NEW ZEALAND AT THE SYDNEY EXHIBITION.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIV, Issue 5791, 21 October 1879, Page 3

NEW ZEALAND AT THE SYDNEY EXHIBITION.

The proof-sheets of the “ Official Catalogue have been forwarded by Dr. Hector to Mr, R. B. Gore, who has been acting in the capacity of secretary to the Wellington Commissioners since the departure of Mr. Callis for Sydney. A glance through the pages of the catalogue reveals many interesting facts, and shows the great strides which have been made by this colony in tbe way of manufactures, and that, too, without the aid of political quackery, in the shape of what is commonly known as “ protection to native industries.” Commencing with the mineral exhibits, we find that the trophy erected in our Court represents a total value from the gold produced in the colony of over £36,000,000, the yield being over nine and a quarter million ounces, or 285 tons of gold. The trophy stands 36ft. Sin. in height, and is sft. 2in. x sft. 2in. at the base, and 3ft. gin. x 3ft. Sin. at the apex. There is a large number of specimens from all the mining centres, and the Colonial Muieum contributes a good proportion. Copper, iron, silver, gypsum, hematite, iron sand (of which we are told large quantities are to he found in Queenstown, at the head of Bake Wakatipu, as well as in Taranaki) and sulphur are also well represented, the Nelson Provincial _ District having sent a large number of specimens of copper ore, whilst Taranaki has contributed pig iron (rough and polished) manufactured from tbe iron sand, which so largely abounds on its coast. Coal has been sent from various portions of the colony—from the Bay of Islands ; from Grey River, Westport, and Greymouth ; from Birchwood and Nightcaps (Southland) ; from Green Island and Shag Valley (Otago) ; and from the Malvern Hills (Canterbury). Specimens of marble have been forwarded which have been obtained in Canterbury, Caswell Sound, Aniseed Valley (Nelson), and at the head of Lake Wakatipu _ (Otago), red, grey, and white, the varieties. The fine quality of the building stone to be found in different parts of the colony, can he easily ascertained from the collection sent, notably that from Oamaru and Canterbury : whilst the roofing and flooring materials are shown by the slates sent from the Otepopo Slate Quarry (Otago), and by the artificial Caithness flagging sent by our townsman, Mr. Charles O’Neill, which is laid at the main, or west, entrance to the Garden Palace, the space being 12 x 33 feet. Then comes some lithographic stone from the Abbey Rooks, Westland ; and different varieties of fire bricks, fire clay, potter’s china clay, pipe clay, and glass-making sand from several localities, especially from Milton (Otago) and the Thames. Mineral waters from Makaraka (Auckland) and from the Puiri Springs (Thames), have been sent for exhibition : whilst the varieties of colonial ales, stouts, wines and cordials would be difficult to inspect in oue visit, and tasting would be somewhat dangerous, we should imagine, to the nerves. Colonial manufactured sauces, soaps, candles, oils, blacking, varnishes, paints, sealin'-- wax, fire kindlers, and a hundred other things, are enumerated in the catalogue. Petroleum is sent from Gisborne, and extracts of towai, rimu, rata climber, hinan, and pukatea, from the Omata Chemical Works, Taranaki. The various shades of New Zealand woods, and the different articles manu factored therefrom, we have already learnt have been much admired. The Guthrie and Larnach Timber Company have forwarded a large quantity, from a small tub to a large bedstead ; and Wellington shows np well

in this porlion of the catalogue, Messrs. Greenfield and stev.r/t. TTaIV-v and Ewing, W. Nicholson, W. Jam-, J. Petherick, Carl Peters, S. P. Clements, A. W. F. Halcombe, and some others, having forwarded contributions. Wool and flax, in all shapes, from tno raw material to fine spun shawls, arc also the e, the Mo-gitl (Otago) and Kaiapoi (Canterburv) Woollen Factories hiving sent large quantities of exhibit--. Then we find that paper, paper bags, and wrapping paper, manufactured from New Zealand fibres and grasses have bi.en sent from the Invercargill. M ttanra. and Otago Paper Mill- ; and specimens of brushware from Auckland, in the manufacture of which we are toM that twenty-six persons are employed. Confectionery, preserved meats and fish, tailor.-, leather, hops, flour, wheat, oats, barley, peas, beans, rye, potatoes, and other agricultural prolucts are in great variety ; but the show of agricultural implements appears to be a poor one, judging from the catalogue. Horticulture is represented by choice collections of the beautiful ferns which abound in New Zealand, Mr. H. F. Logan, of thin_ city, who is quite an enthusiast in that particular line, having sent one of the most complete collections every got together to the Exhibition. We have to congratulate Hr, Hector on tin completion of the catalogue, the perusal of which cannot fail to make our resources better known to residents in the Australian colonies. Great care has been bestowed upon th ■ work, and it must have entailed a considerable amount of trouble on both Hr. i lector and Mr. Gallia, the Secretary to the New Zealand Commissioners, who is in Sydney with our Executive Commissioner._ There are also some valuable statistics publis’-ed in connection with the “ Official Catalogue,’’ and taking it altogether the work has been very carefully and intel’igentlv cn-nniled.