THE ROYAL DUBLIN SOCIETY 319 



portion to the results that might be achieved. Atten- 

 tion was next directed to making more use of the 

 spring cattle shows for the promotion of local industries, 

 and this proposal was under discussion when it was 

 suggested that the Centenary Exhibition about to be 

 held in Manchester would afford a good opportunity 

 for bringing Irish manufactures under public notice. 

 This suggestion was warmly supported, and the Man- 

 chester committee at once fell in with the idea. A 

 guarantee fund was started, the Society heading the 

 list with a contribution of ^500. Deputations were 

 sent to Belfast and Cork, and the co-operation of the 

 respective Chambers of Commerce was secured. On 

 the recommendation of the Cork committee, it was 

 decided to offer space to exhibitors free of charge. 

 Applications were received for 40,000 superficial feet, 

 the space available being barely 27,000 feet. This made 

 the difficulty of allotment very great. It is not sur- 

 prising that the executive committee, of which Mr. 

 Thomas Pirn, jun., acted as chairman, reported that 

 they had held forty-three meetings in thirteen weeks. 

 The exhibition was a decided success. The executive 

 committee, in its final report, said that it " was pleased 

 to be able to state that the objects aimed at by the 

 Society in inaugurating an Irish exhibition in England 

 have to a large extent been attained. A substantial 

 benefit has been conferred upon our home manufactures, 

 and upon a number of small industries which were 

 much in need of encouragement and support." 



The business transacted in the section by some of 

 the Irish exhibitors was large, and in some cases they 

 were induced to open branch establishments in England, 

 or to appoint local agents to develop the connection 

 which the Irish section was the means of procuring for 

 them. These results are most encouraging, and it is 



