THE Manawatu Herald. FRIDAY, JANUARY 31, 1879.

Manawatu Herald, 31 January 1879, Page 2

THE Manawatu Herald. FRIDAY, JANUARY 31, 1879.

The Exhibition which takes place in Sydney in August next is being taken up warmly by the New Zealand Government ; and, indeed, after the sorry figure we cut at the Paris Exposition last year, it is desirable something should be done to retrieve our reputation. There was something positively ludicrous in beholding Mr Purvis llussell, with a few Maori implements and pictures of New Zealand scenery, acting at the Paris Exhibition as coniuiiasioner and representative of the most prosperous colony in Australasia. Some forty millions of pounds' worth of gold have left our shores, minerals of all kinds are found scattered throughout the country, agricultural and pastoral pursuits thrive, and we have a busy population of half a million people ; — all were represented by feathers, mats, &c., belonging to the aborigin 1 inhabitants, and these crammed into a corner of the Kew South Wales section ! Such a position has done us no good; and considering the stand tho Colony has for some years taken as a field for immigrants (not only from Great Britain, but the Continent also), we cannot but regret that so excellent an opportunity was missed of proclaiming our vast re*, sources to the civilised world. As many of the European States have signified their intention of competing aty tho Sydney Exhibition, the damage may be slightly repaired. It is almost certain there will be a considerable influx of visitors from Europe to the Colonies during the Exhibition, and the immediace effect of a good representation of New Zealand products would be to attract large number of the continental touruts hither ; and once in the colony the climate, soil, resources, &c, would speak for themselves. We are therefore glad to see the Govern* meat are going heartily into the

mutter, and ufidi-ing every reasonable j inducement to the colonists t<> f'orwavl ' exhibits. The Now Zealand Com- i missioners unpointed, however, du not strike ns as being the best possible seL-ftion that ini^ht havo been made. Tluvy are Drs Hector and Leuum, and .\ios.-rs Dranslield, Hutchison, l.evi.i, McJ'ntyro, Kvuil, ami Thomp*oii. Wi h tho exception of thc» doctors and Mr Hutchisjii, all of them artj '.''oiling on merchants, and are not uoted for being above the average mi intellect or anything else Iti.-. just possiblo that Messrs Krull and Me In tyre have been chosen on account of their consular offices, tho former being iho representative of Prussia, and the latter of the United States of America. What was. really wanted, was, not a number of merchants from one City, but men representing the various great industries of the Colony. — For instance, some gentleman thoroughly acquainted with cereals and agricultural machinery should havo been appoints ed ; auotln r to represent the gold mining interest, &c, &c. By this mean.s, a good and useful commission would have been appointed. We would also suggest the desirabil* ity of sub-eommissinners being appointed in the principal towns of the Colony.