EXHIBITION COMMISSION.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIV, Issue 5710, 18 July 1879, Page 3

EXHIBITION COMMISSION.

A meeting of the Exhibition Commission was held at the Corporation Buildings on Monday, 14th July. Present—His Excellency Sir Hercules Bobinson (in the chair), Dr. Hector, Dr. Lemon, Messrs. Thompson, Krull, Levin, and Callis (secretary). The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed, and a list of correspondence was gone through. WOOL EXHIBITS. A slight discussion took place upon a letter having reference to the form in which wool is to be shown at the Exhibition, and it was decided that the Executive Commissioner, who would shortly be in Sydney, could adopt whatever form ho found to be necessary. MNANCB. The Secretary reported that the expenditure up to June 30 had been .£432 Os, 5d., wlrch included payments to local committees, amounting to .£232 17s. 6d. Since June 30 £43 Bs. had been expended, bringing the total expenditure up to £475 Bs. sd. PROGRESS REPORT. Dr. Hector stated that he had been appointed to proceed to Sydney to superintend the New Zealand court at the Exhibition. He also stated that the (Maori house which had been promised by the Government would shortly arrive, the captain of the s.s. Stella having been telegraphed to to bring it down. He then read a progress report, from which we make the following extracts: — “Welliagton, 30th June, 1879. “MAT IT PLEASE TOBB EXCELLENCY,—The Commissioners appointed by his Excellency the Marquis of Normanby, on the 21st of January last, to make arrangements to secure the representation of New Zealand at the Sydney International Exhibition, to be held in September next, respectfully submit the following report of the action taken towards the performance of the duties intrusted to them up to the present time : “ The Commissioners immediately on their appointment took steps to carry out the object for which the Commission was issued. Since then eight meetings have been held for the transaction of business. “The Colonial Secretary replied to the Commission’s application respecting funds, that the Cabinet would approve of an expenditure by the Commission of a sum not exceeding £2OOO. “On the sth February Mr. Charles Callis was elected Secretary to the Commission, and was instructed to communicate with the secretaries of the various Chambers of Commerce throughout the colony, asking the members of the Chambers to act as local committees for the representation of the various districts, and to see that only specimens or articles that really excelled in quality should be forwarded for exhibition in Sydney. Subsequently seventeen local committees were formed in the following places :—namely, Auckland, Thames, Gisborne, Napier, New Plymouth, Wanganui, Wellington, Blenheim, Nelson, Greymoutb, Hokitika, Christchurch, Timaru, Oamaru, Dunedin, Invercargill, and Queenstown. Regulations and schedules of articles to. be received for exhibition were issued for the guidance of contributors, and also letters addressed speeially to the several committees asking for their co-operation and assistance, by encouraging the inhabitants of their respective districts to contribute such objects of interest as they can command, illustrative of the products and industry of the said districts, and calling.attention to tbe fact that, in showing to best advantage our chief natural products, our manufactures, and our industries, at the great gathering to be held in Sydney in September next, we shall practically be exhibiting the resources of the colony to the whole of the world.

“ Special attention was also drawn to a notice that a further exhibition of wool will be held in Sydney in December for the new season’s clip, and asking that every exertion might be used to secure a good display of this important article, more especially as the season was too far advanced to obtain exhibits in any quantity of last season’s clip. The commissioners also stated that they would gladly receive any suggestions from the local committees, begging them to afford the fullest information in their power. “The regulations provided that exhibits must be forwarded to the Commissioners at Wellington before the first week in July, unless otherwise specially arranged for.

“ The articles of which the Commissioners particularly desired the collection were chiefly as follows : Gold, grain, flour, wool, woollen goods, coal, timber, furniture manufactured from New Zealand woods ; flax,, rope, &c.; kauri gum, tanning barks, leather, dyes, paint, &c.; preserved meat, cheese ; wine, beer, and spirits; tobacco (leaf and cigars) ; mineral waters, minerals and ores ; works of art illustrative of New Zealand scenery and natural history (photographs, plans, maps, &c.); miscellaneous articles, such as illustrate the history of the country or its inhabitants. “ A sum of £495 ss. sd. has been actually spent, or advanced to local committees, up to the 30th June.

“The Commissioners have voted additional sums amounting to £lOlB 2s, 6d. for the use of local committees and as special grants for exhibitors, also for the rent of St. George's Hall as a depot for the reception and packing of exhibits to the 6th August next. “ The Commissioners estimate that £3140 will be the very smallest sum required to carry out a due representation for the colony. “Your Excellency was pleased to assume the presidency of the Commission on the 17th April In consequence of the great interest taken by your Excellency in presiding over the meetings of the Commission, also by personally encouraging the various local committees, an increased disposition to work up their districts has been shown by those committees which previously had been somewhat inert ; and it is hoped the desire which your Excellency has expressed that the colony should be thoroughly represented at the first International Exhibition to be held in the Australasian colonies will be fully realised. “ The space in the Exhibition placed at the disposal of the Commission is in the most favorable possible position. Upon the main floor 75 by 75 feet is allotted, making a total of 5625 square feet, with a proportionate amount in the galleries and basement in as nearly as possible corresponding situations. A small amount of space will also be available in the central part of the transept facing the New Zealand Court, say about 600 or 700 feet, for the exhibition of trophies and articles of a similar character.

