THE INNOCENT FROM HOME.

Waikato Times, Volume XXV, Issue 2067, 6 October 1885, Page 3

THE INNOCENT FROM HOME.

No. Vl.— Ax Welmnotov. EvBRYONK has hoard or read a description of Wellington, so of the city itself I will not say much. Theio are so.no tine buildingn, but the general appearance of the town n straggling ..nd badly built. Wheie as in Wanganui one saw groups of stock j men and waggoners standing "bout with i their whips, heie every man who passes the T window or that we meet, lsauolliual on Liiim ness intent ; nearly every mm cames a toll of paper or a bag of some kind. 1 olicemcn abound, also bands w. 'i e finiu the ditfeieut paits of the colony who are competing in the band contest. None or the hhops .ue very striking except the butchei », which on nhew daysaiequite a sight, the deviation of tlio meat berne; most arti-tic. One would almost fancy it was confectioueiy they T were looking at, not meat. It is a city or lodaers just now ; owing to both the session and Exhibition being on together every place is full. Had not a friend kindly secured lodgings for us there would have been some difficulty m being housed. Ihe creat Mr Sala could not get a room, and had to go back to tho steamer again to sleep. Poor man, be has n<> cheese factory divi dend.s, so has to lecture to pay his expenses. He had crowded audiences eveiy night here. Cab hire is very cheap, and 6d or 1< will take us all over the town, ihe session is just about over, and these ueoplo look forward to a quiet dull tune. Many of the residences hero are painted brown, I suppose from economical motives as there are tearful dust gales often. The dear Meat Preserving Companypremises is in one of the main street-., .a the back of their butcher's shop. I hey intend shortly shifting to P'stone, whu. then will have buildings more adequate f-.r the large business they arc donnj. ljie mtnager kindly showed us all over the | works, and took us first to tho place where " the meat is brought in and boned ; the bones aro all hr,t put into a digoter t , . take off the fat and meat that may We 1. ft out, and then giound into bme dust. Iho in. at ii no\t raided in large boilers, then pressed into tins and boiled, being all tlu time most caiefully attended by inon specially engaged for this work. Tins is a moat particular part, as a minute mire or less •f boiling makes a great difference to the moat. After this the tins are soldered up, taken out, cleaned, and piepared for labelling. Upstairs two men weie painting the tins, and others putting on the labels. A very ingenious machine cuts out the tops and bottoms of the tins in one stroke ; by other machinery this would rcquuo tne opeiations. A boy was working this by treadle. The (iear Company preserve any thing and everything, and give quite a long list of tinned meats and soup* 1 ney send Home of their goods to India and elnewheie, doing a laige export trade. They give 17s per 100 lbs. On the West Coast they have buyon as far as H.iwera, and on the Kast Coast up to Napier. Their fieezing works arc at l'etone, about 10 miles from Wellington. They do not freeze for the public, but have bten giving from 14s to His cich for ohern for freezing purposes. Of coirbe, at this -e«son the wool counts for a good deal. This com pany seems to be mobt economically worked, and should be paying the shareholders. The promises are at piesent _ rather cramped, but when the new build W ings are erected at Petoiio, there will be every facility for carrying on the works.

