THE LOCAL INDUSTRIES EXHIBITION.

Globe, Volume XXII, Issue 2005, 28 July 1880, Page 3

THE LOCAL INDUSTRIES EXHIBITION.

The banquet to the managing committee and promoters of the late Industrial Exhibition took place last Tuesday in Messrs Ford and Newton’s rooms, which were very handsomely decorated with flags, evergreens, &3., for the occasion.

His Worship the Mayor occupied the chair, supported on his right by Messrs B. Allan (chairman of managing committee), and John Holmes, and on the left by Hon. H. B. Gresson, Messrs H. J. Tancrod, J. Inglis, P. Cunningham, and G. G. Stead. The vice chairs were filled by Mr John Ollivier, supported by Messrs W. R. Mitchell, 8. O. Parr, Councillor Ayers, &0., and Mr H. E. Alport. About one hundred gentlemen sat down to a very excellent spread, served by Mr J. W. Morton in his usual stylo—tho wines and attendance both being'unexoeptionable. The room made a very nice dining room indeed, and generally tho arrangements throughout were of a first-class character. During the dinner, and after the cloth was removed, Mr Morgan (harp), and Mrs Morgan (piano), played some selections very nicely. Ample justice having been done by those present to tho providing of Mr Morton, The Chairman gave the usual loyal toasts, which were drunk heartily and enthusiastically, the band playing tho “ National Anthem ” and “ God Bless the Prince of Wales.” The Chairman then gave "His Excellency the Governor.” Mr H. B. Alport then rose to propose the next toast, “That of the members of the General Assembly.” There was no doubt the General Assembly had a great influence on their welfare. The Legislative Council, it was true, was a kind of safety-valve on the exuberance of the Lower House, but with regard to the latter body it was a popular body. He looked around him and saw many who wore now coming up into that position when they could offer their services to the colony in which they had made their wealth. He gave them “The General Assembly,” and trusted they would do their work well. He would couple the toast with the name of Mr John Ollivier. The toast was drunk with enthusiasm.

Mr Ollivier, who on rising was received with cheers, said that he was perfectly astounded that he should bo called upon to respond to the toast, as he had no connection with them, nor had ho any desire to have. How could he respond to that toast when the Assembly had told him that he must henceforth quit the responsible and highly important position he had so long occupied. ("Laughter.] He asked them wnat had he done that he should be asked to respond to the health of a body which had treated hhn so contemptuously. But still while this was so, he felt that there was some good in the Assembly after all. There were many who went up there who were earnest, many who were doubtful, and many who were weak. He asked them when he was free, os he trusted he soon should be, to send him up to the Assembly, and ho would go perfectly straight to one point, viz., the prosperity of Canterbury. [Cheers.] He thought that the Assembly had much to learn from Canterbury, and a great deal of influence for good had been brought to bear upon it, and he trusted to see Canterbury principles carried out in the Assembly, viz., perfect fairness and honesty to all parts of the colony and justice to all men irrespective of party considerations. [Cheers.] This was what he trusted to see, and he had pleaoure in returning thanks for the Assembly though ho had nothing whatever to do with them. [Cheers.] Mr R. Allan rose to propose the next toast, that of “ His Worship the Mayor and City Councillors.” [Cheers.] Perhaps the public hardly appreciated the large amount of work done by that body, and were apt somewhat to criticise them hardly. His Worship the Mayor had occupied the chair for the past two years with credit to himself and honour to the city. The present City Councillors, though not of so long standing, would no doubt had they succeeded In raising the loan of a few hundred thousands which they desired, have left their footprints on the sands of time. [Cheers.] He now asked them to drink their healths as men who had honestly endeavoured, to do their duty by the city. The toast was drunk with musical honors.

