NEW ZEALAND EXHIBITION, 1865.

Hawke's Bay Times, Volume IV, Issue 204, 9 December 1864, Page 1 (Supplement)

NEW ZEALAND EXHIBITION, 1865.

(From the Otago Daily Times, Nov. 22.)

We would hint to intending exhibitors, that the building is ready, and that the Royal Commissioners and their officers are waiting to receive exhibits ; and that the time now left for arranging a large and varied exhibition is so short that there should not be an hour’s delay on the part of any who desire the successful opening of the first Industrial aud Art Exhibition in New Zealand. If exhibitors will not realize these facts, the efforts of the district Committees, which together make up the Local Committee in each province, cannot result in getting together the exhibits ; but with hearty cooperation, we are sure that the Commissioners might very speedily be at hard and constant work in arranging the different products within the building, according to the settled plan of classification.

The extraordinary statement made by Mr. Adam in the Provincial Council relative to a giving way ofpartofthe building, will no doubt bo remembered by our readers. At the time, we gave reasons for the conviction that this statement was altogether unfounded. Messrs. Mason & Clayton, the architects, reported to the Commissioners yesterday that they had examined the building, and found it in good order and repair; adding, “Wo have further to report, that in consequence of the remarks which fell from a member of the Provincial Government of Otago, in his place in the House, relative to the stability of the building, having been brought under our notice, we are in a position to state that there does not exist any [foundation in fact for that statement, and that the building is in a sound and substantial condition.”

The Commissioners, properly following the plan adopted in all cases with exhibition buildings in Groat Britain, directed that the strength of the galleries should be thoroughly tested ; and this has been done under the superintendence of Mr. E. Horsman (of the firm of Cornwell & Horsman, the contractors.) He has reported that, on Friday, a four-wheeled truck with wheels 12in. in diameter, and having a bearing area of 12 superficial feet, was placed in the centre 01 the gallery, in a longitudinal direction. The truck was loaded with boiler-plate iron to the weight of one ton ; it was propelled by four men at a moderate speed, and the deflection of the girders (21ft. long,) was found to be three tenths of an inch. When loaded to 2 tons 7 cwt., there was a further deflection of £-inch ; and when the weight was increased to 3 tons 5 cwt., and propelled by five men, the total deflection of the girders was found to be half an inch. On Monday, Mr. Horsman reported the results of further tests. The truck, weighted with 3 tons 5 cwt., and propelled by five men, was passed centrally along the floors. The greatest deflection was found to occur in the angle girders, they having the longest span (25ft. Gin.) the deflection being from seven-tenths to ninetenths of an inch. The test'weight was equal to that of 37 adult persons. The space covered by the truck was 12ft. superficial, or sufficient standing room for four persons only ; so that the persons whose weight was represented on the 12ft. would in the same ratio occupy an area of 111 ft. superficial.

Reporting to the Commissioners upon this subject, Messrs. Mason and Clayton say that they have carefully considered Mr. Horsman’s report as to the tests. “ The results of those testa are in the highest degree satisfactory ; and the Commissioners may confidently rely upon the strength of the floor being fully equal to any of the purposes for which they may require to use it.”