Forestry was represented by beautifully finished ornamental wood and a splendid exhibit of the famous Kauri gum. This gum, which is used principally in the manufacture of varnish, takes an important place among New Zealand products, no less than five million dollars worth being exported last year. Of special interest to ornithologists were the native wingless birds of New Zealand.
The ancient habits of that interesting and progressive race, the Maori, who preceded white people in New Zealand, were shown in some remarkably realistic and unique carvings and paintings. The Maori has long since passed the savage state and has shown his ability to attain the highest stages of modern civilization. The contrast between the position of the Maori in 1840 and in 1904 constitutes a remarkable progress in racial development. Formerly the Maori was a savage, clever and enterprising, but ferocious, cruel, and a cannibal. To-day he tills the soil, speaks English, and sends his children to school and college, where they study for the highest professions, such as medicine, law, teaching, etc. Contact with a highly civilized community has diverted the natural intelligence of the Maori to useful channels, while Christianity has developed the best instincts of a fine race of people. In the to-day the Maori stands side by side with the white man, a welcome comrade in the building of a new nation. Six Maoris occupy positions in the New Zealand legislature, and one is a cabinet minister.
In the Agricultural Building a score of sacks containing wheat, oats, peas, beans, clover, grass seed, etc., paid tribute to the climate and soil of New Zealand. The extreme interest shown by all visitors constituted a very high compliment to the country. The demand by farmers for samples of wheat and oats was great. The attention bestowed by farmers and grain merchants upon the New Zealand grain display had its counterpart in the attitude of women visitors toward the exhibit of woolen rugs and blankets. Its exceptional soil and climate enable the New Zealand farmer to rear sheep with a grade of wool that can seldom be obtained elsewhere. Factories that have been established in the principal cities weave the wool into clothing, rugs, and blankets of an excellent strength and quality. Fleeces, both scoured and greasy, afforded wool experts an opportunity of closely examining the staple in raw material. Other products shown in the Palace of Agriculture were bales of hemp manufactured from New Zealand flax, a very fine sample of hops grown in the Nelson district, rabbit skins packed and ready for export, kegs of tallow, crude petroleum, etc. These served to indicate partially the resources of a wonderfully rich and productive country.
A chief attraction of the New Zealand exhibit was the opportunity it provided Americans for personally interrogating the New Zealand representatives concerning the government of their country. Political economists in America, as in other parts of the world, have in recent years been pointing to New Zealand as a country where a government fulfills its proper functions in caring for the welfare of the whole of the people, where each man and woman takes a recognized and effective part in the making of the laws which govern them, and where high ideals of modern civilization are lived up to.
NORWAY AND SWEDEN.
The Norwegian Storthing (Parliament) on the 20th of January, 1904, failed to pass a bill appropriating funds for Norway's participation in the Louisiana Purchase Exposition. The Government, however, being aware that there would be some individual exhibitors, decided to accept the invitation from the American authorities to have a commission appointed.
By resolution of the Crown Prince Regent on March 25, Frederick L.M. Waage, vice-consul for Sweden and Norway to St. Louis, was appointed commissioner-general for Norway. No Government appropriation and no money was raised by private subscriptions.
Three individual exhibitors displayed goods:
David Andersen, Christiana, in the Varied Industries Building, silverware and enamel. Cost of exhibit, $40,000; installation, $500, transportation, $800.
Chr. Knag, Bergen, furniture of the old Norwegian style in the east wing of the Fine Arts Building. Cost of exhibit, $3,000; transportation, $125.