His Worship the Mayor said that it was true that the duties of Mayor and Council were exceedingly onerous, and were increasing every year. The duties of Mayor were exceedingly so, and he could assure any one who aspired to that position that they would have to give up a very large portion of their time to the business of the city. The members of the City Council were practical men of business, and they got on very amicably together, disposing of the business they had to do in a very short time. He thanked them on behalf of the Council and himself for the way in which they had drunk their healths. [Cheers.] The Mayor then rose to propose the toast of the evening, that of the “ Promoters of the Local Industries Exhibition.” [Cheers.] He might say that he had never before felt inadequate to do justice to a toast, but it was felt that they could not allow the opportunity to go by without doing justice to the gentlemen who had promoted the Exhibition. When they remembered the short time at their disposal, and what had been accomplished, it only showed what could bo done by a few earnest men whose hearts were in their work. [Cheers.] When they considered the large amount of exhibits, the quality of all there, it was really wonderful, and must be productive of great good by bringing producers and artizans together, and forming a starting point from which they could guage their progress in the future. When the next Exhibition was held, he felt sure that they would require a very much larger amount of space than was at the disposal of the late committee. He had been on the committee of the Exhibition which had been held in Dunedin some sixteen years ago, but, though that was a large affair, he considered the late Exhibition here as far more important from a colonist’s point of view. Not alone were visitors astonished, but even their oldest colonists; and he might say that one gentleman who had imported a very expensive ohaffoutter saw one in the Exhibition quite [as good and at a lower price, and he expressed his determination to paironise the local industry in future. [Cheers.] He would not trespass further on their time, as the Hon. Mr Gresson had to propose the toast of the “Exhibitors,” He gave them “ The Promoters of the Local Industries Exhibition,” coupled with the name of Mr R. Allan. [Cheers.] The toast was drunk amid loud applause. Mr Allan, who was loudly cheered on rising, said that the committee had accepted the invitation there that evening as a mark of esteem on the part of the public. In projecting the Exhibition, the committee had no idea of seeking public recognition, but simply to advance the interests of the cause they had been working for during tho past twelve months. The many thousands who had visited the Exhibition, and had evinced the greatest interest in it must have a deep effect on the interest of local industries. They were aware that the Exhibition had been projected by the Association for Fostering Local Industry, and they had had to deal with the political aspect of the question. That being so, it was a great pleasure to them that evening to see around them gentlemen who had differed with them in politics, but who nevertheless had come forward most gracefully to pay them a compliment. [Cheers.] There was just this which he would like to say, that local industries had had to fight their way against old established brands, and if their merchants and importers would only put out their hands and help these local industries, they would confer a large benefit upon the community. There was one firm which, though a largo importing firm, and connected with English houses, yet whenever there was a local article put before them of merit, ceased ordering that article from home, and took the local one instead. This was what he wanted to see others do, and he trusted that more would follow the example,

the good example, set them by the firm he had alluded to. [Cheers.] In responding for his brother committeemen he would say this, that they had all worked most amicably and harmoniously together, and though he was there that evening as the chairman of the committee, ho had done no more than the other members of the committee. Each and every one had worked hard and zealously to make the Exhibition a success, and all were equally deserving of credit as he himself. Ho could only hope that the Exhibition which he trusted would follow upon the one so recently concluded, would be not only as great a success but even a far greater one, and that it would show that the colony, and Canterbury in particular, had made great progress. He begged now on behalf of the committee and exhibitors to thank them for the hearty manner in which the toast had been drunk. [Cheers.] The Hon. H.'B. Gresson, who was received with cheers, rose to propose the next toast. He said he was not surprised at the warm and enthusiastic manner which the last toast had been received. It would have been strange had it not. But he must also claim for the exhibitors a large share of the success which had attended the late Exhibition. [Cheers ] It was true that a large amount of credit was due to the promoters, but they must remember that had it not been for the prompt and manly manner in which their efforts had been seconded by the exhibitors, the Local Industries Exhibition would not not have been the success it undoubtedly was. They had been told by his Worship the Mayor of the many difficulties which had beset the committee, but they must remember that the exhibitors had also had to encounter the commercial depression which had affected all classes. He had ever since he had arrived in the colony been a sanguine believer in the future that awaited it,, but he must say that notwithstanding all ho had heard and road, he was perfectly bewildered at the way in which the goods were displayed, and the number, variety, and excellence of the exhibits. [Cheers ] At first sight it had appeared to him to bo a mass of confusion, mainly due to the crowd of spectators filling the Exhibition at the time when he visited it, but when he came to look closely into them he found to his joy that the exhibits were arranged in a manner best calculated to display them to advantage. [Cheers.] He desired to call their attention to one or two of the most salient points in the Exhibition, and first he would mention the minerals and clay goods. [Cheers.] Though this industry was only yet in its infancy two or three firms were engaged in it, and that progress had been made the articles of beauty and utility displayed in the Exhibition amply proved. [Cheers.] Then there were the woods of the colony, not only as furniture but in the large trophy of turnery, &c., and they saw that the goai could be made into spokes quite equal to hickory. [Cheers.] He had understood from evidence coming before the Commission that in all matters of superior workmanship the local articles were superior to the imported article, and it was only in what was called “ slop ” anri “ shoddy” work that they wore inferior. He trusted that they would keep out all shoddy, and that their manufacturers would never use it[Cheers.J He would ask them to remember the work which had bean done by the exhibitors in the interest of the colony. [Cheers.] He felt that their Exhibition spoke in tones which not only would be heard in Australia but in the countries of Europe. It told of lavish productions placed by the hand of Nature in the colony where they had made their home, worked up and manufactured by British skill and British industry. [Cheers.] He felt sure—and he trusted they also shared this with him—that the indomitable British pluck and skill, which he was proud to say had been transplanted here, would yet make happy homes here for thousands who might come after them, [Cheers.] He coupled the toast with the names of Messrs I. Wilson, Austin and Eirk, and P. Jenkins. [Cheers.] The toast was drunk amid cheers.

