The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1884-07-05 00:00:00

THE INTERNATIONAL FORESTRY
- • EXHIBITION.

At Edinburgh on Tuesday afternoon the Interna-
tional Forestry Exhibition was formally opened by
the Marquis of Lothian in presence of a large assem-
blage. The ceremony took place under the eastern
dome of the building, where the band stand served
the purpose of a platform. The Marquis of Lothian
was accompanied by the Lord Provost, magistrates,
and own council, in their official robes, attended by
the city officers with the insignia. The. company
included representatives from the Government of
France, Japan, Denmark, Norway, and ;Sweden,
Germany, the United States, Belgium; --Rolland;
-India, Siam, and Morocco, and most of the British
colonies.

The Marquis of Lothian, who was loudly cheered,
said he had been asked, and had in consequence
undertaken, to perform The great duty of opening the
exhibition. He felt it a great honour, but his
feelings were mixed very much with regret that
it should have fallen upon him to perform the cere-
mony. It was probably known to all that the Duke
of Albany, although he had not distinctly promised,
had spoken to him in a way which led him to believe
that he would have undertaken the ceremony,
and, that ceremony could not have been performed
.by any one who would have given more satisfaction
:than his Royal Highness. He felt it his duty to
state how it came to pass that this exhibition
was proposed in Edinburgh. First he must
give- the credit to the Arboricnituriil Society of
Scotland. It was at a meeting of that society that the
question of holding an exhibition was first proposed.
The Arboriculture' Society rightly felt that the science,
of forestry in this country had been very much neg-
lected. Almost at the very commencement, how-
ever, the project was nearly shipwrecked, and might
have been shipwrecked, by a proposal to hold a
forestry exhibition in the Horticultural Society's
Grounds in London, where the Fisheries Exhibition
was held last year, London being larger and, he felt
bound to say, a more important place than Edinburgh.
But when it was pointed out that the London scheme
would interfere with this one, they most courteously I
gave way to this enterprise. No sooner was that I
done than in place of a forestry exhibition they
started a health- exhibition in London, and he might
say it was proving a most brilliant success. That
-,culty overcome, the first duty of the committee
was to apply to her Majesty the Queen and other
members of the Royal Family. Her Majesty at
once consented to become patron of this undertaking,
as well as the other members of the Royal Family,
ad they had only to look around the exhibition, both
inside and outside, to see the interest they have
taken in this enterprise. The Secretary of State also
treated them with the greatest cordiality and courtesy,
and sent circular letters to all her Majesty's repre-
sentatives in foreign countries asking them
to secure the co-operation of foreign Powers. The
Exhibition of 1851 had been followed by exhibitions
year. after year in this country and abroad, and how
much the world owed to that first idea of the Prince
Consort no one would ever be able to tell. In those
exhibitions had been shown the results of human
ingenuity. The purpose of the present one was rather
to shoiv what nature was, and to try to teach those
vhoevisited it how every tree might be fostered and
preserved for the benefit of man in the future.
Looking round the building much material could be
Seen for thought and instruction in every department.
They would see the products not only of the United
Kinucloin, which were far more varied and useful than
was generally recognised, but also the magnificent
products of foreign countries, which were destined in
the future to supplement our home-grown woods. He
hoped it would lead to the establishment of a school
of forestry in this country, which was the only one
that did not possess it. He trusted also that it would
be located in Edinburgh. He had now great pleasure
in declaring the elhibition open.
Lord Provost Harrison, in moving a vote of thanks
to the exhibitors, said that many of his audience
might have questioned what this exhibition could
possibly consist of. In a half sneering way, it had
often been said that nothing pleasing or profitable
could result from an exhibition of forestry. He
thought they only had to took around them and they
would see an exhibition very charming to look upon,
and as useful as any exhibition that had preceded it.
He had very great pleasure in coupling the proposal
with the name of Colonel Michael, who had charge
of the Indian department, for which they were
mainly indebted to the Prince of Wales.
Colonel Michael replied. He stood there, he said,
to represent the largest exhibit of all—namely, that
by the Government of her Majesty's Indian Empire.
That Government had done more than perhaps any
other Government for the promotion of forestry and
le interests of forestry, and their example was being
followed in many of the Colonies. Let them hope
that this exhibition would rouse the world to a better
sense of their duty as regarded forestry.
• Other votes of thanks followed.
The Town Council and members of the Executive
!t,Committee afterwards went in procession round the
r interior of the exhibition, and returned to the plat-
form, when the proceedings terminated.

- wj

I th,