THE EXHIBITION OFFICIAL PARLIAMENTARY VISIT.

Globe, Volume XXIV, Issue 2569, 1 July 1882, Page 3

THE EXHIBITION OFFICIAL PARLIAMENTARY VISIT.

The official visit of the Speriter st'.sd mem'iers of both Houses to the Exhibition | took placj to-(iay. The steamers arrived ia Lyttaltoc at an early hour, and ehortly aiter Imlf-Dast one the visitors wore brought by sped '.l tiviin to the Exhibition. Her> they wers received by M. Joubert, on behalf of the eromoteis, nud his Worship the Mayor and the Oity Oounoii, on behalf of the citizens. HXj adornaeing Sir Uanrice O'Borke, the breaker of the Lower Houso, ■aid it gave him great pleasure to welcome the Speaker and members on (he occasion of their visit to 01 ristohurcu. Ths various foreign exhibitors «;"ero then presented to the Speaker trad members, and, under tfce able guidance of M. Joabert, who acted as their " guide, philosopher, and friend," they proceeded to tako a cursory •view of the various exhibits. This over, an adjournment was made to the arc galley, where , a very exoslknt luncheon was l laid cut by Mr Foster. M. Joub*ft ocouL pied the ohair, supported on the Wght by the I PrimMe, and on the left by Sir Maunoo I O'Boike, Speaker of the House of Bepresantatives, and the Hon. Mr Saotland. Corsi. - dorable regret was expressed at the iaofc that the Ministry were absent altogether, but the well known form of the (present) Sender of the Opposition w«i to be seen in strong relief, which compensated somewhat for the abaenoe If, of the more distinguished advisee of his f Excellency. After luncheon had been dispo«3d of, M. Joubert said that he had to make ao , apolojy fur not appearing in a black oc-at.

