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Southland Times, Volume III, Issue 247, 27 April 1866, Page 2

The subject of Intercolonial and International Exhibitions, is an important one — one in that every colony and nation is immediately interested and which every province in !New Zealand, however humble its pretensions, should endeavor to promote. There are two Exhibitions about to be held; one in Victoria in about four months, and the other in Paris, early next year. The importance of these periodic displays of native produce and colonial enterprise, are now acknowledged to be of the highest value in directing attention to the resources of a country, and promoting the growth of intercolonial and international commerce. The Commissioners of the Victorian Exhibition earnestly invite the . co-opera- ' tion of New Zealand and the other Australian Colonies. Their aim is to bring together the numerous and varied products of the whole of the Australias and after exhibiting them., in Melbourne to export them at once to l'Yance. There can be no question that this is a good idea, and deserving of the warmest support. They seek no special prominence for Victoria, but desire to establish upon a large scale Intercolonial, Exhibitions, to be. held periodically •in the various colonies, and form a mutual organisation, that will secure to Australia- a prominent position in all future International Exhibitions. The Herald (Melbourne) in an able article upon this subject thus comments : — ' "It must be borne in mind that the direct ' interest of these colonies lies in making ! the periodical Intercolonial Exhibitions— ' the first of which is to take place in Melbourne, whilst succeeding ones vt ill be ' held in the other colonial capitals— a 3 mirror Jiot only of_the raw products but i also of the manufactured articles which 1 colonial industry is able to furnish in its ] present and future stageß of progress. ] But however creditable to the skill and i industry p£ tbe various colonies in tke i

present state of immature developement, the manufactures they now produce undoubtedly are, and however much and deservedly they would command attention in an Intercolonial Exhibition, it is- only fair and just to admit that they would not command much notice placed side by side with the finished products of European art mauufacture, such as will be congregated, in vast quantity and of superb quality, in the Paris Exhibition. On the other hand, our colonial products brought together in comparison and contrast with each other in an Intercolonial Exhibition, would not only enable us to note the eomparativeadvanceofthe various colonies in the field of industrial production, bnt would also show the different Australian communities in what respect and how far they might rely upon each other for the. supply of commercial wants, and would open to view the basis upon which different branches of intercolonial trade - might be ultimately established. * * * It must then be obvious that the true course for the different colonial G-overn-ments to pursue in this matter, is to make it their primary concern to have the raw materials and manufactured productions of their respective countries as fully and completely represented ' in the Intercolonial Exhibition, as it is possible for them to be, whilst at the same time neglecting to provide also for the Paris Exhibition." New Zealand is perhaps the most deeply interested in these Exhibitions than any other colony. Her native products are more varied and extensive, though less developed, than those of either Victoria, ISew South Wales, or South Australia. In addition to all kinds of agricultural produce, we have woods and minerals of every kind and description — gold, lead, iron, copper, silver and coal — of a quality and quantity which unitedly makes this the most productive of all the colonies. It is therefore to be hoped that no false economy will be allowed to prevent the Greneral, or Provincial Governments, from giving their hearty co-operation to the movement. A few tons of black sand taken from various spots of the coast, also copper and gold ; prepared flax agricultural and pastoral products, sent to the two exhibitions would do more to establish the reputation and revive the credit of New Zealand, than all the volumes of Prize Essays which could be written, or a host of perambulating lecturers could accomplish. It is to be hoped that every province in New Zealand will put forth great exertion to render New Zealand properly represented both fn Victoria and Paris. ¥c hope that even Southland will put in an appearance.