SYDNEY EXHIBITION COMMITTEE.

Globe, Volume XX, Issue 1604, 10 April 1879, Page 3

SYDNEY EXHIBITION COMMITTEE.

The usual weekly meeting of the local committee for the Sydney Exhibition was held yesterday in the Chamber of Commerce, Mr 0. W. Turner in the chair. The secretary, Mr J. A. Bird, reported that no reply had been received from Mr Thornton wuh reference to the model of Lyttelton Harbor. The following letters were then read by the chairman : Sydney Exhibition Commission, Wellington, sth April, 1879. Sir,—l have the honor to acknowledge the rece pt of your letter of the 20th ult., and in reply beg to state that the Commissioners can make arrangements to have the specimens of marble polished in Sydney, the expense attending same to be borne by the exhibitor. Please send the fullest particulars of the marble and what it is desired should be done by the polishers. Your remarks re applications to trustees of museums in the colony will be placed before the Commissioners at a meeting fixed for 4.30 p.m. on Tuesday next, and a reply will bo given by the earliest opportunity. I had the pleasure to forward the following telegram on the 2nd inst. :—"Anticipating the requirement of a further issue of the general regulations, should you wish any change made in the namos of your local committee, or to suggest any alterations otherwise, please advise immediately by wire. If any further supply of forms required, please state what quantity." I have the honor to be, Sir, Your obedient servant, Charles Collis. Secretary. J. A. Bird, Esq., Secretary Local Committee, Ohristchurch.

Sir, —I have tho honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 27th ult., enquiring whether it is contemplated to send a person to Sydney specially to take charge of the exhibits for New Zealand, to see that they are opened and properly placed, and stating that " many intending exhibitors for this district are holding back until they can receive a distinct assurance that their exhibits will be taken care of on arrival by some one duly authorised t o look after them, ae the New Zealand exhibits at the Philadelphia exhibition were not properly cared for, and it is feared that a repetition of what then took place may again occur." In reply I beg that you will assure exhibitors that the Commissioners will appoint a qualified person to attend t ■ their interests at Sydney, and to see that are properly displayed. The circulation of reports that the exhibits were not properly cared for at the Philadelphia exhibition tends to hiive such an injurious effect in preventing exhibitors entering for Sydney, that I feel it necessary to inquire how far such report? arc founded on fact. Having been appointed Executive Commissioner at Philadelphia, I am well acquainted with the whole circumstances of the exhibition, and b"cr 1o enclose, for the information of your local committee, a copy of tho Parliamentaiy papers on the subject, by reference to which you will find that exhibits were sent by nineteen persons from the Canterbury Provincial District, and that ten of these received awards of merit. The names ot these exhibitors are as follows:—Alexander W, Reid,

coal; J. J. Oakden, do. ; W. D. Wood, grain (prize); P. Cunningham & Co., wheat (prize): John J. Ruddenklau, wueat; Robert Wilkin, grass seed (prize); E H. Banks, grain, &c. (prize): John Gilinour, hams and bacon: W. S. Peter, wool (prize); Samuel Bealey, wool (prize); J. Cathcart Wason, wool (prize); John Hall, wool (prize); F. M. Rickman, wool (prize); Charles Cbinnery, flax (prize); New Zealand Produce find Provision Company, provisions ; David Nairn, tomato sauce; John Horler, soap and candles ; Trent Brothers, chicory ; and Thomas Wilson, leather. T will feci obliged by your ascertaining for me the names of any of these exhibitors who have complained of the manner in which their exhibits were treated, or of any_ other persons whose exhibits may have miscarried, so that I may cause enquiries to bo made on the subject. I have the honor tobe, Sir, Your obedient servant, James Hector, Chairman.

James A. Bird, Ac. This was all the business, and after a short desultory conversation the committee adjourned.