The Exhibition. I ha\e heard a few people say they were disappointed with the Kxlnbitioti, but these weio chiefly ladies, or those who went expecting to see wonders of some kind, lint those who had seen nome of the Lite k^hi hitionn in England, and who .ire really interested in knowing what this cotincry can d<>, *.iy that for so young a colony it is cv cjedingly creditable. Tlie Exhibition is essentially industn.il, and was got up. to ••how the development of the various New Zc.il.uid industiit's, nothing being shown which was not ntanufa.ct.uied m tin- colony. Also to bring before the public raw material-*, mineral*, &c, which have not >et been utilised to the fullest extent. 1 wonder more of our tradespeople do not coino and see what w made in the countiy, enquire prices and try to encourage local industry by buying locally made goods. For myself I h.id no idea that manufactures had progressed so far in this new land of oui«, and had tilings been better worked up, I am sure there would luve been quite twice the numbtr of exhibits, especially from the rural districts. For example, as far as I could find out, Waikato s exhibits were Mr Firth's honey from Mataniata, a wire strainer from Piako, sent by Mr W. A Mm ray, and two pieces of in.icrame work by »oiue one in Hamilton. Now, I am still patriotic enough to think this is not all we cm do, ami hope when theie is another Exhibition, we shall beeourdistnct m allowing a long list. Cau w« not produce bwool, gi.un, cheese, butter, b.icon, pottery, ™ coal, and much eke of which I cannot thmk at present. Then the ladie* might show that thuir leisure moments are profitably employed by sending sample* of their needlework, and keep up their reputation n« housekeept rs by sending preserved and dried fruits, jam*, pickles, he. The Exhibition is a large building of corrugated iron, built for the pi u pose, just off one of the mnn street*. When we enter, we fancy we hue made a mistake, and ha\e come to a 1 irgc importing warehouse. The Mosaic! and Kaia-pm woollen factories have a very laige show of goods, manufactured from wool, into every conceivable article of clothing and use. There were also immense arches of coloured wool*, erected with great taste. Carpets were also shown from Canterbury. There were ten exhibits of rope and twine mado frcrtn New Zealand flax, with matting, and the flax dyed in all colours. Mr Hn-k, of Wang.mui, had a veiv much admired exhibit of knitted goods fro>n his knitting factory— every conceivable article, from a baby's boot to a football suit. But we want to get to tho iigncultnral depaitmwt, and will come back to these thing* by.and-bye. We are told tho gram and produce department is upstairs, and go up tt find an almost empty room. A few hams and Hides of bacon, some excellent hops, and YA lots of cheese, weie th« principal entries here. The .Vhburtou factory had llio largest exhibit of cheese. The Katikati and Taur.vnga factories were represented, but as yut no prize* bail been awarded. Judging by the quantity of preserv ed meat «hown we .night to be able to supply the world There were I'A exhibits of preserved moat, hsh, and soup. Among these the Gear Company*' stand attracted much attention, being well arrmged, and flanked by two immiMMC moulds, one of beef and the other of mutton tallow and largo casks of salt meat for export, and eneh day aearense • of frozen mutton \va« on view. The Kai4ft, para tinned fiiih had a corner to themselve-, and were without rivals. The name company also showed a very it,,iA assortment of tinned fruit. Hellaby lkos. were .ilso exhibitors. Considering the quantity and quality of this cl ms of good*, if New Zealand manufacturers push the trade properly it ought to be unnecessary now to import any of theao preserved meats. We noticed, also, skin packed portable condented soups, ctintaining the largest amount of nourishment in the smallest spaco. This should bo very suitable for surveyor I*,1 *, or these who have to economwe weight and siuce with their luggage. There were 13 lots of preserved fruit, three of which were from the Thames and one from Auckland. What attracted tbu moat attention in thus clay* waa a. round stand of bottled fruit, and jam in <<lasß tumbler*, sent by Mrs Knight from Tar.i naki. These were not factory made, simply for Bh»w, but e»ery kind of fruit was either bottled or made into jam, from peach to guava. Ido not kmtw any of the lady's other accomplishments, but it ii apparent to all comers that she can preserve fruit. »The agricultural machinery had two tides of the building to itself. There were no great novelties in this class, but everything shown, and all mado in the colony, was well and strongly made. Mr Murray, of Piako, has an improved wire strainer, «aid to be very effective. Mr Henry Reynolds' scrubcutting machine also attracted a good deal of attention. This machine has lately been improved by the substitution of a sickleedged or serrated knife, which is said, to make it quite a hucopss., and cutting with umoh tfreater ease, The Now Zetland, Implement Company had a new broadcast goed yower. An Archimedean screw runs along the whole length of the dull, nud flhould, I think, work well. This company P^ has five <>th«r exhibits. Ueid and Gray ar« largo exhibltois, showing double and threefurrow plough", also one th.it can be used for Hubsoiling a.s well, chaffcutters, bagging machines, broadcast force feed seed sower, gunno, turnip and gia^H seed-drill, disc harrows, with patent screw for balancing. Messrs P. and I>. Duncan, of Christchurch, had some good exhibits of wnll made tilouahs, giwn, grass and turnip drills, ami iSs Qthers. ''Wallace and Hotham hay. the Triumph hoe, for cultmting drill cr .|> without destroying same. I noticed th n moat o( tho new jnvcnUons are sallea

