THE INNOCENT FROM HOME.

Waikato Times, Volume XXV, Issue 2068, 8 October 1885, Page 3

THE INNOCENT FROM HOME.

No. Vll.—Thk Exhibition. Ilf sfMAfanfr of furniture, I should have noticei the wickeiwork suites which are light, pretty and cheap, and very suitable for country houses. There is quite a museum of stuffed nutive bird', skins and fur, shells, sea-weed, ferns, &c. A good deal of tobacco in shown, and Hingor and Co., Dunedin, have linseed raw and in all its manufactured states. A large space is occupied by chemicals, drugs and perfumery. G. andT. Mason* show cue of perfumery is got up in excellent style ; they make nearly every kind of perfumery from local products. The Wellington < las Company have oils and dyes from coal tar, ammonicle liquor, sulphate of ammonia and asphalt from coal tar. Perhaps iome may not know that many of the most beautiful dyes are made from coal tar. Pottery was extensively shown, and Mr Peter Birly, of Auckland, exhibited a wrought iron fuchsia twining round a sticky this was copied from nature. I looked in vain among the coal exhibits to see some from Waikato. One of the prettiest exhibits is the stand occuSied by Kitchen's soap and candles, ledallians of candles are on the walls ; slatnary whioh we think ii purest while marble, turns out to be best New Zealand tallow. Every sort of candle in there, from tho •mall taper to the candle ten feet high and one inch in diameter. This exhibit is quite a work of art. The dyed sheepskins are well done, and some, very handsome, are dyed in two or more different colour* or sh-doM. There is not such a good show of artificial manures as a farmer would like to see, as getting cheap and good manures means to us in Waikato a great deal. There are 17 exhibitors of carriages and wheelwrights' work, and every description of carriage is to be seen, from the common ■pring cart to the beautifully finished open .carnage. Mesnro Cousins nnd Atkm •howed a finely finished landau <>f polished, light coloured wood. Then wo come to leather work, i>ortmanteaus and saddlery, all made from New Zealand leather. Mr hint Portland cements manufactured at Bluff harbour, and equal to the imported article. There are compasses, lifo-buoys and marine appliances by the dozen. Some of the most striking oxhibits were the boot*, from the strong watertights to delicato embroidered satin ; every form of boot and shoe is to be seen, and tha • Wellington manufacturers seem to have turned out the beet looking articles. The confectionary is quite a sight, and we come across it everywnrro in immense piles of tho most tempting looking sweets. I think almost every known vegetable and fruit is represented in lugur. A noticeable object is a bridescako about four feet m height, most artistically finished and covered with bridal flowers. Beside it m« wonderful structure! of all coloured cakes. There are only six exhibitors of flour ; Wilkin and Co. have a tine collection of seeds, grown principally in Canterbury. An exhibitor from Timaru ha« cornflour made from New Zealand wheat, and white gloss starch from name. There are, of course, many other csreals and agricultural product* which it is impossible to notice. There are 53 exhibitors of condiments and stimulants, coffee, spices, &c., and a Waikato grocer would be quite compensated for the expense of a trip down in seeing what wo can make ourselves and sell cheaper than the imported good*. Several people showed honey, but none was so well got up as Mr Firth's. This occupied a stand in a conspicuous position, and the convenient sized tins and bottles all with the "tower" label drew much favourable comment. I looked for Mr Karl there, but could not find him. There are 37 exhibitors of alea and wines, all locally made. Twelve competitors show in ■ the special wool section. In this and most other agricultural lines the N.Z. Loan nnd Mercantile Agency Company are large exhibitors. In the Art Gallery 416 pictures and works of art are catalogued. Dr. Buller exhibited eight pictures of Maoris by Lindaugr ; these were good mostly, though giving some of the natives too coppery a skin. A great many of the other pictures ate not good, and we feel ashamed that some of our countrymen have not sense enough to know that people can only laugh at their productions. There are, however, some by Gully, Burrand and other well-known artists that compensate for many bad ones. There are several screens, but I think tho two prettiest are unmounted ; one is composed of two panels of light wood with pink geranium on one panel and a white spray on the other. The second set are mirror-glass panels with white and pink belladona lilies on the one and, I think, blu« iris on the other. Two painted mirrors are tery pretty, the red nasturtium partly painted on the frame, and spreading over the glass looks like nature itself ; so do chrysanthemums tieated in the name way. I saw some very hand ■ome painted cushions, and of course placques everywhere. The show of photographs by various firms was very good, especially of the enlarged and retouched pictures. One cushion, lustra painting on velvet of a guelder rose, was much admired. In tins department was a very interesting specimen of minute penmanship. In about the spaco of 12in. square was written by hand, and with tha naked eye, 30,000 word", bein? the lives of several authors. Though written without artificial sight, few people could read it with the naked eye. One could not help saying. " How clever, but what a waste of time and eye-sight." We are alt<o glad to notice here many architectural designs, specimens of mechanical drawing, and designs in architectural perspective, and much other woik by pen and pencil, which is educating as well as pleas ing to the eye. Five education boards and tivo private persons show " educational appliances," I suppose they would call them. When I was at f>chool, the educational appliance I was brought up on w,\<* % long slender stick, commonly c.illed ii cane. But now we have changed all that, and young New Zealand must have instead, moral suasion and mental cram. I think the number of larrikins we have point strongly to the advisability of returning to the old "thrashing by hand" system. Of all parts of the Exhibition perhaps the most interesting was the home industrial loom: This was for work of all kinds done at home in spare time. To describe this alone would fill a good-sized pamphlet. One lady had a stand of beautifully neat hand aud fancy work, which had taken her two years aud ten months to finish. A co-y cover, handkerchief and collar in tho finest Honfton lace was made by a lady over 70 years of at(e. There is a model steamer made 23 years ago, which works by steam. And at the rate of 3A milts per hour. A picture looked at from different positions resolves itself into- three distinct and separate picture*. There are steam engines made by quite young boyt*. Immense crochet and patchwork quilt*, for which I have no sympathy. We can hardly believe that a very pretty white, apparently straw hat is made of 300 strips of white pa|>er. I must not tell you of a tenth part of what is here, or the Editor will be " crowding me out," but I must mention two pictures, made entirely by inlaying New Zealand woods. On* is Wellington and harbour, with native figures in the foreground and bills in the distance, all done simply by inlaying, and without aid from pen or pencil. The other is principally figures by the sea-side. In the first picture there are two or three ships riding in the harbour. There is a large hall in the building which is used as a refreshment room, and where you can get an excellent dinner of four coursss for one shilling. There is also a room where entertainments are held in the afternoons and evenings. In the latter building a magnificent organ is placed, and I had the pleasure of attending two organ recitals during my stay. The management brought down 25 native girls from Oraki, dressed them in white, with red ribbons and stockings, and gave entertainments of native songs, dances and <<aines. These enteitainraents were always crowded, though the dancing itself was very inferior. Now I have told you the principal points of the " big show," but were I to tell you M about it I should require The Waikato Times to myself for a fortnight.