The Smaller Courts.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 2372, 23 October 1880, Page 4 (Supplement)

The Smaller Courts.

These are comprised in the space occupied respectively hy India, China, Mauritius, Ceylon, Jamaica, British Burmah, Fiji, and the Straits Settlements. India, as you perceive, makes a brave show. What do yon think now ol this shawl ? A shabby affair! lam surprised, my dear sir, at your lack of knowledge; know that that shawl is a real cashmere, and worth some two hundred guineas. Likely enough it took five years to make. It has been hand woven by the most patient, most ill-paid of workers. Look at this furniture from Bombay. There is a marvel of carving for you—and this carved stand; it was designed and made by the students of the School of Art in the Punjaub. Ah! England may have acquired India by the sword and force; but she is making noble recompense. She has cast the light of education upon the land, has lifted the people from the slough of ignorance and superstition, has given them free institutions, freedom of speech, a press—all that she enjoys herself. And here wo see what India can show us of her industries and arts. In this case, note well the packets of coffee, the indigo, etc., grown on the hills and slopes of Madras and Bengal. See these marvellous textures; these silken garments encrusted and heavy with golden ornaments — quaint and grotesquely beautiful. Here is a pile of native arms—God be thanked there is little need for them in the Empire. This brass work is unique. No other people can produce the like; nor can many approach the perfection of this exquisite filigree work. The Madras Government send some hundred exhibits, comprising mats, gunny bags, carpets, tapestry, bronzes, repousse work of art, castings, oils, tobacco, coir fibres, lace, embroidery, &c. The Nizam of Hyderabad exhibits two samples of attar of roses, and two of dyed threads. Then cereals and grasses are a prominent exhibit, such as rice, paddy, millet, horse grain, arrowroot and the Uke. Of course, the show of condiments and confectionery is very great. India is celebrated for these matters, and we own that our mouth watered as we looked upon the mango pickles, limes, chutney, cayenne sauce, curry powder—for the most part shown by our old friend, Yencatachellum, of Popham Broadway, in Madras. Why, he must be in years now, this sleek man of cunning appetisers. The Cape of Good Hope contributes works of art, apparatus for educational purposes, some fine furniture, mathematical instruments, clothing and textile fabrics, machinery, cements, brandy, South .African wines, &c. A hydropult, for cleansing and watering plants, and extinguishing fires, sent by Baily and Kerr, of Cape Town, is the best instrument of the kind we have ever seen. In the China Court are to be seen a fine exhibit of mathematical and philosophical instruments, and a most curious collection of Chinese coins—ancient and modem. E. Wadman, of Mugho, shows 10 pairs of Chinese vases, very old, very grotesque of design, very rare—Enough in these excellencies to send a collector to a madhouse. Then there are tapestries, and carpets, and furniture stuffs, and leatherwork, and basketwork, and nicknacks of all kinds. Silks, of course, take a prominent place j and laces, embroideries, and trimmings, of great beauty, are shown by our old friend Kong Meng. Knight, Banflinpl and Co., of Nowchang, exhibit felt stockings, shoes, and caps; also hemp, jute, bean, castor and paint oils, and goatskin cogs, black dogskin robe, bottled vegetables, and samshoo—an ardent spirit, that, like Bourbon whisky, is bound to kill at forty rods. The Oriental Tea Company show a fine colleotiod of teas, and Paterson and Co., of Queen-street, have a number of tea plants on exhibition. The Straits Settlements send interesting exhibits of clothing,' leatherwork, perfumery, mathematical and philosophical instruments (from the Saltan of Selangor), musical instruments (contributed by the Maharaja of Sober), jewellery of curious and beautiful design and finish, hunting and war weapons, alimentary products—raw and manufactured—and a fine collection of tin ores, ingots and ware. ' Jamaica (recently devastated by fearful hurricanes) sends cigars and alimentary products, such as coffee, rum, &c., also a curious collection of walking-sticks made from the native cane.