but he felt -that on that ocoasien he could not do better than appear in a suit manuiactnrea from one of preeent promulng industries, tie Kaiapoi Woollen f™*> o*7- 0 *7-Gentlemer.-Whe toast I am about to propose needs not powers ol! oratory. " ona which in all p«rts of the world U always rooaived with the heartiest welcome, more particularly when proposed in an assembly or Anglo-Saxons. I call upon yon, gentlemer, to join me in wishing long life and prosperity to the woman we ali lore without rivalry, we all cherish without jealousy, one whom her delioate hands holds the sceptre of the largest, most intelligent, most powerful kingdom in the whole world —an Empire over which the sun never sets. The most gracious and beloved Victoria, Queen of England, Empress of Inditt, the Queen! Gentlemen, —Once again I beg you to join in a toast whioh, next to Boyalty, claims our warmest feelings "His Excellency the Governor." The toast was drunk with muoh eathusiasm, the Burnham band playing " God Savo the Queen." Mr Twopsny then proposed the " Prinoe oi Wales and tho Boyal Family," whioh waa drunk amidst applause, the Burnham band playing " God Bless the Princo of Wales Mr Joubert then gave the toast of "His Excellency the Governor." Mr Twopeny rose to propose the next toast, of The Ministry. Gentlemen, —It falls to my luoky lot to propose " The Health of Her Majesty's Ministers," which I hare the more pleasure in doing, inasmuch as I cannot pretend to any political opinions so far as New Zea. land is concerned. But, -without deliberately shutting his eyes and stop, ping up his ears, it would be impossible for any sojourner in your colony not to learn that—whatever may be thought of their politics—the whole oountry joins in respecting their honesty of purpose, and acknowledging the pluck and ability with whioh they have I pulled the colony through a period of depression. Happily, tho self-supporting basis of our undertaking has forbidden us to ask for xauoh more than the moral support of the Government; but I om glad to have the opportunity of expressing our thanks for the prompt and cordial assistance wo have received from them in all matters where we were obliged to seek their aid—suoh as polioo protection and Customs. I regret that they have been unable to be with ub to-day, as I am sure you do also. I now call on you to drink the health of tho Ministry. The toast was drank amid oheers, and loud cries of " Montgomery," the loader of tho Opposition. 'Xhe leader of the Opposition, Mr Montgomery, however deolined to speak. M. Joubert, in rising to propose »he toast of "Our Guests," said: Gentlemen, — If, as I had the hoaour of telling you a moment ago, the toasts of Her Majesty, and that of her most worthy representative, did not require any partioular aptitude for public speaking, it is not the same now, and in approaching the subject 1 have to deal with, I feel that the task is almost beyond my power. When we first originated the idea of holding International Exhibitions on a new prinoiple, I mean without State aid, it became neoessary to enlist the sympathies and assistance of exhibit era of long standing, both in England and Conti-nental-Europe, as well as other parts of the world. Having succeeded so far, we courted the favour and countenance of the Governor and corporative bodies in the countries where it was our intention to hold our exhibitions. We also enlisted the powerful aid of the Press. As our vonture was one whioh did not ooßt a single farthing to the country, w naturally met with a great deal of opposition and many detractors, who doubtless thought that it was a bold undertaking to venture a costless Exhibition, almost immediately after the closing of tho Sydney and Melbourne ones, which, as you are all aware, entailed o a those two colonies a pecuniary loss of some thins like a million sterling. Opposition didnot deter us from our projeot. .Like Ctssar — Va came, we saw, we oonquered. The Adel£de, Perth, and lastly the Christohuroh Exhibitions have proved that we were right in oir premises. The suocess which has crowned our efforts proves in a most emphatic nanner that exhibitors are so muoh mteicatet in this mode of advertising their wares, thtfc they are willing to assist promoters in tefraying the' enormous outlay of lan International Exhibition. In all our endeavours to c»;rt and obtain the countenance end support oV the looal governments, we, after all, merely invited the heads of the departments to oi-ias the threshold of their office and step into the Exhibition building. Here, however, tho matter has assumed a very different aspect. We selected Christohuroh as the best site for an Exhibition, because we looked upon it as the moat central point in New Zealand. In doing bo we dreaded the lack of support from high, oiroles. In our most sanguine expectations we hardly ventured to hope that (the seat of Government being in Wellington) we should bo honored by the presence ot his Exoallonoy tho Governor on th» opening day. And I most humbly oonfess, gentlemen, that we had very little thought that the hoiorablj members of the Legislature of Now Zealand would oondescend to leave their arduous duties, Oiose the Parliament, and—more than all—overcome the dread of a sea voyage to coma, here to-day—a red-letter day in our career—accept our hospitality, end visit our Exhibition. Mr Sptiaker and G-entlemen of both Honses of Parliament, we thank you most heartily for V.aving paid ns so high a oomplimant, and with your permission I will oall on all present to join ua in drinking " Our Gusstp, the Members of tho Legislature of ; New Zealand."

Tho toast was drank heartily. Sir Maurice O'Rorke, who rising was received with warm plaudits, said that he w« quite overpowered by the warmth and e»thuaiißta with which his newly made frieni, M. Joubert, had proposed the health of botx Houseß. Ho thanksd thern on behalf <£ the Houses o£ Parliament for the kindb recepton they had met with. It web true that the legislature hod desmel it sufficiently important to suspeal their legislative functions in order to visit this Exhibition. He regretted that he hal been unable to see the Paris, Vienna or an» other Exhibitions. The only one he hac seen was the grsat Palace of GHass erected ii Hyde Park in 1851, and as he walked through the long vista of corridors he was reminded iz sooio degree of that. He felt sure that the whole of the members of both Housei agreed with him that tnay should sea that which would be of great interest to them He, felt this, that it would be well if thert were such interludes in th« wheels of legislation as this, in order that the members might become acquainted with other parts of tha colony. Such visits he felt sure would be productive of the greatest posiible benefit to thoje who htd the destinioj of this rising colony in their care. .They had had an opportunity, soma four years ago, of passing through the splendid country whioh lay between Oaxiitohurch and Dunedin-- 2u""h country as ho was unawaie existed, and which would compare favourably with any country in th» world. Ha thanked the promoters and his Worship the Mayor and City Council for their kindly hospitality, and hoped that some d»y those who were now their hosts would bo their gueata in tbe piaoas where they resided. ("Cheers].