Mr Kirk (of Austin and Kirk) said, on behalf of the exhibitors, that they had worked hard for the success of the exhibition. As the representative of the clay business he might say that, though beginning very small indeed, the firms now In the trade were employing nearly 500 hands, which, as the majority were married men, meant a great deal. [Cheers.] As regarded the woollen industry, he believed that had it not been for the mill Kaiapoi would have been a dead letter. [Cheers.] He was glad to see that there were representatives of all the local industries present that evening. The Dunedin people were somewhat wrath, because they thought they had stolen a march on them. He was afraid that this was not the only thing in which Canterbury would steal a march on Otago. [Cheers.]

Mr F. Jenkins said he thought that the success of the late exhibition would stimulate another one on a larger scale in about a year, or perhaps eighteen months. [Cheers.] He was one of the modest men mentioned by the president, so that he would only thank them for the kindly manner in which the toast of the exhibitors had been drunk. [Cheers.] Mr Alport said he desired to say that he had taken an opportunity when in Dunedin recently to go over the factory of Messrs A. and T. Burt, and found that they had about one hundred men employed. The beautiful exhibits sent by them to the last exhibition was, he felt sure, so much appreciated that he need say no more. [Cheers.] Mr John Anderson, senior, proposed the next toast, that of the “ Commercial, Pastoral and Agricultural Interests of Canterbury.” [Cheers.] He would associate the toast with the name of Mr Stead, who was intimately connected with their local industries, and was also the Chairman of the Chamber of Commerce. He had great faith in the future of New Zealand —[Cheers] —and had always clung to that belief even when there were no streets, houses or municipal councils. He would now ask them to drink the toast associated with the name of Mr G. G. Stead. [Cheers.] i The toast was drunk with enthusiasm. 1 Mr Stead said that commercial men as a rule were popularly supposed to be able to take care of themselves, and Canterbury traders were no exception to the rule. Ho thought they had proved their enterprise by the loading and despatch during the past six months of fifty-six ships of a tonnage equal to 54,500 tons register, or 80,000 tons burthen, taking away from these shores 44,000 bales of wool and 2,500,000 bushels of grain. This was only their foreign exports, and was quite exclusive of their intercolonial trade. So much for commerce. [Cheers.] He now came to his agricultural friends, and here he was glad to say that real and substantial progress had been made. Last year 318,000 acres were in grain, yielding 7i millions of bushels of grain. In the year 1880 there were 380,000 acres under crop, yielding 121 millions of bushels of grain. [Cheers.] This was an increase of 20 per cent, on the acreage and 70 per cent, on the yield. [Cheers.] As regarded the pastoral interest, this also was, he was glad to say, in a position highly satisfactory to those engaged in the industry. [Cheers.] He now begged to thank them for the kindly way in which the toast had heen drunk. [Cheers.] Mr Ollivier, in a very humorous speech, proposed the toast of “ The Press,” coupled with the name of Mr Briggs. Mr Briggs responded to the toast, and in the course of his remarks mentioned that over 300 persons were employed in Christchurch in the production of newspapers, printing, &c. Mr O. Bishop, in a merry speech, proposed the “Health of the Ladies,” coupling it with the name of one of the latest worshippers at the shrine of Hymen —Mr Henry Sawtell. [Loud and continued cheers]. Mr Sawtell, who on rising was received with cheers, responded to the toast, and called on Mr Malcolm to respond on behalf of the single ladies. Mr Malcolm briefly responded for the single ladies, expressing his regret that the ladies had not been there that evening to participate in the proceedings. He trusted that at any celebration in connection with their exhibition the ladies would be present. He could say but little on behalf of the single ladies ; as a rule, they could speak enough for themselves. [Laughter]. Mr J. Holmes proposed the next toast “ The Reporters,'’ coupled with the names of Messrs Hull, Plunkett, and Hart. The toast was drunk with cheers. Messrs Hull and Hart responded. Professor Biokerton gave the next toast, “ The health of Mr John Ollivier ” —[loud cheers] —speaking highly of the efforts made by Mr Ollivier in getting up the banquet that evening, and the efforts made by him in all movements of a social and useful character. The toast was drunk with musical honours. Mr Ollivier replied in one of his characteristic speeches. This concluded the proceedings, and the aompany dispersed, after spending a very pleasant evening.