THE'S DNEY EXHIBITION.

Globe, Volume XX, Issue 1592, 27 March 1879, Page 2

THE'S DNEY EXHIBITION.

The usual weekly meeting of the local committee in connection with the Sydney Exhibition and the Canterbury exhibits was hold at the Chamber of Commerce, at 3 p.m. on Wednesday afternoon. Present—Messrs L. E. Nathan, Wood, Beaumont, Cunningham, and Bird (hon. sec.) Mr L. E. Nathan was voted to the chasr. Mr Beaumont said that since the last meeting he had interviewed several people, and asked them to take part in the movement, and they had told them that they did not intend to send unless Canterbury was represented by some one to look after the exhibits. They had told him that the way things were managed and knocked about at the Pniladelpbia Exhibition was something disgraceful. The Secretary said he had only to report that that he had seen several persons and conversed with them, and he found that the same feeling was very prevalent, as that expressed to Mr Beaumont, as to the way the exhibits were treated at Philadelphia. Mr Howland had promised that he would exhibit a handsome landau that he was now making. Mr Wigley would send a sample of wheat, and Messrs King and Co. some grain seed He had spoken to Mr Dunbar about sending some saddlery, but he had declined to do so. Mr Gibbs, the artist, had promised to send some pictures, and Mr Foster a life-saving vest of his own invention. Peterson and Co., Coates and Co , and Mr Brunett and Mr Sandsteiu, the jewellers, had promised to do something. On the other hand, he had seen a good many other people who had objected to do anything. Mr Beaumont said that the man whom Dr. Hector had put in charge of the New Zealand exhibits at the Philadelphia Exhibition was of very little use, and did little else than beg of the New Zealanders when they went through. The chairman thought it would bo unreasonable of them to expect the Government to promise to appoint a representative to look after Canterbui’y exhibits alone. If so little interest was taken in the matter by the Canterbury people themselves, they could hardly expect to take much interest in their Canterbury exhibits. Mr Beaumont thought there would be little difficulty in getting exhibits if the Government would give a promise to have them looked after. The chairman thought they might make a recommendation to the Government to send somebody to look after New Zealand exhibits generally. Mr Wood moved —“ That the secretary be requested to write to the Government and state that many who would be exhibitors had expressed their objections to sending exhibits unless there was a distinct promise made that somebody will be sent from the colony to take charge of the exhibits.” The chairman was happy to say that he had met with more success than seemed to have attended the efforts of some of the other members of the committee. Mr Duncan, who at first was not very warm in the matter, had promised, before he left him, to contribute a case of ferns, and probably another one cf other plants. Suchl’ug Bros., after some little persuasion, had promised to exhibit some boots, shoes, &c, and had asked for a space of sft. 2in. x 3ft. x 2ft. Mr Banks had also promised to exhibit, and had said he would write to the committee on the subject, but hitherto he had not done so. Austin and Ki k had made him a half-promise, and would no doubt exhibit a sample of their p ttery goods. Mr Green had promised a sample of hams and bacon, and Mr Hale, the tarpaulin and tent maker, had told him he thought he would contribute. Mr Beaum nt and Mr Bird here said they too had spoken to Mr Hale, who had told them distinctly that he would not exhibit. The Chairman thought be had seen him after they had. Mr Proctor had also promised to send some greenstone jewellery; Mr Hancock some soap. Mr Carden had promised to try and got a picture on which ho was now at work ready in time, but in any case he would send some crayon drawings. He would suggest the advisability of jogging the memories of all who had given partial as we 1 as distinct promises, so that they should have no excuse. Mr Auleebrook had promised some biscuits. He had seen Mr Thornton, the late Provincial Engineer, and if he had sufficient time, and if the expense was not too much, that gentleman had promised to get up a very interesting model of the Lyttelton Harbor work«. He considered if this could bo cone it would form a most attractive feature among tbe New Zealand exhibits, and show some of the capabilities of tbe harbor in question. If it could not be done on the score cf expense, he (the speaker) would suggest that it would perhaps be advisable to supplement any small amount that might be required. Mr Beaumont would think the Harbor Board would give something. After some discussion as to tbe right of the Board to vote money for such a purpose, It was resolved to write to Mr Thornton to ascertain whether he would exhibit a model of the Lyttelton Harbor works, the future action of the committee to be based on his reply. The Chairman said he had al-o seen Mr Montgomery, who had entered very warmly into the subject, and requested him to see the manager of the company. Nothing definite, however, had yet been done. The meeting then adjourned for a week.