Sir Maurioe O'Rorke then proposed the tha health of " His Worship the Mayor and Corporation of Ohristohuroh," speaking in terms of high praise of the way in which the municipal government of Ohristohuroh had been carried on, j udging frotr the prosperous appcarunca of the city. [Cheei-B."] The toast was drank amid lou>i cheers. His Worship the Mayor, who was received with loud cheers, nid :—I thank you sincerely for . the honor in proposing the toast of tho ~*7 Cornell and myself,.also for the i iarty it was received and responrWl l "; J a:ca sure that I express tbe »er t -* u ° n,;a °f ha "i'izaas whon I say that *•«* mel '''•*,'■'- ■ 'Wncred at this Parliame' -* ? y visit, isd • i-t vp it as a i-, a '-:.>nol recognition of our Hew Zetland Intjniation Exhibit'*'!. . Lope yon will he convinced after examining the Hew Zealand

courts that ,uur- -aoptod ,'oanr- couxtry hoe made fair progress in ."' BO ( * , • general industries. I nied not toll you'.ihafc wise and liberal legis'tUoo ~ uiuaoay to further assist in stimulating this pi »j;rejc, i trust thi9 littlo diversion ifom vtwr-ardtni Parliamentary duties will '■'» ienofioiej to your health and renew youv eaerfiaa to complete ymr labors to the advancement and hi'noSt of New Zealand generally. £ thvok yon again on behalf of the City Oor.nuil over whom I have the honor to pri>eide, whe are ever toady to devote their time and ability fox the in tereat of the oitizens.

His t-hets res? to propose ilie health of " 'Xhe i?romotera." He' bbjo : I hive great pleasure in proposing the u«t

toast; it is one to whioh lam sure, you will heartily respond. Gentlemen, I propose the health and prosperity of those energetic and spirited gentlemen Messrs Joubert and Twopeny, the promoters of our New Zealand .Exhibition. To them we all of us owe a lasting debt of gratitude, more especially this province, for having made this oountry their ohoioe in whioh to oonoentrate some of the choioest manufactures, art, and curiosities the world can produoe, whioh is -° d eed a great instruction. Wo may well be proud of. I feel that I am unequal to the task to dwell on the many advantages whioh must arise to us from the establishment of this exhibition in onr midst. It raises our youthful oountry with a bound from its boyhood into manhood j it gives innu nerable advantages to our rising population by making them personally acquainted wi. h art, soienoe, and manufactures of the highest class, whioh, but for this Exhibiaon, would bo to many thousands a sealed book. The entertainments provided by the promoters have all had a pleasing tendency, and af forded us muoh pleasure and enjoyment. Although only a short time has elapsed sinon this Exhibition has been opened, and yet it has almost beoorno one of the necessities and pleasant habits of our lives to wander through its Courts, finding always something new to admire and interest us. lam afraid there will be indeed a blank whew this Exhibition; clasees we shall mourn its loss as that of a pleasant friend j we' shall mis* this handaomo hall in which we had so many ploassnt gatherings. I am sure it is the wish of the people that orrangem6nts may be brought about between the Government and Domain Board to_ crant oonceseions to men of enterprise as an induce, ment to purchase at least the central portion of this building, to ba appropriated for reoreation purposes. Our hearty thanks are due to Messrs Joubert and Twopeny for their bold enterprise. They have erected these largo and commodious buildings at their own ooot of many thousands of pounds. Suoh undertakings have hitherto been only attempted by the State generally at a heavy loss. It is duo to their great influence and perseverance that we see around us the works of all nations, I sincerely hope that full success may crown their efforts in the end. In oon olusion, I thank the promoters for their gentlemanly oonduot and great kindnens and liberality by which they have earned the sincere friendship and gratitude of all who have oome in contact with them. Gentlemen, I ask you now to drink the health of Messrs Joubert and Twopeny; may they always carry through life as mm«h goodwill and esteem as they will take with them on their departure from the city of Christchuroh.

