West Coast Times. THURSDAY, MAY 10, 1866.

West Coast Times, Issue 200, 10 May 1866, Page 2

West Coast Times. THURSDAY, MAY 10, 1866.

The proposed Intercolonial Exhibition in Melbourne is exciting a largo amount of public interest, overywhero out of New Zealand. Dr. Bleasdale and Mr Kuiglit, tho Secretary to the Royal Commissioners, have just concluded a visit to Adelaide, whither they went to bring the projeot officially under the notice of tho South Australian Legislature and Government. Their reception was cordial, their success complete ; and they bring back with, them assurances of most hearty co-operation. From New South. Wales, Queensland, and Tasmania, promises of contributions havo been made, and no room is loft for apprehension as to the completeness of tho approaching display as an Exhibition of Colonial produce and Industry. Wo have already intimated that the projectors of this enterprise, less ambitious than those who attempted to got up an " AH Nations" Exhibition in Dunodin, and encountered failuro, have judiciously determined to limit tho competitive display to articles of colonial production. They have done so, we apprehend, on two grounds. In the first place, it is clear that any attempt to secure an adequato representation at the antipodes, of the industry of tho old world must, in the necessity of things, bo a failure. We could not expect the choicer specimens of manufacturing art, tho priceless treasures of industrial skill, to bo lentgfor exhibition at any spot so distant rora home as ono of the antipodal colonies. And an incomplete representation of the standard of industrial achievement in tho old world, the exhibition of its second and third-rate products would havo a most iujurious influence in auy display designed to bo of a competitive and stimulative character. Ifj however — aud this we believe is the view of the case which the Melbourne Commissioners entertain — tho best specimens of tho mechanical art of tho old world were exhibited side by side with the products of tho colonies, the comparision would be unfair to the latter and its effect discouraging. As the Commissioners themselves express it : " Exhibitors will be undismayed by the manifold disturbing influences which encumber a competition with tho populous and" opulent societies of tho old world ; will be unaffected by tho innumerable distractions, whioh, in tho poi'plojpng variety of European exhibi*

tions, call away the mind of the be- / holder from objects purely colonial . n

That as a rule these Industrial Jilxb.litions have been attended with benocial results is provod by the frequency ath which, they arc ro-produced, and lie eagerness which almost every inustrial centro iv the old country has isplaycd to have one of its own. One ; f the most direct advantages derived rom them is, doubtless, the publicity* ;ivcn to the resources and tlio attrac- 1 ions of exhibiting districts. tfMs at east is a benefit which at fes in the lower of Westland «o Veap. Wo can magino nothing that would servo its uterests faftterQthan a practical display >f its mining processes^und its mineral >roducts. It has a story of industrial levelopinent to tell, eloquent enough, 1 f it choose to tell it—a story that would lavo its effoct in attractkg lo the West Doasfc the capital %nd enterprise that xro requisite for the full and prompt utilisation of its crudo resources. What is the actual wealth of this district is little J understood by those who have never visited it ; ncr is any true conception entertained of the opening it offers to a legitimate adventure- Surely some steps ought to bo taken to let tho world that visits "the Melbourno Intercolonial Exhibition knew that Westland has an existence, and that it has contributed, and continues to contribute, no mean portion of that great gold yield which has secured for Australasia so wide a fame. \ Without enlarging on this subject, we recall attention to it> because Westland owes something to itsolf as a community, nt a moment when every spctiou of tho celonial cpjamowAjaltu is trying jto jtbjuisUfts 'head forward in ifLvimcif of its follows. It is not to be supposed that in proposing this Exhibition Victoria is actuated by motives purely disinterested. She seeks to derive benefit, and has, doubtless, well counted tho cost and tho return. Her own display of resources and enterprise will, of course, bo most impvessivo. j But tho reason is therofore all the greater, why the other colonies should [ seek to exert themselves in tho competition, and why districts that are new to fame should mako a'spocial effort to get their names enrolled in the list of placea, rich, prosperous, and attractive. Westland would fail entirely in its duty to itself if it lost sight of this consideration. Long before this, some measures should have been devised to securo for it what good is^Uttainablo. The hour for action has not, however, passed by. We suppose that in this, as in other matters, we shall be met by tho protestation that tho business men of Westland arc too much engaged with their private affairs to havo leisure for rendering help \in this work. But tho validity of the excuse is not for a moment to be admitted. Tho very activity of business that engrosses their time, is a proof pf tho obligation under which they lie to the district, and tho claim it has upon such services as thoy can render to it. Tho association of a few gentlemen together, and a little expenditure of money and time, would suffice to secure tho honorable representation of Westland's industry and resources. Deprived as it is of a Government, its only chanco is the nomination of a committee of action ; and wo are satisfied that the proposition has only to be taken up by somebody, to have immediate effect given to it. ,