CLOSE OF EXHIBITION.

Te Aroha News, Volume XXVI, Issue 4308, 20 April 1907, Page 4

CLOSE OF EXHIBITION.

Th» Exhibition. Was. cfoged a* ; night. Among those present were the - Governor, the Ministers, and Admiral Fawkes. The scene, was a brilliant one. At the ceremony earlier in the evening the Oammissioners of the Exhubi- • tion presented an address to th!e ■ erpar vtrayerijing the .work done and ' daiming that the Exhibition had been the., most ; successful ever held in the Australasian colonies. The attendance had,been 1,970,00fy The Commissdonera pay a high tribute to M!r Munro, the general manager, and highly appreciate the services of all those who r assisted, to make the Exhibition the success it was.

The Governor, replying, after referring to the work of the Commissioners and staff, and the success of, the said it had “first and foremost ; strengthened the links which . bind New Zealand to her neigjhbour- /, jug sister States. Your visitors from the Commonwealth, from the islands, and the Pacific, and from the great dominion, will go back with an aocurs .Ate knowledge of your rapid progress;, and I am .Confidence of the (belief in your great future. The New Zealander in his turn has learn through the exhibits of Australian firms andi of Can- ■ odai iand the courteous and able gentlemen in charge of them, more of the circumstances and the importance of his neighbours than h!e could have grasped" otherwise. Indeed, I believe that the wave of feeling which recently traversed this country in favor of a first-class service between New Zealand and Canada owes, its strength as much to the colonial exhibits in this build-

ing as to the vagaries of the iStin Francisco steamers, and if the exhibition his served the noble ourpose of bringing N.Z. into closer and a more sympathetic bond with other portions of our Empire, it, has served a similar purpose bv drawing together the people of this colony or in the words of your address “fostering a national spirit among our people.” In concluding the Governor said truly such a| result is one which, confers honor upon the name of the originator, and upon those who have so admirably carried out, .despite many difficulties, his Im-perial-minded scheme. ‘ The Governor cabled to the King intimating the success of the •Exhibition and concludes : “My Government feel 'assured that not only will the Exhibition prove of permanent advantage 'tO'-New Zealand, but will also have aided ini strengthening the ties which hind the colonies to each other, the Throne, and the Mother •Country.”