The toast was drunk amid loud cheers, the Austrian Band playing "La Marseillaise." M. Joubert, who on rising was loudly oheored, said—Gutting up to make a speeoh is at all Units to most men a dreadful ordeal. To address a number of gentlemen assembled, and ask them to join in doing honor to a guest, or a number of guests, whom youeafeom and wish to honor, is a very simple and compiratively speaking an easy task to a bashful, retiring individual. But it becomes an overpowering task, almost bordering on an infliction, when he ;haa first to listen to his praise being sounded into his ears, and a deafening amount of cheering at the utterance of suoh an undeserved amount 'of praise. I rise, gentlemen, overwhelmed with the full weight of the difficulties I have named, to thank you both for self and my esteemed friend and partner, Mr Twopeny, for the kind worcrs which his Worship the Mayor has spoken, and for the wsrm reoeption his toast has met with. I have already named the reasons which have led u> to select Chriatchuroh as a field for our enterprise. There is another which has influenced mo personally, I may mention, en passant, as you are I dare say aware, fate led my steps to the shores of New Zealand in 1841, and as we say in Franoe, " On en revient toujour* a ses premieres amours." I always have had a particular penchant for the first "land I set my foot upon in Australasia. Even as far back as 1841 I can remember how tie fertility of the soil cad the geniality of the nlimate of New Zealand struck me. Kven thtn I foresaw the great future of this country, then coveted by France. For the welfare of Now Zealand, however, the Union Jack has superseded the Tricolor, and with that indomitable onergy whijh is one of the characteristics of your raoe, the wildernesses of 1841 have given place to the thriving cities we now see in these fertile islands. The prodigious growth and development of this provinoe in particular is most striking. Canterbury does not bo r at of mineral deposits. The stimulus of gold dilver, copper, iron or coal, whioh have raised Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide or Brisbane from mere villages into thriving and populous oities in a few short years, has had no influence here. The wealth of this province lies in its soil. Agriculture, the thrifty industry of its population, have worked wonders, for in less than thirty-five years these plains have become populated, have maintained and fed the population—aye, more than that, Canterbury now assists moot materially in supplying the over increasing demand for food from her colonies. Your wheat, your frozen meats, and 'ere long yonr dairy produce, will bo quoted on the price ourrents of Europe, like your wool, flix, timber and gum. I trust I am not presumptuous when 1 venture to predict that the provinoes of Otago and Canterbury will, 'ere long, take the lead as their geographical positions entitles them to do. It is possible, as his Worship has so kindly put it, that the holding of this International Exhibition will, in some way, assist the progress of this city ; if bo, it svill bo a oourca of gratification to us to follow this onvrard progress, and to think that two humble " adventurero," aB one of our friends called us a few nights ago in Wellington, have contributed to so desirable a result. That these Exhibitions do good we are fully ooiivicoed. Here, as in the other ooloniea, the Exhibition has given an impetus to trade, and has at a usually slack period of tho year given employment to many, circulated money, incroaued the Customs and railway revenue as well sis increased the business in various branches in the city. The fact that 200,000 people have paid for adtnitrion at the gates of the Exhibition in a city of 35,000 inhabitants is a sufficient proof of the euocess of our undertaking, as far as the attendance and the attractiveness of the Exhibition are ooncorncd, In a pecuniary point of view—well, perhaps, it io better I should .'be silent on this pointafter all it is our business not yours. Still I may say that we h?.ve laid out in Christchuroh more money than we have received. Tho cost of this building has exceeded my calculations, and now that.the Exhibition is drawing to a close, we find that we have a splendid, ooatly white elephant in our possession, but will the Government or the Domain Board allow it to graze on this park, or must we remove it to the banks of the Hooghley, where I am told elephants of all sizas or color thrivo well ? That's the question. Gentlemen, on behalf of self and partner, I thank you for having honored us Sucre to day, and also for the kind manner you received the toast so kindly worded by our friend Mr Buddesklau. [Cheers]. Mr Twopony also responded. He said : Mr Mcyor and Gentlemen, —As M. Joubert has already spoken on behalf of the firm, I need only exprecs my pereonal gratitude f o? all the kindness wo have rfesived in Now Zealand, and for the friendly spirit which was shown towards our undertaking by almost all the oolonitta with wl ore we hwe come in contact. As it was planned purely for our benefit wo have small reaso > to exprot that generous sympathy in our lobsss whioh the Mayor ha» to kindly tendered j but I am glad to learn that there H so wideapraad a reoogaitian of the publio Eopacts of the Exhibition. If the industries of your colony h3vo received a healthy stimulo*, if the thousands who hav- -'visited these build, ings I:ave gone aws> with a few additional ideas and a moi« complete realisation of others whioh _t'fc« y had ihitherto but imperfectly gratpod, if toe trade of this oity has boon temporarily benefited by the money expended here by oursalver and the oxhibitorj, and the influx of viMto.-n frorr/ other paiVs oi '' eoi.jny, and ohitfty if. lau commerce of IT - Zaaland be pernWarjaiily incteaiod; im£ additional of cho resoursts kcs of those/ liilaui'j be I gprea* »oa " ? - '■', as I firmly Jr.ieli.ev'., all thftwpwljp bei-efiti accrue in a grea.or o. 1 leas degWi itota our private speculation, ie i >h»U—nhen depriving • ourselves of eone I ; .xury vhioh we should have jbeeuCable. to I alford bit for our visit to yonr hojpitabf * shores —it least have ,the conafolatior. of r</nemberiig that our money e*nd cur lab.r V ore not entirely thrown awayj in vanity aid vexation of epirit. Cheers]. Mr B, Walton, iri rising to pvoncn 'the fcoiMfc of "The ;K-L:^i.f«.,- 4 »«-.id_: ■_ Gentleman,— I have *» "* TP U t 0 Wjftd •enough to givs me v or attention, as 1 ha v e » toast to propose whi<sh I sure 7;>a*Ul Ul cordially respond to. What the Muu*&j

