NEW ZEALAND EXHIBITION, 1865.

Hawke's Bay Times, Volume 7, Issue 368, 16 April 1866, Page 2

NEW ZEALAND EXHIBITION, 1865.

[To the Editor of the Hawke's Bay Times. J Sib, —I see in this morning’s ‘ Herald’ a list of those persons who sent contributions from Hawke’s Bay to the Exhibiton held last year at Otago to whom the Committee hare awarded prizes, and I find that the only persons considered by them as eligible for medals belong to the “ upper ten.’* The same system has been carried out in those awards which characterised those of the Great Exhibition in 1851 und 1862, riz. awarding prizes only to persons of known reputation, and passing over any article which may hare been sent by a mechanic. I may mention the case of a working man in Napier, who sent a splendid model of a life-boat to the Exhibition held at Otago, which cost him in material and labor about £ls, and which was acknowledged by every nautical man to whom it was shown to be a most finished piece of workmanship, as also a perfect model of that description of boat. Well not only is no notice taken of this contribution* but it was received back wrapped up in a piece of brown paper, the glass case in which it was forwarded to the Exhibition being missing, and which I have heard on pretty good authority was sold there, although no proeeeds have been received % the unlucky contributor. Surely this is not fair, as it will tend to deter the working man from competing in any future Exhibition which may be held, and thus cause the first aim of all such collections to be frustrated, viz., the development of the resources of the colony, more particularly when he finds the prizes are only awarded to those who either by birth, or, as in most cases in the colony, by a “ fluke,” are jerked into what is called “ the upper crust of society.” I am, &c., _ . * , , A WORKING MAN. . NapiWj 10th April, 1866,