THE CENTENNIAL EXHIBITION.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXX, Issue 4341, 17 February 1875, Page 3

THE CENTENNIAL EXHIBITION.

(From the New York Herald,- November 16.) It is now settled beyond diappte that the, centennial anniversary of American independence is, to be celebrated in Philadelphia, f where national independence was proclaimed, and that the international exhibition to be held in that city will .be, a success. .The doubts and' the questions relative to the event have had 'satisfactory' answers ; the’ Centennial Exhibition will not be a merely local affair, for the especial benefit of Philadelphia, but one in which the whole country will have a full representation and direct interest., It is under the control of a United States Commission, and the management thus far has been so practical and sensible that it has commanded confidence and respect, . ■ . As an international exhibition the centennial celebration promises' .to be successful.. Colonel John W.. Forney, who has been : London for the last three months; disinterestedly working to promote the interests of the exposition, , has; had the warmest encouragement and emphatic assurances that the English people will take, an important; part rln the celebration. He has been in ppmmunicatiou with John Bright, Dr., W. H. : Russell, Sir Edward Thornton, and many;members of Parliament, who fully understand the commercial advantages of the exhibition to, Great Britain. Liberal appropriations are expected from Parliament to secure for the United Kingdom a proper representation. The American people are the best customers i of England; and English manufacturers appreciate the value of this’ opportunity for displaying their inventions and improvements.. Theiartists of,'Loudon take great interest in the event,- and Sir Richard Wallace, on his return from the Continent, will perfect arrangements for a complete representation of the English school of painting. The exhibition of European art should certainly be the finest ever seen in this - country ; for France, Germany, Austria, Spain, ■ Switzerland, have all formally accepted the invitation of ;the-‘United--States,•'■and'each -nation willcoutribute freely to the gallery of painting and sculpture. Nor will the .contributions., of manufactures, inventions, machinery, rare products, be less interesting ; and Turkey, India, China, Japan, and ,tlie..i“gorgeous .East’.’ .pray be expected to add to the splendor and novelty of this collection' of ;the world's civilization — From silken Samurcand to cedared Lebanon. This interest which' foreign nations' take - in onr Centennial Exhibition should spur lip onr own people tb'rehewbd exertions; • Every State should be fully represented, and every Legislature should act promptly in the matter. The buildings have been already begun, and will be completed in time for the opening in 1876, and the Centennial Board of Finance is now issuing, ds empowered by Act' of Con-, gress, teii millions of stock, which are offered for popular subscription. The terms on which this 6 per cent, stock is issued are fully announced in our advertising columns, and deserve the attention of the public. The exhibition is to.be continued for six months, and will afford American manufacturers, agriculturists, inventors, machinists, artists, and all classes of producers an opportunity hitherto unknown in the history of the country. We believe that as the international aspects of the expositions are so encouraging, its national importance should be fully recognised. Europe and America will compete for the • supremacy in all branches of production, and we owe it to ourselves that we should show what we have achieved in a century of labor and freedom. The Centennial . Exposition ought to be made the mirror of- American progress.