Notes and Events.

Manawatu Herald, 22 June 1893, Page 3

Notes and Events.

Padding is very conspicuous in some of the London special correspondent's news to the N.Z. Times, It is not long ago that an absurd story, old as the hills, was renovated and passed off as the latest talk of the clubs. The paper has received a column and a half of a report of the opening ceremony of the Imperial Institute, all the most interesting facts- about which have been received by cable a month ago. The correspondent takes half a column to explain that there were only 62 seats allotted to the press, and that he only obtained one by Sir Walter Buller's " characters tic tenacity."

The difference in correspondents is shown by the letter received by the New Zealand Herald. He gives an ac ount of the New Zealand show, saying on one side of the garden exit is a superb timber trophy, the central feature being the splendid kauri slab, 18 feet long and 5 feet broad, sent from Auckland. This will be surrounded by numerous other beautiful specimens of polished and plain New Zealand timber, includjng some exquisite mottled kauri, totara-knot, puriri, and matai. The timber exhibitjwill be flanked on one side by a group of Maori figures, on the other by a fine skeleton of a xnoa, which was probably alive when the kauri tree was young from which the mighty slab has been cut. In front will be the remarkable picture of a dog, done in " poker " work on a kauri panel, by Mr W. H. Barrett, of Palmerston North.

Everything does not appear to be ready as the correspondent points out that there will be a central trophy, 15 feet high, of various ornamental timbers, some in the rough and some in the plain. All the pillars and arches of the Court will also be covered with specimens of New Zealand woods. The whole will be crowned with a superb block of polished totara knot. The next trophy will be of New Zealand building stone, 12 feet high, with a centre of Oamaru freestone, and a carved capital of the same. This is surrounded by specimens of New Zealand stone — marble, granite, limestone, bluestone, &c, all displayed to the best advantage.

The third trophy is of New Zea- ■* land coal from the Buller, Grey and Coalbrookdale. This beats every similar exhibit yet arranged by other oolonics. At the sides of the Court are cases containing magnificent specimens of wool and flax, the former in whole fleeces— merino, half bred. Lincoln, and Leicester ; the flax, including a noble bale of the best quality as prepared for market, jent > Jby Messrs Turnbull and Co., of Wellington, also a case containing no fewer than twenty varieties from all parts of the colony, in hanks.

* Auckland-grown tobaoco will form

the next exhibit, and above that will be New Zealand grain of 22 kinds, shown in the round- topped bottles generally used for that purpose.

The greatest attraction of all will appear in a part of the gardens which Sir Walter Buller and Mr Perceval have " cabbaged " for the purpose. A glass building is being erected, which will chow in one division the process of sheep-freezing and in the other the carcases of mutton as frozen. A smaller glass compartment will hold refrigerated butter and fruit. The machinery will be fully exposed to view in the glass case, and will be worked by electricity. There will be a glass covered passage all round, and ferneries in each corner of the edifice. This has been done at the suggestion of Sir Walter Buller and Mr Perceval, by the liberality of Messrs Nelson Bros, and Messrs L. Sterne & Co., the machinery makers, free of all cost to the colony or the Institute. It ought to give a great impetus to the New Zealand mutton and dairy trade.