THE EXHIBITION.

Globe, Volume XXIV, Issue 2523, 10 May 1882, Page 3

THE EXHIBITION.

The musical performances in connection with the Exhibition on Tuesday were more than ordinarily interesting. First, the brass band of the Burnham school, under the leadership of Mr Bowles, tha teacher, gave a splendid programme of music. The little fellows played with a precision and quality of tone which would have done credit to any band in the colony, and it is satisfactory to note that M. Jouberthas arranged for these really clever lads to play in conjunction with the prize winners in the recent brass band contest. The various items of the programme were played throughout with much spirit and success, and Mr Bowles is entitled to a large amount of credit for the admirable manner in which he has brought the band out in so short a time. The other inmates of the school also enjoyed the pleasure of visiting the Kxhibition,thanks to the kindly generosityof Dr Prins, who not only provided the little ones with a good dinner, but also paid for their admission to the Exhibition, the promoters most generously reducing the admission fee one half on the occasion. M. Joubert also presented each of the lads of the band with a small medal as a souvenir of their visit, and the conductor with a large one. In the evening the Dunedin Private Glee and Motett Society gave several selections. The disadvantages under which the society labored from the wretchedly bad acoustic properties of the concert hall renders any attempt at criticism fruitless. It will suffice to speak generally of their performances without being critical, and in this light we may say that they gave ua last night such a taste of their quality as to make us anxious to hear them under more favorable circumstances in the Oddfellows’ Hall on Thursday night next, when they gira a concert in aid of the benevolent fund of the Hospital. There is one point about the performers worthy of praise, and that ia that they work well together, and the voices are fairly balanced. They would have been better, especially in the Motett “ Advent Hymn,” by Schumann, if Mr Kelsey had wielded the baton solely, instead of playing the piano accompaniment and conducting also. The changes of movement were not taken up crisply enough, and there was here and there a falling off in the time, which, had the conductor’s baton been at work, would not have been noticeable. However good a choir may be, the want of unity supplied by a beat of the baton is al ways observable. The society possesses some nice voices, particularly amongst the lady members, whioh we hope to hear still more of on Thursday night. The lady singing the contralto part of the second Motett has a full rich voice, showing much cultivation, and even under the adverse circumstances of a room totally unfit for musical performances, except brats bands, was heard to advantage. In the three very enjoyable glee* which were given at a later stage the society was capital. Here Mr Kelsey wielded the baton, and so kept the voices well in hand, the result being a great improvement on the motetts. The other items on the programme were three movements from Haydn’s string quintette in D No. 67, very nicely played by Messrs J. Ooomhes, first violin ; Cohen, second do; Surge, viola ; and Loughnan, ’cello. This was played on a platform in the centre of the hall, and though the beauties of the piano passages in the movements were lost, yet enough was heard to render the performance most enjoyable. The movements played were andante, allegro, and finale. Beethoven’s Quartette in E flat, op. 16, for violin, viola,“cello, and piano was the other instrumental number in whioh Messrs. Coombes, A. Lean, Spensley, and Sorge took part. This was very artistically given, and loudly applauded, as it deserved. Continuing our wanderings through the Exhibition, we next come to the Victorian Court, where Walson and Paterson, of Melbourne, have a very fine exhibit of oared and canned provisions. The firms are represented here by Mr H. Apsley Pellatt, end they have taken a number of gold medals elsewhere, receiving the highest award wherever they have exhibited. One of the most noticeable items in the case is the rolled bacon, which is certainly a splendid sample of curing and salting. The baoon when cut for the judging was of a beautiful pink color, and firm to the touch. Another specialty of the firm is the Queensland preserves, Ac., amongst whioh are potted turtle, turtle fins, turtle soup, potted dugong, shrimps, Ac. Turtle soup ia the correct thing for aldermanic banquets, and as the fresh turtle is not procurable here, no doubt our worthy Mayor will take this opportunity of securing a stock of the soup, whioh ia highly recommended by gastronomic judges. There ia also an assortment of beche-de mer soup. This is a delicacy which is highly spoken of. Mr Pellatt has alto preserved pineapples, guavas, pineapple jam, guavas in syrup, rosella jam, Ac., whioh, being all tropical delicacies, are to us in this country quite a luxury. These exhibits were highly appreciated by the jurors. This case is one of tha most interesting in this part of the Exhibition, as developing the local ir.dusfries and products of a country whioh has so great a future before it. Fronting the avenue are two cases containing the manufactures of Messrs Lewis and Whitty, the well-known firm of Melbourne. These products comprise starch, blue, blacking, biking powder, extract of sosp, culinary essences, perfumed hair oil, Ac. The firm have two large factories in work, employing about 150 hands ; one factory being devoted entirely to the production of starch. The