THE GLOBE. SATURDAY, DECEMBER 6, 1879.

Globe, Volume XXI, Issue 1808, 6 December 1879, Page 2

THE GLOBE. SATURDAY, DECEMBER 6, 1879.

The secretary of the "Wellington Local Industries Association has been forwarding communications to various quarters, stating that a movement is on foot for holding a competitive exhibition of the productions of all nations in Wellington to follow the Melbourne Exhibition of 1880. It is of course now a well recognised fact that Exhibitions forward tho interosts of industries in those countries whore they are held by enabling the inhabitants to see for themselves what is being done in other parts of the world, and bringing into one focus the combined talent and genius of mechanics and artists. But many factors are required to make such reunions at all satisfactory. In the first place, it is always desirable that tho city in which one is held should bo so populous that the inhabitants themselves should bo, to a certain extent, capable of keeping "the ball rolling." Then a lavish expenditure of money is absolutely requisito, and lastly the general state of the part of tho world in which the Exhibition is held should be favourable to the scheme. Even the Exhibition at Sydney has suffered from the fact that the city is not sufficiently populous to lend that air of bustle without which the vast spaces enclosed within such a palace of glass look somewhat desolate. The exchequer of New South Wales will, moreover, when all is done, be poorer by some quarter of a million for its exertions on behalf of the general good. The Wellington Local Industries Association propose to raise the necessary funds by opening a shilling subscription list throughout the colony, and Government would be requested to supplement the largo sum expected to be raised by such means. IE every man, woman, and baby in New Zoaland were to give a shilling, the amount realised would be only about £20,000, and the Government certainly are in no position to expend any large sum of money for such an object. If the Wellington Local Industries Association wish to get up an Exhibition on any extended scale, we are afraid they are sighing aftor tho impossible. But one thing might very well be done. The manufacturers who exhibit at Melbourne might be invited to exhibit the goods in Wellington before sending them back to England and elsewhere, and, without any very groat expense being incurred, by utilising certain of the public buildings, a very creditable show might be made. Many manufacturers would no doubt accede to the request, and many of the inhabitants of New Zoaland would have an opportunity afforded them of soeing masterpieces of manufacture and art. If the matter were arranged so that nothing ostentatious was attempted, much might be done. New Zoaland would not commit itself in any way, and our manufacturers would bo greatly benefitted by having their ideas enlarged, and by being enabled to compare their productions with those from other parts of the world.

A.T tho last meeting of tho Council of tho Acclimatisation Society a resolution was passed which we think could hardly havo been duly weighed by tho members. In their zeal for acclimatisation—a zeal which in that caso considerably outran their discretion —tho Society onco upon a timo introduced sparrows. Had due caution been exorcised in the selection c£ tho species of sparrows introduced, all would havo been well. But it was not so, and honco tlieso tears. Now so great a nuisance havo tho sparrows become that a gonoral war of extermination has been proclaimed, and tho very Society who introduced what lias proved a post joins in the demand for their destruction. But suroly tho Council of the Society could never have seriously considered the whole bearing of tho request they are making to bo allowed to strew poisoned grain in appprovod places within the precincts of the city. In tho first place tho nuinbor of birds within the city proper, as compared with those in tho country districts, is small. A reward offered for spr.rrows' nests or

heads would keep the town birds down considerably. In a war between the boys and tho sparrows, the latter would como off second best. But should tho City Council —which is exceedingly unlikely—accede to the request of the Council, although tho transaction might be satisfactory to tho society, it would hardly 1 e so to the citizens. However carefully tho places might bo chosen, thero is always danger in strewing poison within a district so crowded as aro the precincts of tho city. Either tho area would bo so small that tho sparrow nuisance would not bo affected, or tho residents would suffer in several ways. Their feathered pots would suffer danger, and, moreover, tho numbers of children who aro continually playing about, particularly outside tho city, renders compliance with tho request of tho Council utterly out of tho question. Nothing would bo more probable than that somo ono or other of tho juveniles woidd pick up tho corn, and though perhaps tho poison might not bo strong enough to induce death, it might yet cause vory serious consoquoncos. In tho country, no such danger exists. Tho poisoned grain is spread over a largo tract of country whore tho samo conditions do not obtain. Children aro not likely to como across it, nor is thero the danger of fowls or other pets getting hold of it. Wo aro somowhat surprised that tho Council should haTO mado such a request as tho ono wo havo alluded to, when the possible consequences of its being granted are considered. On reflection, no doubt, they will seo tho propriety of allowing tho matter to drop. Tho destruction of town sparrows, if considered absolutely necessary, can be carried out in other ways sufficiently efficacious and, at all events, freo from danger.