum— and when one considers that this immense amount of money has been dealt with in so very short a period of time, and involving as it did contracts' and commercial operations of a most varied character, it is some satisfaction to tho management to be able to say that the whole of the venture has been carried through, and is nearly concluded with a minimum of trouble. One remarkable foatdre in connection with the preparation of tho Exhibition, its career, and the subsequent demolition of tho buildings is the almost absolute immunity from accident. I am not certain, but I think it must be a record in this respect. Tho fact that over two millions of people, or an average of 14,000 a day, were passed 'without a einglo case of accident is a record that the management feel proud of. " Personally, I do not feel any tho worse for the strenuous time I have put in in Christchurch. I arrived there with instructions to get tho Exhibition under way in April, 1905, and until the closing date of tho Exhibition I can almost say that I worketl all; day and thought all night. My future position is uncertain. I have not yet received any indication from the Government as to whether they propose to reinstate me in my old position as assistant secretary; to tho Department of Industries and Commerce in Wellington, or whether 1 am to take Care of myself. My present intention is to spend Christmas on the west coast of this island with my relatives, and aftor that to proceed to Australia, spending a "month in Melbourne and Sydney, and eventually rejoining my wife and children in London in tho English spring time of next year. There seems little doubt as to my being tho most unpopular man in Christchurch, but I don't think it is so general as many people imagine. It is limited to a certain section of the community. On the other hand, I could have been tho most popular in Christchurch had I wished it, but the cost to the Dominion would have Decn heavy. If I had advertised recklessly and given way to the demands of the different committees and others, I would have been surfeited with hospitality and purses." "And to'sum up your personal connection with the venture, I may say thoii- —-"

" Say that I saw the Exhibition started from nothing and brought back to zero,' and I am still bore to answer any questions."