OPENING OF THE INDUSTRIAL EXHIBITION.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1374, 4 August 1885, Page 3

OPENING OF THE INDUSTRIAL EXHIBITION.

The inauguration of the New Zealand Industrial Exhibition was effected on Saturday afternoon, at 2.30, before an immense assemblage of ladies and gentlemen, including Cabinet Ministers and Government officials. The weather was all that could have been desired. The principal places of business in Wellington and suburbs closed at one o’clock. The occasion was taken advantage of by all classes and conditions of men, and the excursion trains from the country were crowded to excess. About half-past one o’clock the invited visitors and other* who were not so privileged as to have received complimentary tickets began to arrive. Immediately the doors were opened a scene of considerable confusion ensued. The officials appeared as if they had lost all power to preserve older. The small body of police on the ground did their best to keep tilings right. The ladies (more especially those who had given their services towards contributing to the musical portion of the programme) were indeed to be pitied. Their elaborate toilets were ruthlessly crushed, and in m«ny instances they had their dresses nearly torn from their backs. At two o’clock, although the building was by no means crowded to excess, the gates were ordered to be closed, and all further admission was refused. In a few minutes a large assemblage of men, ladies and children were gathered round the gates claiming admittance, and in the crowd were to be Been ministers of the Crown, members of Parliament, and Consuls, all vainly endeavoring to gain admission. Th* crush was fearful. At length, at about 2.15ij the Minister for Public Works, accompanied by Lieut,-Colonel Pearce and Lady Yogel managed to induce Mr Cal lie to open the gates, and then a general rush ensued. This state of things lasted for upwards of ten minutes, after which the doors were again closed. At half-past two His Excellency the Governor, (who wore the uniform of Major-General of the army, and the insignia of a Knight, Grand Cross St. Michael and St. George), accompanied by Lady Jervios, and attended by Ifajor Ecdes, A.D.C., and Mr Pennefather, Private Secretary, arrived. As the Governor drove up to the building the Guard of Honor gave a general lalute, and the Garrison Band played a few bars of “ God Save the Queen.” His Excellency and Lady Jervois and suite were met by His Worship the Mayor and the Chairman of the Ceremonial Committee, and were conducted to the ceremonial hall, where a dais had been prepared for them immediately in front of the orchestra. The arrangements for the reception of the Gubernatorial party were anything but satisfactory. Upon the Governor entering the main building, the orchestra, which consisted of about 30 instrumentalists, including some of the best amateurs in Wellington, played a few barsof the National Anthem. As His Excellency and suite advanced the entire assemblage rose, and the National Anthem was given by the choir. It maybe mentioned that the choir, which was composed of 200 voices, occupied tiers of seats on either side of the organ. The ladies of the choir were dressed in creamcolored dressea, with cardinal and pale blue sashes, and the effect was excellent. The organ was draped with flags, Afier the National Anthem had been gone through, the orchestra played Wagner’s march “ Hail Bright Abode.” This was followed by choruses “ Crown with Festal Pomp the Day,” “ How Excellent Thy Name,” and “Music Spread Thy Voice Around ” (all by Handel). After the musical ceremonies Sir Julius Vogel gave a short address, and requested His Excellency to open the Exhibition. In the course of his address, after mentioning the great agricultural and industrial resources of the colony, and the fact that the net value of property in New Zealand—after allowing for all debts, public and privata, and excluding Maori property amounted to £127,000,000, Sir Julius fsaid The present Exhibition, Your Excellency, is designed to tell vs what amount of progress we have made up to the present time in the industrial

