THE DUNEDIN EXHIBITION.

Te Aroha News, Volume VII, Issue 384, 13 July 1889, Page 5

THE DUNEDIN EXHIBITION.

Auckland, June 11. Yesterday afternoon at 3 o'clock, about c score of local business gentlemen, including Mr A. E. Devove (Mayor), and the members of the local Exhibition Committee, met in the Secretary's room. Chamber of Commerce, to meot Mi'iJ. Roberts, President ol the forthcoming Dunedin, Now Zealand, and Sou Lh Seas Exhibition, and hear his explanation of the arrangements in pi ogress in connection with the ."Exposition " Captain Colbcck, President of the Chamber of Commerce, presided. Mr Robei ts, with the aid of a ground-plan of the Exhibition building, explained tho position of tho | Auckland and other provincial courts, which were located in geographical order, from North to South, and detailed tho facilities arranged for the exhibition of Auckland productions and objects of intoiest, urging the immediate adoption ot measures by Auckland exhibitors to have their district worthily represented. Speaking of tho Maori and South Soas Courb, ho said this was one of great interest and importance, and exhibits everything beating upon the early history of the colony, its growth, and rolating to the Maoris, their customs, and modes of life. It would form a department of vory great attraction to visitors. Considering that New .Zealand had such a fund of interest in the details and events in her young though momentous life, he thought that nothing should bo wanting to make the Early History Court a most inviting, artistic, and successful one. It was intonded to establish .1 Tourist Court in connection with the Exhibition, where travellers could nob only obtain all varieties of scenic photographs, maps, handbooks, etc., but alno be supplied with through tickets on overy route of tourisc traffic through the colony. This courb should prove of very great uso to visitors from Australia and further afield. All possible facilities for cheap travelling had been conceded by the Union Steamship Company, who had virtually reduced their special Exhibition fares from Melbourne to one-half the ordinary rate, and by the New Zealand Railway Department/ and negotiations were proceeding whereby it was hoped to arrange for the Australian visitor's return ticket, enabling him to come to Dunedin from Melbourne, via the Bluff, and return by way of Auckland to Sydney. The looked-for tourist influx would thus bo productive of benefit to the North as well as to Dunedin alone One prominent and attractive feature of the Exhibition Avould be the frequent high-class and popular concerts, for which a Jine chorus of 400 voices were assiduously practising, as well as bands tor day performances. The choir was holding bi-weekly rehearsals of oratorios, etc., and the musical festivals promised to be of exceptional meiit. The sum ot £5,000 had been set apai t for the musical portion of the Exhibition programme, but as the singers, for the most part, gave their services gratuitously, this grant was nearly all available for the orchestia, and othei incidental expenses. The Art Gallery bade fair to be a collection of art of tho greatest meiit and attraction, and Auckland exhibitois should exert themselves to soe that their contributions of private and other aitistic specimens occupied a befitting proportion ot the space allotted in thid section. Every concession was made to those wishing to send art exhibits to Dunedin, the Committee being willing to defray all expenses ot carriage by sea, insurance at the Exhibition, and return tiansit to Auckland. Exhibits of pottery and fancy ware were also invited. Regaiding the liohting of the Exhibition building, Mr Koborts paid that the Art (Gallery only would be lighted by electricity, and the re&b of the comb-., by ga«, owing to the expense of a complete system of electric lighting. Regarding the impoitant branch of the grain and wool show, ib had been decided to allow the pro\incial districts to send in to the Exhibition samples from the now season as soon as convenient. In the vexed question of the sale of goods at the Exhibition the Com miti.ee had decided that they could by no means allow the affair to be turned into a luigh bazaar, but in special casos, such as the sale of perfumery, etc., hard-and-fast rules would not be applied, bub concessions be make to exhibitors whose wares were desired by intending purchasers). The fruit show would be an important one, and the value of hating a splendid show in this ies.pecfc was appaient from the benefits accruing to districts whoso superior quality of fruit exhibited at previous colonial exhibitions had attracted attention from ' even distant localities where- good fruit was in demand. Exhibitors in sending; any specimens of local productions should, wherever possible, despatch them in dupli catc, for the purpose of making a collective show of Now Zealand's capabilities of production, besidea the regular displays in the courts. Auckland people <-hould endeavour to make their court a cicdit to the province, and it wat- hoped that bho proposal of Dunedin would be met in a liberal manner, the more so because at one time it seemed a mere toss-up whether Auckland or Otago should be tho location of the Exhibition, and because in the c\cnt of another exhibition in the future, it would almost certainly bo Auckland's turn. In replying to questions pub by those present, Mr Roberts said that in the case of exhibits boing sold e\ery care would bo taken to see that the exhibitor received the value of tho articles disposed of, and that all duo precautions would be observed in bho transit of goods for exhibition. Regarding mining exhibits and specimens of gold ore, everything possible would be done to ensure the attractiveness of the display and the safety of the specimens. The formal opening of the Exhibition was to bake place on Tuesday. November 26, and special attractions fov"tho opening week wore to be oflered, including horse races, with an Exhibition Cup of 1,500 guineas, fruit shows, grand concerts, band performances, etc., and all arrangements for the success of tho inauguration pecmocl perfect. Auckland, like each province, was to undertake the supervision and charge ot its own department, and it would bo best for Auckland to send down and pay a capable man to look after the local court. In concluding, Mr Roberts expressed the hope that when the opening came nothing would be wanting on the part of Auokland to demonstrate fcho fact of her flourishing and productive condition and hor prosperous industries ; and that tho display made in tho Auckland Court would be one which would do credit to the province. Tho Mayor (Mr Devore) proposed a cordial vote of thanks to Mr Roberts for his trouble and exertions in endeavouring to render the Auckland Court display attractive, and for the lucid and clear explanation of the arrangements being made to ensure the general success of I the Exhibition. Although the valuable information he had afforded them regarding the Exhibition's scopo would have been more useful had it come, say, three months ago, still he felt thai the speaker should have their heaity expression ot thanks for I bis exertions. | Mr A. H. Nathan seconded the motion, I and ib was carried by acclamation.