it to the Chief Secretory, «o the exhibitors are to the promoters; neither oan get on without the other. As we wander through this large building, and with admiring eyes examine the various exhibits of foreign and local manufacture, and considering the trouble and expense inonrred in bringing them here from all parts of the world, we cannot help feeling greatly indebted to their various owners for the confidence by them in agreeing te make thin city their very attractive depot. The progress and rapid growth of Obristohuroh during the last eighteen years haa been surprising, and with the aid of the Exhibition it now takes its place as the ohief eity of New Zealand. The contents of this Exhibition will oompare most favorably with those of Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide, and Perth, and comprises _ manufactures of the highest class, and paintings, both oil and water color with other works of art, fit for any gallery in the world. Exhibitions such as this are the great moral and intellectual teaohors, and exercise a powerful influence for good upon all classes. As a body, the exhibitors have shown the greatest urbanity and attention, and many of them are men of high sooial and commercial attainments. I sincerely wish the exhibitors the success they deserve, and I trust at no distent date to see their well known pleasant faoes at another Exhibition in Christohurch. I beg to drink long life and success to the exhibitors of the Christohuroh Exhibition, with all honors.

Mr Arthur Tyler Edwards responded on behalf of the exhibitors in a very happy speech. M. Angster also responded. The other toasts propssed were " Tho Committee of Juries and Awardß " and '' The Press."