The Nelson Evening Mail. WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 8, 1873.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume VIII, Issue 242, 8 October 1873, Page 2

The Nelson Evening Mail. WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 8, 1873.

"We have •■eard if siud on move than one occasion that the Exhibitiou Committee «vf! flying Ji>, too hiyti game, and that it woul'J have hem wiser Y.wd the eriginn! idea of ?i Horticultural Show, pore and tiiopl:', been jriheii'il ?c\ -Mii .'ill sorts of ; larming prophecies of a most melancholy anrl deprc-saii..-: tendency an; indulged in, xho hurden ot (he sor;£ of tloso who take so desponding a view being ibut inevitable failure i3 in gtore for llioso who are exerting themselves in ihu directiou of securing a lnrsje and comprehensive display of such giinns of wealth as the province can produce. We are hy no means disposed to side with these birda of ill-omen. The Committee h^s ursdoubtediy entered upon :i great undertaking, but. hard work, euer.y, and a determination to succeed will, if we ii)isi/)ka nor, con: in and success. It is cheering to turn from those who croak to those' who like ourselves, tinticipaly great results from thp forthcoming Exhibiiion, und v/c therefore biivu much pleasure in inakiug, with Mr Webb's permission, a few extract:: from a letter received by him from a jieudeman who has noiicvrc! the advertisement of a prizo offered hy him for the best model of a iurur.cc adapted for smelting our iron ores. Regretting that Ik.' has not sufficient leisure tn enable him to conttruefc a model of tho Jurnnce used fit certain ironworks with which he is familiar, he goes on (o remark upon the cluinges effected ia Northamptonshire by the discovery of iron stone. He says: — " The possibility of the existence of minerals, pfinicuiaily iron and coal, in Northamptonshire Li-tl been ridiculed until the Exhibition of 1851, when a person, almost, aficident'dly, forwarded some spec'tnens, tml in consequence of th? report on these exhibils, companies were formed in different parts of the county, and an almost incredible revolution followed in the value of property, and in the social state of the district. Fortunes were rapidly made, rents an<l wages rose to fabulous rates, and the plough, for a time, was literally left to rust in the furrow." Unlike the county alluded to, the idea of coal and iron existing in large quantities in Nelson is by no means ridicuUd, on the contrary it is an established and incontrovertible fact. All that, we want is to make public our resources, to let it be known that we are rich almost beyond conception in the possession of those two most valuable of minerals — coal and iron. This we hope to see effected through the medium of liio Exhibition. There are one or two other passages in the letter before us which perhaps s:rt.i not so much to tho point, but nevertheless contain some interesting information The writer says: — The first Heyfonl Company failed, having sunk all (heir capital in preparations, building furnaces, making tramrcads, &c, before the returns began to come in. When the second company commenced smelling, they Ho'd the refuse- at one shilling per load to metal the rcids, «r.il a Stf.ffordrihire ironmaster said lip could make a fortune out, of the iron the Company wasted in thafc way. * * * I have seen stone of a similar description in Neleo«." With facts like these before us, we are not prepared to admit that any harm is likely to accrue from our Exhibition, knowing as we do whs:t it is in the power of the Province to collect for show on that occasion. Rather are we d'spobed to believe that ifc will prove one of the most beneficial and remunerative works ever taken in hand by the people of Nelson. While on this subject we may mention that a difficulty, long foreseen, but to meet which no steps have yet beeu taken, has arisen with regard to the responsibility for the sale keeping of such exhibits as are forwarded to the committee. We are informed that offers have been received from one quarter to send up from the West Coast several samples of gold arranged according to their respective value, and with full particulars of the different localities in which they were found, but the intending exhibitor naturally wishes to know who is io be responsible for their return to him. This is only one instance, but, many others of a similar nature are srre to arise, and ifc would be well that tho question should be decided, and the decision trade public without delay. The committee, will, we presume, take care to insure the exhibits against all ordinaiy risks such as that of fire, &c, but beyond this they cannot be expected to go. The public cannot look (o the half-dozen or so of gentlemen who are taking the lead in this matter to render themselves personally responsible for the safe keeping of all articles sent up for show, amounting, as they probably will, u> the value of hundreds if not thousands of pounds. Of course they will see that all due precautions are taken, but more than this cannot be expected from them. It is rather a matter for the Provincial Government. The Exhibition has not been eiitacc 1 upon with a view to conferring special benefits upon town or country, eastern or western district, but upon the whole province, and as the representatives of the province, the Executive will not be exceeding their proper functions if they undertake to secure the committee against, all loss. If they are satisfied with thf committee as it at present exists, let: them leave the entire arrangements in llieir hands, if not — indeed under any circumstances we think this would be the better course to pursue — let them nominate some one or more members to take part in making the necessary arrangements. The work is a thoroughly provincial oue, the object in view to bring prominently forward the iidtural lesources of Nelson, east and west, north and south, and so to hold out inducement to capitalists in other provinces uiA Pi.hmies to assist us in turning them to account. The committee are well backed up by the people, who, with a very few exceptions, look to our forthcoming

show as but a means to a great end. It is not only Nelson proper, as this side the ranges is very frequently but very erroneously and foolishly designated, that is stirring in the matter. Those on tha West Const are interesting themselves in if, as enny be judged from tho fact ihat, the Westport Times, which m •)• be supposed to reflect tho public mind in t!;at portion of the province, contained i;> i\ recens issue an excellent and ably-wriUen article si'tting forth tho udvanf.v.-':'- that ara likely to accrue from a well-assorted collection of the mineral weaiiii of the province beioj; placed before iho public. Under such circumstances it; is scarcely conceivable that tho slightest, jealouay or ill feeling would be created if tho Government were to come forward r.nd volunteer to protect the committee against any possible loss. Tho Valleys of tb^ JJyller, the* Grey, the Motuekn, and tho Aurere, with all their tributaries, will contribute from their vast mineral :md timber '.ii;ores; thn Plains of Ihe Waimea and Motueka will send in their farm produce and manufactures; the town will be c •■^-eseni.ed ic numberless departments, nn.l ;hereforo we are justified in asking the Gi-.vernment to look upon the Exhibition as a Ihoroughly provincial undertaking, and consequently to do all that lies in their pever towards ensuring iis success.