"Triumph,' showing the general lnteiest t.iki-n in .Mi Jna-or's enterprise. Tlien* \\ci<" suvei tl othei wire stiaineis, but J fancy nothing yet invented will -upei-<ede the old fashioned lollei. Tin- Acme lUibed Who Company fiom Tim.uu show largely, but I do not tlunk the who h .is go d as the Kngli^h, >»nd 1 would 1 ithei pay a hignci pi ice foi the lattei. Thine was a good deal <>t sawmill mac-hiuei}, but this is not of much mteiest to mil distuU. Mr Ciavv ford, of Auckland, has a complete dairj factoiy plant unoiiel) on a scale of -'It to lin. Theie vvoie not many ehuuis, and nothing now. Tlio Government aro ad\er twing for a supply of milk and some one to cairy on a model dairy in the building, showing the dilleient and most appioved methods of buttei making. This should be mteiestmg and instructive. Also veiy interesting to " those about to furnish ' aiu tho kitchen langiis, all of colonial nianu f.vcture. These ruceiv ed gre.it praise, and there were .ill wits and si/es, fiom Heibirt H. Smith's tiny portable oven to the immense tile backed lange by which ."iOO people could be cooked for. The price* of thebe seemed low, as a \ery nice little range cost only £ 1 10s. .M.i 4 h.id tiles-lining and looked very bught and clean. Anyone getting a range, 1 should advise to have one ot colonial make. 1 sjhv an incubator made by Mr Papvvorth, of Ma<-terton, entnely <if New Zealand timbei. 1 think for all ordinary put poses a good old barn door hen is tho best incubator. Those who have tried them, say that patent in cubators render the chickens delicate and liable to cold. I have no doubt th it where quick rearing and fattening foi sale wvie tho object, that with caieful handling thue itioulntois might bo luide to pay. Dining the session, lowls in Wellington souU'times fetch as much as 4s each. Theie weio several beehives, but nothing bettei than the L wgstioth, and .ill kinds of apiary ,ip phances. One beehive for raising comb honey was shown by Mi Kdwm lianett, oi Wantfanui. Ho lawed fiom it List yen over 700 sections oi Ib^. Not bad foi one 1 hue. lam not icspoiisible foi this, but il any one wishes to know inoie of this bee hive, he should vvnte to the exlnbitoi. I i think Mr Fiith is the only e\hn>itut <>i artihcial comb foundation. I pa^s over the mining machinery, artificial teetli, surgical appliance-, foundry woik, lecord ing billaid-uiaikei, invalid bedstead, aih hcul limbs, iron vv heelbauow, and whcele.l trucks for cariymg laigecans of milk with or othei liquid. Uuis.epuo Jiernascoin, of Wellington, was uoiking n machine which would do seven ditfoieiit kinds of work at the bamo tune, vu.,~ Band uw woik, fret work, oval turning, drilling, cuculai naw woik, guildstone work, and lathe work, by hand, tieadle, <-r stcun power. This was much admired and vvaa invented and made by the exhibitor. Tinware of all •hapos and si/.es was to be seen, some of it hand-painted and quite equal to any im ported. Messis Price Bros. Picton water wheel was proving its efficiency and powei by driving one of the dynamo machines. This machine was generating eloctnc light, and lit thiee large lamps, which showed all over the town. The numler of o'ectncal machines of different kinds shows the attention electricity is gaming from inventors and the public generally. Om grocers would have been pleased svith the Zealand la tea-mi\er. Chailesli. Uascoiguc showed a woolpiess, and testimonials to show that by it one man could do tho woik usually done by three, and that it u especially suitable for sin ill shed*. If anyone wishes to enquire, the inventor gnes his address--Marton, Wellington. There were se\eial other woolpre»ses, but tlm scenud the mmt hint iblu for (lurdwtiiet. Thefurnituie was very good indeed, it was almost mipossible to believe that the magnific ntly carved drawing and dining-iooui suites were of colonial minufactmc. One bea room suite nude at Wanganui, and inlaid with New Zealand wood", had 20,000 pieres of wood used m the constitution. If I attempted to do more than just mention this department, 1 should lequire at least a couplo of columns to descubo the side boards, over mantles, brackets, curtain«, and other articlos showing that our New Zealand timber is unnvalled for works of ait and utility. Tho Auckland m.uble woiks have two marble mantel-pieces ; one pine white is very handsome. Mr Xorne, of Auckland, shows a wardrobe richly inl-ud with New Zealand woods ; a small painting of Auckland harbour by moonlight adorned the front. This was painted by a lady who at one time lived in tho \V\uk.ito. This wardrobe is sold, price £1)0. I saw one colonial piano, but evidently it will be some tune before wo can compete with the old country in this line. There was a vory large exhibit of book binding, and paper making seems to bo quite a flourishing industry, and we see paper from brown paper in its second unfinished stage to the printed daily paper. Eclfctic.