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Surrounded by the large fertile plain of the Wairau, which in turn is bounded by undulating and hilly pastoral, lands, Blenheim, the capital of Marlborough, is the scene of considerable commercial activity, and the home of a prosperous and thriving community. Good seasons and large yields of produce that have brought excellent prices, have been prevailing conditions for several years past; and the purchase by the Government of large estates, under the Land for Settlements Act, has proved beneficial to the commerce of the town and to the development of the country. In the year 1855, Mr. Wynen, who had previously conducted a store at the Boulder Bank, removed inland, and, on the site now occupied by Messrs Clouston and Company, he erected a small raupo store, the first place of business in Blenheim. A series of earthquakes at that time had the effect of improving the navigable condition of the rivers, and shipping was thereby facilitated on the Opawa, down which the increasing supply of wool was sent. However, since the completion of the railway to Picton, most of the produce has been shipped from that port. Direct shipping communication with England has, in fact, been continuous since 1884, and the large British steamers engaged in the colonial trade obtain no inconsiderable portion of their cargoes at Picton. Some facts and figures worth recalling in this connection are given in an article which appears on pages 86 and 87 of this volume.

Both the town and rural sections were readily taken up when Blenheim was laid out as a township. By 1860, the population had increased to 300 people, and Blenheim possessed several stores, and other institutions of modern civilisation. The returns at the census taken in 1901, gave Blenheim a population of 3226, but since then there has been an increase.

In Blenheim to-day there are a number of well-built business houses, large flour mills, factories, and good hotels, and a great number of stores well stocked with goods, which are retailed at prices showing no appreciable advance on those ruling at Wellington.

To emphasise the growing commercial importance of Blenheim, and the resources of the province of Marlborough, a conference of representatives and public bodies was held early in 1904, and made suggestions for holding an industrial exhibition. At a public meeting held soon afterwards in Blenheim, the scheme was cordially approved; and the meeting led to the creation of the Marlborough Industrial Association. Mr. R. McCallum was elected president, and Mr. J. J. Corry carried out the manifold duties of honorary secretary. A special building was erected in Seymour Square, and the exhibition was opened by His Excellency Lord Plunket, on the 17th of September, 1904. Next to those which had been held in the four chief cities, the Marlborough exhibition proved to be the largest and most comprehensive which had, up to that time, been attempted in New Zealand, and exhibits were received from all parts of the colony.