OTAGO DAILY TIMES, JUNE 15th.-OPENING

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 3211, 14 October 1881, Page 6 (Supplement)

OTAGO DAILY TIMES, JUNE 15th.-OPENING

OF DUNEDIN INDUSTRIAL EXHIBITION.

Conspicious among the show-cases at the upper end of the hall is tl at of the New Zealand Clothing Factory, in which are displayed with viiy tasteful arrangement various specimens of wearing apparel on waxen figures. The case itself, we are informed, was made for a Berlin hat firm for the Melbourne Exhibition, where it was bought by a member of the firm of Hallenstein Bros, for the purpose it has now been put to. It contains 1,040 cubic feet of space. The figures shown inside the case were among some 200 which were imported from London by the firm for dressingthe windows of their various branches. As they happened to arrive at an opportune moment, it was decided to exhibit some of them at the Exhibition. Altogether there are about 30 figures in the case. They are attired in the various costumes always kept in stock, and in some instances are also used for the purpose of displaying- several magnificent specimens of. workmanship, such as dress, cricketing, bicycling, and hunting suits. The laßt-mer-itioned costume occupies a prominent position, being placed upon the figure bearing a head of a striking likeness to the Prince of Wales. Unfortunately his Highness is devoid of legs, and so lie is to he seen carrying his riding breeches over his right shoulder. Prominent amongst the juvenile figures is the rnddshrpmite, which is veiy prettily arrangfd in a ma-n-ofrwar's suit, and is in the act of saluting. All the figures have socket-and-bail joints, so that they can be put into any posi rion, and thus the various and appropriate postures of the figures can be accounted for. There is, besides the costumes on these figures, a profuse display of really beautifully made-up clothing hung around inside the case. Prom the ceiling of the building the firm has suspended a handsome banner of violet velvet, with scarlet and gold furnishings, about 20 feet long, inscribed " New Zealand Clothing Factory, established a.d. 1873. Branches in every town in New Zealand." This inscription consists of 13,874 white buttons, which it took two girls a fortnight to sew on. Perhaps some particular* reo'arding this firm, which has made such rapid progress in a very short time, may be found interesting. Messrs. Hallenstein Brothers started business in 1873, employing at that time about 100 people. A wholesale business exclusively was carried on for two years, but it was found to be unremunerative, and a retail trade was then commenced. Branches were established in Christchurch, Dunedin, and Wellington, and depots were afterwards opened in various other towns. The Dunedin factory at the present time employs GOO hands, The firm was the first to support our locally-produced tweeds, and the bulk of their manufactures at present are composed of New Zealand woollen fabrics purely. Mr. B. Hallenstein is now making a tour of England, America, and the Continent, for the purpose of obtaining information as to the latest improvements in macniuei-y for the manufacture of clothing.