starch is manufactured from rice, which is used by the leading starch manufacturers in England and elsewhere. The quality of the starch has been proved by analysis and experience to be quite equal to the best European brands. When it is stated that this industry has only been established by Messrs Lewis and Whitty a little over a year, it speaks highly for the colonial resources, that they should have been enabled to take such a high position with this article in compstition with the imported one. The blacking manufactured by the firm is another speciality, and for quality is worthy of high praise. The well known brand of Day and Martin, whioh at one time used to be almost universally used in Australia, has been entirely superseded in "Victoria and elsewhere by the article manufactured in the colony by Messrs Lewis and Whitty. The blacking is pack* i in oiled paper of various sizes, which enab.es it to be kept fora very long period, even in the hot climate of Australia, without hardening. The firm also export the article in fancy tins, which have a very neat appearance. The brilliant illuminating qualilus of the blacking is exemplified by the trade mark of the firm placed on the boxes containing tin blacking. This represents a gentleman of the Simian race shaving himself by the rt floe tion of a polished boot. The next ariich calling for notice, as displayed in the case, is specimens of Lewis and Whitty’s celebrated blues. These blues are in squares, the 0010 being a rich deep blue. The great advun tages gaine i in using those blues are that they do not streak the clothes and that they are easily soluble. This, together with the starch, are the leading manufactures turned out by the firm. The blues are very tastily packed in handsome cases. The centre of the glass case ia occupied by a pyramid comprising yeast powders, baking, egg, custard and curry po are also manufactured by

tie firm. The same powders are shown at the four corners under glass shades. In tbe> second case the blacking, whioh has already been spoken of, is displayed, together with washing and soap powder, extracts of soap, Ac. The centre is filled up by another pyramid, displaying perfumed hair oils and culinary essences. Altogether the tout entemble cf tha two cases is very good, the exhibits being arranged in a very ornamental manner, which, considering the peculiar nature of the exhibits, must hare been a very difficult task. Mr A. T. Edwards, the representative here of Mr George Cheavin, of the Wide Eargate Filter Works, Boston, Lincolnshire, England, has a prominent position in the British Court, by far the largest and most imposing exhibit of filters in th» building. Mr Cheavin, in addition to the display mads, has with great liberality pluoed at the disposal of the promoters a Dree number of filters for use in the Exhibition for the convenience of the public. A large variety of sizes are exhibited from the small pocket filter to tha cistern capable of filtering 600 gallons per diem. It is claimed for these filters that owing to the inventor’s original arrangement of the filtering matter, composed of specially prepared animal charcoal—efficient and rapid filtrat-on is scoured. This arrangement consists of loose charcoal, the upper and lower layers of which are composed of coarse granules, gradually increasing in intensify to the centre, where they partake of the nature of fine powder. It is claimed that this loose arrangement of charcoal is superior to the baked or compressed cakes which frequently form the filtering medium of other fitters ; as not only do these baked or compressed cakes soon become clogged, but on account of the solid nature of such compositions, the water always percolates through the same channel. Where, however, tho the filtering matter consists of loose particles, tha water soaks through the whole substance, and not through any particular channel. The water is cleansed from all impurities by its passage first through the coarse, and afterwards through the powdered charcoal; tt then drips again over the larger granule* of animal charcoal, from whence it takes up carbonic acid, whioh renders it sparkling, wholesome, and pure. The upper chamber of tha filter is constructed so that the heavier and coarser Impurities which may be found in uufiltered water are prevented from entering tha well of the filter by a slight wall. Atthsmouth of the well is placed a sponge, whioE again serves to collect much of the impure matter which in ii s absence would certainly find its way into the charcoal bed and choke it up. The well is perforated some inches away from the bottom, thus leaving an additional recess in which coarser impurities are Bg»in collected. Those fibers in whioh thefiltering matter is immediately exposed to the uufiltered liquid soon choke and become charged with all the dirt whioh would otherwise be removed by the sponge. Only the surface of the filtering medium in nek filters can be cleaned; and as a brush is generally used for the purpose, it will be seen that the cleansing thereby of a porous Substance cannot ha vary complete. Owing to the simplicity of construction of these filters, and the cate with which they can be cleaned without any part of the filter being displaced, they are particularly serviceable even in the hands of inexperienced people. At the late Sydney Exhibition, Colonial beer, Etig’ish beer, Oolonial wine, as well as tea and coffee, were frequently passed through these filters. The result in each cas» was colorless, tasteless, and odourless water; the whole of the beer, Ac., passing through the filters’.in less than three minutes. Tha filters used for