“ Regarding the prospects of the share New Zealand will be able to take in the forthcoming Exhibition, it is at present premature to express an opinion ; but so far the Commissioners feel satisfied that exhibits of all kinds, illustrative of the produce and industry of the colony, will be represented. “ What will benefit New Zealand most is, of course, not competition with older countries, but showing by her exhibits that she possesses in abundance the material resources that go to make up national wealth. There are many branches in which it is impossible that this colony should be represented, and therefore the Commissioners considered it better to concentrate attention upon those departments in which we may fairly hope to hold our own, if not to excel.

"Two hundred and forty-three exhibitors are now entered in the draft catalogue, and it is estimated, when all the returns have been received from the local committees, a muster of something like 400 contributors will be enrolled. The directors of the various public Museums in the colony have been working assiduously in making up thorough collections in all departments, and the mining interests especially will be well represented by specimens of minerals, and columns of coal and building stone, which, together with other items of this department, will tend to make a very creditable display. “ In manufactures some fine specimens of cloth, blankets, and other woollen fabrics will be exhibited from the colonial factories. ,2Turniture and other articles produced from the New Zealand timbers, such as extracts from the towai and other trees, will be most fully represented; rope made from the phormium tenax; brushes, brooms, and matting of native fibres ; boots and shoes, and other articles of colonial produce and industry. “ The department of education and science, which includes ethnology, will, it is hoped, be highly interesting, as its success is much desired by the International Commissioners. “In the art department our well-known water-color artists will compete for the awards Of the Commission. Some creditable specimens of photographic art will he forwarded, illustrative of New Zealand scenery. Many exhibits of great excellence may be relied upon, arranged with much taste, and forming a very attractive display, as some of the exhibitors have incurred considerable expense in the matter. Works of art, which the wealth and taste of our connoisseurs have accumulated, will be most graciously lent by the owners, so as to enable the Commission to contribute to the art gallery. “ Machinery proper is a branch in which the colony, at its present early stage, cannot expect to exhibit, but a great many items which might properly be arranged under this head

will be found under those of manufactures and agriculture. “In the department of agriculture the exhibits will be very varied and numerous. The forests of the colony supply some of the finest timber in the world, and the Exhibition will give an opportunity for showing how well adapted for purposes of ornament and decoration are many of the woods of this colony, and many exhibits will be found conspicuous alike for beauty and utility. Great exertions are being made in order to obtain a first-class display of wool from the new season’s clip. As already stated, a special show will be held in Sydney in December next, the time of year being too far advanced to get any quantity of specimens of the finest qualities from last season’s clip. A great variety of cereals will be exhibited in the form of clean, full grain, and well-prepared flour ; and the International Commission will arrange for successive displays of grasses, fruits, grain, and all the other vegetable products. Exhibits of the phormium tenax will be forwarded from various parts, and especial attention will be drawn to them.

“The important brewing industry of the colony will be adequately represented. The Commissioners are of the opinion that every effort should be made to encourage the production of the best classes of ale and beer, as a productive industry for which New Zealand has peculiar climatic advantages. “ Fruit wines will be represented, amongst others, by a manufacturer who was so successful at the Philadelphia Exhibition, and upon whose productions the following remarks were made in the official report of the jurors at the Philadelphia Exhibition : —‘ The fruit wines of New Zealand excelled all similar kinds exhibited at Philadelphia, and their goodness has already induced like production in America.’

“In horticultural specimens New Zealand will bo chiefly represented by collections of ferns, properly divd and classified.

“James Hectob, “ Executive Commissioner.”

A list of the members of the local committees, and a copy of the regulations issued by the Commissioners were appended to the report. Dr. Hector moved that the report be adopted and forwarded to Government for the information of Parliament. He said a capital number of exhibits had been sent in, much more than was expected. He had been round amongst some of the exhibitors, and was much pleased at the energy which was being displayed. The show of woodware would be simply magnificent, and he instanced several firms who were preparing expensive exhibits, some having cabinets of New Zealand woods made. On the whole there would be a very fair display. The motion was carried. A PILLAR OP COAL.

Dr. Hectob presented an account for £36 18s. Id. from the Westport Colliery Company for a quantity of coal which had been purchased for the construction of a pillar of coal at the exhibition. The amount was a heavy one, but the coal was the best in the colony ; in fact, he thought it would take the first prize against all the Australian coal; Other companies had sent in estimates for the same work, which were considerably lower, but the coal was not of such a superior quality. The Westport company had had great difficulty in getting this coal, but they would be enabled to get it out cheaper shortly by means of a tramway. The account was passed for payment. MISCELLANEOUS. Dr. Hector spoke of his projected visit to Sydney, and of his necessary expenses. He said he thought of gelng by the Wakatipu on the 31st of the month, by which time most of the exhibits would be shipped. If he did not go in the vessel named, he would try and get away in the San Francisco mail steamer. Most of the Auckland exhibits would be sent direct. He also mentioned that he had prepared a statistical account of the colony to be printed and distributed as part of the catalogue of the colony’s exhibits. The proposed book would consist of 40 or 50 pages, and would contain five maps. After some further conversation the proceedings terminated.