The Globe. FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 1875.

Globe, Volume III, Issue 212, 12 February 1875, Page 2

The Globe. FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 1875.

Feom time to time for sometime back, notices have appeared in the various journals of the colony regarding the immense preparations which are being made for the holding of the Great Philadelphia Centennial exposition. This great American fair, it is announced, will eclipse all exhibitions hitherto held in the extent and variety of the industrial products exhibited. Naturally, the various portions of the commercial world are anxious to be properly represented on that great occasion, and active steps are already been taken to bring together the products of each country for the purpose of being forwarded there. The Australian colonies, it would appear, have determined not to be behind-hand in the race. The Yictorian Government has already appoined a commission, for the purpose of making a preliminary inquiry, with the view of ascertaining whether united action should be taken by all the Australian colonies to secure them proper representation at the said exhibition, and of reporting on what measures ought to be taken to that end. This commission has sent in their report to the Government, and among other things they suggest, that it is desirable that a preliminary exhibition should be held, in order that the objects to be transmitted to Philadelphia should be (compared, and the finest of their kind selected, and shipped together for a port in America, and propose that such exhibition should be held in Melbourne. With this object in view the Commissioners wrote to the chief secretaries of New South Wales, Queensland, South Australia, (Tasmania, and New Zealand, urging upon those colonies the importance of united action. The answers received do not appear to have been very encouraging. No answer, at the time the report had been sent in, had been received from New South Wales or New Zealand; the Cabinet of Queensland replied that the matter was receiving their attention; and South Australia had sent in an encouraging answer. What our own Government propose to do had not yet been announced. Judging from a communication sent by the Superintendent of Otago, to the Otago Institute, an official circular has been sent to the various Superintendents as to “ the probability of such a collec- “ tion of exhibits being secured as “ would ensure a worthy representation “ of New Zealand.”

But this is a very half-hearted way of setting about the business. New Zealand of late years has been straining every nerve to bring herself prominently before the commercial world. Not only is she engaged in a grand scheme of public works and immigration, but her ambitious Premier has devised a scheme which

has for its object the making of the colony the centre of a grand net-work of commerce. It is true that our Premier is at present absent from New Zealand on other business, otherwise we feel sure more decided steps would have been taken. But surely his colleagues might have been more alive to the importance of having New Zealand adequately represented at this great world’s fair. This colony is rich in all those products which come within the design of the Philadelphia Exhibition. Our wool, in its natural state and manufactured form, our grain, our splendid woods, our precious metals, would make, if properly arranged, no insignificant appearance, even when placed alongside the products of older countries. There is some disposition on the part of Otago to take up the matter in earnest, even should the Colonial Government be supinely indifferent; and we trust that the Provincial Government of Canterbury will show equal spirit. There is time yet if a vigorous effort were made by the Governments of the two provinces to take such action as will avoid the high discredit of having New Zealand entirely unrepresented on that great occasion.