The Southland Times. TUESDAY, DECEMBER 17, 1872.

Southland Times, Issue 1677, 17 December 1872, Page 2

The Southland Times. TUESDAY, DECEMBER 17, 1872.

It is exceedingly improbable that the promoters of the Exhibition (in London) of 1851, contemplated the depth to which the roots of the tree which was then metaphorically planted would penetrate, or the extent of country orer which its branches would spread. The most sanguine of the early commissioners must, in addition to the possession of hope in a large degree, have also been gifted with the prophetic vision to no inconsiderable extent, to have calculated upon even a i v,ery small portion of the result which has followed. Had the movement initiated ' in 1851 been simply followed at intervals i by some two or three of the leading cities , of the world, the result would probably have been regarded as accomplishing the design of the originators. Certainly no one then calculated upon the probability that ere twenty years should have elapsed, the spirit of competition invoked" by the Exhibition of 1851 would have seized hold of and enlisted in its exercise the ' whole of the civilized world. Yet such j has been the case : with marvellous | rapidity the new world has vied with the old — the ancient city with the town i snatched but yesterday from the wilderness. East, west, north, and south, in their different districts as well as unitedly, have brought together the productions of the world's surface, the spoil of its interior, the hidden treasures of its waters, and laid under contribution the atmospheric elements, in the task of securing the comfort and well-being of future generations. The hand and intellect of man have been taxed to their uttermost in the departments of labor and science in the solution of the question — how to improve upon the past ? This question having taken a firm hold upon the mind of man, and there being absolutely no limit to the spheres in which it is capable of development, it may now be safely inferred that the development of the system of exhibitional competition, inaugurated in 1851, is — notwithstanding its immense results — but yet in its infancy. Not only will the number of exhibitions be multiplied beyond present conception, but their scope will be almost infinitely enlarged. " The third o! the series of annual international exhibitions of Belected works of fine art (including music), industrial art, and recent scientific inventions and discoveries," will be held in London in April next. This scheme of annual exhibitions, it will be remembered, is the origination of tUe Commissioners of the first World's Fair, in 1851, and is intended to develope in order the various manufactures and artistic and scientific labors of the world. The plan appears to be that of taking the various departments seriatim, as likely to ensure a more specific attention to each department than is likely to be the case when those several departments are grouped in a great whole, the exhibitions taking place at longer intervals of time. Arrangements are made for seven annual exhibitions to follow (in London) that of 1873, each year's exhibition being restricted to the specified subjects of the year. There is one general feature in connection with the exhibition of each year, which is, that while manufactured products are exhibited, and the results of labor in the perfection of machinery in theaeveral departments, the raw materials employed are also expected to be exhibited. It is also noticeable that in the allotment of subjects of exhibition for each year (or nearly so), the sanitary influence of the exhibition is more orlesß directly provided tor. Any development of skill or industry is to a greater or less

extent valuable in proportion as it exercises a greater or lesa influence upon the sanitary condition of the community, the connection between the sanitary and the moral being readily admitted. The idea of progress ia at least attempted to be secured by the provision that no article will be allowed to be exhibited in any exhibition that bas been previously exhibited. Manufacturers will therefore bare a stimulus to effect from year to year such improvements aa the competition of the past year has shown to be desirable or necessary. The programme of tbe Commissioners is very wide and full, although by no means an exhaustive one, aud a more effectual method of gathering and utilising the material on hand for an exhibition which shall be on a scale so gigantic and magnificent as shall perfectly eclipse all previous exhibitions, could not perhaps have been devised. The field proposed to be labored in is sufficiently extensive to bring out the power of a vast deal of latent talent and energy which needs but to be directed. The scheme will be taken up (not it ia to be hoped in its individuality of detail) by other countries and nations, and the stride towards the perfection admitted as desirable will be more and more perceptible each year. It must, however, be remembered that we have no right to content ourselves with being simply onlookers of so great a movement. Tbe world will doubtless I move whether we are effectively moving with it or not, but it ia childish simply to j congratulate ourselves on the mighty reI volutions which are being wrought in the internal economy of the world, and yet to take no action that the results may be more fully achieved. The exhibition of raw materials affords us a fine opportunity of competition in the various departments in which there is a reasonable presumption of our securing a very respectable position. Manufacture with ourselves is but in its infancy, and perhaps for a while our competitive inclinations in this line may be allowed to be held somewhat in abeyance ; but in regard to the general objects of the series of exhibitions now in progress, we hold it to be our duty at some cost and trouble to ourselves to take our position, and to furnish the best contributions of which we are capable. In the exhibition of 1873, the divisions of the year are thus 1 arranged : — Pine Arts, Manufactures, and recent Scientific Inventions and new Discoveries of all kinds. It is surely not too much to suppose that in one or other, or even in all of these departments, contributions worthy of taking a place might be found among ua.