THE GLOBE. THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 18, 1880. NEW ZEALAND AT THE MELBOURNE EXHIBITION.

Globe, Volume XXII, Issue 2102, 18 November 1880, Page 2

THE GLOBE. THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 18, 1880. NEW ZEALAND AT THE MELBOURNE EXHIBITION.

From the very graphic and interesting letter of Mr. W. R. Mitchell regarding oar display at the Melbourne Exhibition we get an idea of how matters have been arranged there, and also the points of omission. Amongst these latter, one which must at once strike even the most superficial reader, is the almost entire absence of any specimens of our native woods. If there is one thing more than another of which New Zealand has just cause to be proud it is her woods. On this people from all countries who saw the exhibits at the Drillshed a few months ago are agreed. Yet, for some reason or other, except for a few planks, this very important industry was nearly entirely unrepresented. With the thousands of people from all parts of the world visiting the Exhibition no better opportunity could be found for bringing under their notice the excellencies of our various timbers. Had, as Mr. Mitchell pointed out, the trophy exhibited by Mr. Jenkins at the Drillshed been sent to Melbourne, as it ought to have been, and the specimens exhibited by Mr. England, both the useful and ornamental properties of our woods could be seen at a glance. We want capital and enterprise to develop to the fullest extent the vast natural resources of the country, and, therefore, every opportunity should be taken to bring most prominently before the capitalists and speculators of the world the advantages we possess. This is one great result which must be looked for in exhibitions of this kind, and yet, though wo have expended some £SOOO or £6OOO, it may certainly be said that all has not boen obtained for the money that might have been. Alike at Sydney and Melbourne, the representation of New Zealand as a whole was, so far as giving any full idea of its capabilities and position, a delusion. Having expended so much money, it behoved us to see that we received full value for it. But it would now seem that value has not been obtained. At least, the salient points in our products and industries have not been carefully culled, catalogued, and placed before the world in the manner they might have been. The preparation for such an exhibition such as that at Melbourne is a difficult matter, and should require tho co-operation of the various manufacturers and local associations in an intelligent effort to gather together a collection which may do justice to the colony. It is a matter of national importance that such should bo done, and the Government ought to exert itself to see that it is done. What is worth doing at all is worth doing well. That the aifair has not been managed in tho manner it ought to have been is very evident from the letter wo have alluded to. That, for instance, such a leading natural product as our useful and ornamental timbers should not have been properly illustrated is monstrous. Probably one part of tho colony left it to the other. The Ohristchurch manufacturer was confident that Auckland would exhibit largely, and tho item was finally almost neglected. And so, no doubt, with other clas?e«. Nothing but a strong supervising power can remedy such a state of affairs. Intelligent arrangement for the colony as a

■whole was wanted and did not come to the front. We trust that when the time comes for New Zealand to he represented in some future exhibition, things will not be allowed to run on in such a happy-go-lucky manner as they did for the Sydney and Melbourne Exhibitions. The Government will then, we trust, take the matter in hand on broad principles and with some idea of directing the manner in which the display is to be formed. Spasmodic local efforts are very well in their way, but a central power exorcising a more active centrol would be desirable. The Commission appointed by the General Government did certainly forward instructions, &c, but one part of the country was ignorant of what another part was doing, and no enthusiasm was raised in the direction of representing the colony of Now Zealand as a country with enormous resources of various kinds, and with a climate capable of prodaeing all that can be grown in temperate and semi-tropical regions.