THE EXHIBITION.

Globe, Volume XXIV, Issue 2521, 8 May 1882, Page 3

THE EXHIBITION.

The attendance at the Exhibition on Saturday was fairly good. The Maori prisoners, accompanied by Mr E. Beetham, E M., visited the Exhibition, and were escorted over the building by Mr Joub?rt. Tho principal objects which attracted the attention of the visitors wore the armless lady, the Punch and Judy in the side show, and the stocking knitting apparatus. The greater part of the exhibits were examined by Ta Whiti and Tohu, who expressed their surprise and delight at the various objects of interest shown to them. At the stand of the Kdapoi Woollen Factory they were each preiented by the manager with a rug woven at the Factory, as a touvenir of their visit. A very great improvement in the appearance of the avenues has been effected by bringing out the trophies of various kinds into the centre at intervals of about twenty feet. This will relieve the somewhat tare appearance of the avenues.

Amongst some of the most interesting of the inventions to bs seen in the Exhibition though modestly hid away in the roar of Mr Apsley Pellatt’s bay, is Webster’s patent log defector and self-acting alarum. This is the invention of Captain Webster, of the U. 3 S. Company’s Albion, and is a most ingenious piece of mechanism, though simple to look at. The object of the machine is to sound an alarm in the event of the ordinary towing log becoming fouled by seaweed or refuse thrown overboard. The action of this machine is caused by the twist of the towing line, which takes place immediately the blades of the patent tow:ng log (ceases to revolve and the works cease to register. It then communicates with the alarum, which continues to sound until the evil is remedied. The use of the patent log detector is found an invaluable benefit while nearing land or running along a coast during thick, f oggy weather, when the dead reckoning is the only means of determining the distance rnn or the position of the ship. There are several instances, on record where the patent log has become fouled for some time, ceasing to register, but clearing itself again without any warning, the result being the vessel has run several miles further than is indicated on the register of the patent log, thus giving the ship-master a false security as to the position of the vessel. In th ek or foggy wca her the loss of many a fine vessel may be attributed to this cause alone. There are several of these machines now in use in the steamers of the Union Steamship Company. At a meeting of the musical committee held on Saturday last, it was arranged that the choral and chamber music competition shall taka place on the 9.h of May, and the solo singing, solo playing, and school singing shall take place on the 18th May, all commencing at 730 p.m,, and that all the prize takers be requested ta assist at a general concert to be given at the Exhibition on Thursday, the 25th May next, at 7 30 p m , all performers to send in to the hon. sec., Mr Walton, what pieces and songs they intend to give. Any singers or performers willing to assist at the general concert should send their names, and-the songs or pieces they intend to give, to Mr Walton. A special raised dais, with a high sounding board, is to be erected at the side of the room, to ensure a good hearing for all performers. This latter is a much needed improvement, as up to the present the full effect of any music given has been lost.