development of the colony, and to serve us moreover as an index to future developments when we come to have further Exhibitions from time to time. Your Excellency will, I am sure, agree with me that it is especially meant that members of both Houses of Parliament should be here to have brought under their notice the development of the colony, and to judge from time to time what improvements can and have been made in industrial productions, and therefore it is peculiarly gratifying on this occasion that we have the honor of the presence of the President of the Legislative Council and the Speaker of the House of Assembly, and nearly all the members of both Houses and Your Excellency. lam sure 1 speak the views of all assembled here when I say that it will be especially gratifying, not only to those who are present at these proceedings but to others from one end of the colony to the other, that you are able to say, without indulging in unnecessary compliment, that you think the Exhibition is a credit to the industry and labor of the people of New Zealand. (Cheers). His Excellency the Governor then said ; The duty now involves upon me of formally declaring the Industrial Exhibition open, and I do so with the greatest pleasure, for 1 maintain that the undertaking which we are to inaugurate, and which will, I trust, be the source ol many gatherings of the sort marks an era in the history of New Zealand. I have watched the progress of the• Exhibition daily, and feel certain that many visitors to it will learn with surprise—l might almost say with astonishment —how much energy and skill are displayed by the various cities and districts of the colony. The labor of those who have been engaged in the preparation of this work will not assuredly be thrown away if the result of it is the promotion of colonial co-operation and friendly unanimity between all who can look with pride on what the colony as a whole has achieved. To Sir Julius Yogel must be accorded the eredit of originating the Exhibition. (Hear, hear). I also must not omit to acknowledge how much we are indebted to Dr Hector for the services he has rendered in connection with this Exhibition, which have been of the most important character, and they have been performed in a manner which reflects the greatest credit upon him. (Cheers), It must strike anyone who examines the "products around us that we are rapidly coming to the time when the colony will be so far developed as to afford a field for many talents, whether scientific, literary, medical, or artistic. No doubt this Exhibition is small compared with the magnificent collections which have been displayed elsewhere, but then it ought not be compared with those vast world fairs which have been celebrated from lime to time since the idea was first originated by the late Prince Consort in 1851. Whether we consider the value of the articles shown here, or the number of exhibitors, the proportion of exhibits to the population of the colony is larger than that of the Exhibition of 1851 was to the population of the United Kingdom at that date. 1 would not, however, let it be supposed that anything that may be done in the way of local exhibitions can free us from what I may call the duty of taking part in the greater exhibitions of Europe. It is impossible that the dwellers in all parts of the colony should realise the progress that the whole is making, but it is essential to the development of New Zealand as a productive country, and a country which seeks an increase of population, that the outside world should have a correct idea of the history, scenery, fertility, and general capabilities of this rich and beautiful country. As early as 1851, when the English population of New Zealand did not amount to more than 20,000 souls, and the colonial revenue was not £50,000, I find that no less than 40 exhibitors from New Zealand took part in the London International Exhibition. What, therefore, cannot be done with a population of half a million, and industries developed as we see here to-day I A year ago, when lecturing not far from this spot, I spoke about the alarming increase in the destructive power of various implements of war—a subject of great interest, though a lamentable one, to soldiers, no less than to civilians. Many consider with regret bow much good might have been done if only the labor and ingenuity which bus been used in devising implements of destruction had been directed into peaceful channels. It is matter for congratulation, however, that in New Zealand, at least, we know that weapons of war are only a moans for ensuring peace, and I am happy to think that during the past few months I have been able to turn my professional knowledge to account for assisting to shield this country, its people, audits commerce, against evils that might result from attacks by a hostile power. It is a very great pleasure for mo to be here to-day to take the place of her Majesty’s representative in .the formal opening of the first New Zealand Industrial Exhibition. We cannot, it is true, unlock the treasures of a by gone age ; the historical collections which have formed so interesting a part in the Exhibitions of Europe, must be wanting in this young community ; but we now see around us the trophies of a happy and useful present; the products of a free, industrious, and a progressive nation. His Excellency was loudly cheered at the conclusion of his speech. The Choir then sang Ilandei’s ‘‘Hallelujah Chorus,” after v/hich His Excellency said it now only remained for him to’dcclare the New Zealand Industrial Exhibition open. Three hearty cheers were then given, and three more for the Governor, and one for Sir Julius Yogel. The proceedings then terminated, and the assemblage dispersed to inspect the exhibits in the main building. Throughout the night the Exhibition remained crowded, and it was with the greatest difficulty that any of the exhibits could be seen. Tn-day the Exhibition will only remain open from noon till 4.30 p.m., and on Wednesday night there is to be a concert.

The Wellington correspondent of the Prese says:—'To attempt to send a full account of the exhibits now would be absurd, as many have not yet got into their places ; but it may be said that Scott Bros.’ exhibit of ironwork is without exception the most striking of the whole, and on all sides I hear commendations of ii. The woollen goods of the Mosgiel, Kaiapoi, and Rosyln Companies also come

in for a share of the admiration, and fully deserve it. The Otago people have not much beyond the woollens. A fine exhibit of furniture by Messrs North and Scoullar make a good display, and the New Zealand Woodware Company, Auckland, make a good show with furniture. There is a fine lot of exhibits of honey and preserved fruits and fish and tobacco. The latter has attracted a great deal of attention from the fact that exhibits are all of purely colonial manifacture and are got up in a syla fully equal to the imported article. Nelson lias not much beyond Kirkpatrick’s jams and preserves. Wellington is fairly represented, the best exhibit, perhaps, being Mr C. Hill’s hatmaking stand, where all processes cf manufacture are carried on. The show front Wellington is, however, not so great as might have have been expected, and the success of the Exhibition is mainly due to the display made by outside exhibitors. Messrs Lightband, Allan and Co. exhibit the carpets from the Zealandia Carpet Factory. The pickles and preserves of the McLean Company have also attracted great attention, as being far and away beyond anything attempted in Wellington. The Auckland carriages are of the finest specimens of workmanship, and the agricultural implements of Messrs P. and D. Duncan and Messrs Reid and Gray are worthily represented, To add yet another t& the series of misfortunes which have attended the opening day, the catalogues, which are being printed in Dunedin, have gone astray. They ought to have come by the Waihora on Friday, but up to the present there are no signs of them.