the experiments were afterwards effectually cleansed by filling the lower chambers full of water and blowing down the force pipe outlet at the side of the filter. Fifty-of Cheavin’* filters were in use in the Sydney Exhibition during the whole of the time the Exhibition was open ; and the Commissioners were so satisfied with the results of the working of these filters, that they decreed Mr Cheavin a special silver medal, in addition to the highest award made by the judges, for the valuable services he had rendered to them and to the public, by lending these filters. The tests as to purity and rapidity of filtration were most successful yesterday. In the first instance several glasses cf thick turbid water were placed ia a small pocket filter, and so soon as tbs pipe could be placed in a glass the water ran off perfectly pure and clear. In the larger filters the test was even more Severe. The water we* stirred up till it became quite thick, and then almost immediately the tap was turned the water coming out clear, bright and sparkling, as we are accustomed losco it from our artesian wells. As to rapidity a bucket of water passed through clear in one minute. But a still severer teat was gone through bv these filters. Mr Edwards having thoroughly drained one of the filters to make sure of the water getting out, placed in it a jugful of oolonial beer. In two minutes what had been beer came through the filter clear water, with not even a scintillation of taste of beer in it. xhe jugful of beer passed through the filter had resolved itself through the agency of the filler into pure water. Whether the alcohol whioh is present in beer is taken out is a matter for debate, but the fact remains that Mr Edwards takes out all the colouring of the beer, and produces it clear and bright and colorless as pure water. Beyond the exhibits of filters is a glass case erntaining specimens of the musical publications of Augener and 00., London. The collection comprises Beethoven’s and Moxart’s pianoforte sonatas, and a splendid complete edition of Chopin, all of which are edited by the celebrated Ernst Fauer. A thing of great interest to lovers of music is a new gradus by Pauer, whioh is also exhibited in the case. Several other works make up a well arranged case. The works are well and clearly printed and handsomely bound. At other Exhibitions Messrs Augener have taken the highest awards for their publications—at Vienna, Philadelphia, and elsewhere. Next to this is a small but very complete case of the manufactures of Meetrs J. and B. Attinron, perfumers, 24, Old Bond street, London, which, is not for competition. It comprises specimens of their celebrated white rose productions, including essence of white rote, white rose soap, toilet vinegar, cream, toilet powder, extract, Ac., which are specialities of this firm. There are also samples of their old brown Windsor soap, em de Cologne, macassar ofl, fro , making altogether a very tasteful exhibit. Next again, we come to the case of D. Leonardt and Co., of tha Universal Pen Works, Birmingham. This consists of a most interesting display of pecs worked into a variety of trophies. The two side panels of the upright back of the case are tilled with a variety of pens of all kinds and rhapes. The centre panel is filled with four star devices of pens and some gigantic specimen* of the universal pen manufactured by the firm. In the lower glass case is a Maltese cross formed of gilt and silver pens, with the monogram of of the firm in the centre. Surrounding the oross are specimen* of Magnum Bonnm, J pens, gold pens with diamond points. Marcographic, Turkish and Oriental, Universal patent round writing, and ordinary steel pens. A very interesting feature in the case w the Lilliputian pen. a complete split and pierced steel nib, tne whole length of which does not exceed Jn. This is shown together with some elaoorate specimens of steel piercing, and illustrates the completeness and exactness of the machinery used by the firm in the production of the pens. A somewhat novel feature is what is termed the Water or Neptune pen, which is so constructed that by dipping the pen in water one is able to write with any colored ink that may be desired. Penholders of various kinds, pencils, and fancy boxts of pens ere elso displayed in great profusion. Some of these boxes are mounted wiih portraits of the principal kings, statesmen, and celebrities of the world, including her Majesty the Queen, the Shah of Persia, the Duke and Ductless of Edinburgh, Prince Bi-ma-ck, the Kaiser Wilhelm, Victor Emmanuel, Ac., As. The variety of these labels manifest the large export trade done by the firm. An instructive feature of the exhibit is a card illustrating the eleven proc sees of manufacturing a iteel pen. At first is shown the steel plate, both plain and with tha bLnks pi reed out of it. Next wo -ee the blanks, tha pierced and split blanks, then the blanks after annealing, stamping, bending, re-annealing, splitting, varnishing, avd fina'ly the completed pen of commerce. The exhibitors hare always taken very high awards wherever they have competed, and nave lat ly.trien the gold medals at Sydney, Adelaide, Melbourne and Brisbane. Mr Edwards has also a small, but unique exhibit of artificial ty* s—the only one of the kind in ihe Exhibition. These ore manufactured by Messrs Gray and Halford, who, we are told, are the principal manufacturers of artificial eyes in the principal opthalmio hospitals in London. The ay*s exhibited are exceedingly well finished, and remarkably true to nature, so much as to elicit high ensemiums from the L local medical gentlemen who have seen them.