The Evening Star SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 2, 1872.

Evening Star, Issue 3028, 2 November 1872, Page 2

The Evening Star SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 2, 1872.

It is difficult to assign a reason for the evident indifference on the part of the public to the proposal that Otago should be represented at the forthcoming Vienna Exhibition. It may be that it is considered that no benefit can arise through our products being made known to a country with which wo have so little direct intercourse as Austria. Or perhaps the same reason may operate as was given by a large firm for not advertising, that if they are to receive further orders they could not execute them, for workmen are not to be had. We are inclined to think the activity manifest in every industrial occupation has much to do with the mutter; but if so, there are weighty reasons why some effort should bo made to extend the knowledge of the natural and artificial products of the Colony. One plain advantage would be to gain a wider market for our products. That there is great benefit in this must bo evident from the fact forced prominently upon us last year, when the American market for our wool was opened up. Previously all raw produce had been sent to Croat Britain : there was no competition ; and although no doubt American buyers would have attended the wool sales at Home, and possibly

taken a quantity equal to what they purchased direct, the price realised by the Colony would have been as much less than was obtained, as the amount of the higher freights, frequency of reshipment, and multiplied commissions. The Vienna, like all European Exhibitions, cannot be considered a merely local affair. There is no such thing in Europe now. That Continent is rapidly becoming a community of nations, through the ease, rapidity, and cheapness with which the people can pass from one part of it to another. The industrial exhibitions begun twentytwo years ago in London, travel eastward, and conveniently by this means in every country bring all classes into acquaintance with what can be done and where material is to be had. So far as the Colonies are concerned, their chief products for some time to come will be raw material, although it is no credit to our spirit of enterprise that much that might be utilised here is allowed to go to waste, simply because to pay freight upon it in its rude form would be more expense than the stuff is worth. But we shall never learn tvhat to do with it unless it can be ascertained what it can be converted into. We do not imagine for a moment that the products of our infant factories will bear comparison with thehighly finished articles of countries possessing all the advantages of the highest scientific and artistic skill in designing and executing work. But on the other hand, subjecting our animal, vegetable, and mineral products to the keen scrutiny of those practised observers, not only tends to bring the Colony itself into notice, but to point out that in New Zealand there is a field for enterprise, and profitable investment of capital, waiting to be occupied, We must not rest under the false notion that we of this generation can halt at the point to which we have attained. There has been too much of that in the Colonics, and they have suffered in consequence. The working men of Victoria insisted that assisted immigration should cease, not imagining that obedience to their mandate involved the ceasing of work also. Immigration did cease, and so did work, and the sister Colony has not even now recovered from the error they fell into. We are prosperous now, because we are preparing for a population of workers, and were we, as Mr Stafford and his friends desired, to attempt to return to the position in which we were prior to the initiation of our railway system, instead of looking forward to a constantly widening development, we had better never have begun. There is safety and profit in progress, but in order to it, those who are seeking investments must know what they have to look forward to, and how can they learn if we are too supine to show the riches to be developed ? New Zealand is a land of coal : but how will they know it in Europe unless we send specimens'? Jt is a land of gold and iron, of grain and pasture —a goodly land waiting to be occupied ; but who shall know it unless evidence is given of its wealth ? There will be exhibits from cold Canada, from the United States, from 'Victoria, New' Soutli Wales, and other places bidding for population. There will also bo not a few from New Zealand too; but while others are dieasing themselves in their best to cut a respectable figure at Vienna, wo especially in Otago, remit to one or two individuals the merit of representing their own exhibits. While they are displaying a laudable public spirit, it must not be forgotten that if any benefit is derivable from taking cur place in the competition of nations, it cannot be confined to them, but is really a public advantage. Their very best efforts will only serve to shew that there is such a place as Otago. We do not know what the other Provinces are doing, but we can imagine some one asking at Vienna, when he sees the few exhibits sent hence, “ Where is Otago I It must be some outlandish spot, not to afford a better shew than this ?” It is not too late to mend our ways, but wo think, as the invitations of the DeputySuperintendent and Superintendent have not been reeponded to, it will only be courteous on the part of the citizens to ask his Honor to convene another meeting. Wo commend the suggestion to the consideration of his Worship the Mayor and Corporation.