THE NEW ZEALAND AND SOUTH SEAS EXHIBITION.

Waikato Times, Volume XXXIV, Issue 2751, 1 March 1890, Page 6 (Supplement)

THE NEW ZEALAND AND SOUTH SEAS EXHIBITION.

(FROM OUR SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT)

Continuing our notice of the Auckland exhibits, we find that a few minutas takes ns through the remaining bays, and the conclusion that in ho far as quality is concerned. Auckland is no well represented is forced upon as. If the Aucklanders, however, have not got a great deal in 'be way of variety i they make up for the defect to a great extent in quality. For instance, the splendid exhibit of Messrs Irelaud Bros., tanner* and fellinongers, is one that would do credit to any court in ourgreat show. The headquarters of the firm are in Auckland, but Messrs Gavin, Gibson and Co., Christchurch, are agents in the South Island, and, so far as a layman can judge, ought to do a roaring trade in the different kinds of leather manufactured by the firm. There are no fewer than 59 exhibits shown in their bay, and every conceivable kind of leather, from sole leather and waxed kip to No. 1 skirt leather, and hogskin in hair is shown; while there is also a capital collection of the skins of Australian marsupials, the native bear and other animals. Two exhibits of unique character are also to be seen in this bay. I refer to two tanned horse skins with the hair on them. One is the skin of Locket, the dam of Necklace and Thunderbolt. The other is the skin of no less an equine celebrity than the famous Musket, who, as the eatalogue informs us, was the sire of Msrtini-Henri, Carbine, Trenton, ' 'uirasseur, Nordenfeldt, Mitrailleuse, Maxim, Chain Shot, Necklace, Thunderbolt, Bangle, Tirailleur, Corunna, Hilda, etc., etc., etc., —a legend that induced one newspaper correspondent to point out the educative influence of the Exhibition on young rninda, and another one to write condorauiug such an educative influence, I and to cod jure up visions of racecourses and betting, of public houses and g-amblinff-deuH, ending in the utter destruction of youngsters, who onoe, perchance, gave ptomise of great thiugs. There is certaiuly room for a little philosophising over the tanned skin of old Musket hanging helpless on a trestle in one of the bays of the New Zealand and South Seas Exhibition. We, however, must pass on to the •' next caravan."

Near the leather bay we find, among a miscellaneous collection of exhibits, two rather uninviting looking artioles, which are however thought of sufficient value to be honoured with Royal letters patent. I refer to the washing machines exhibited by Mr H. Metcalf, and W. Vaile. Both these machines seem to be useful and ingenious, but thfl washerwoman is not yet doomed, as someone is still required "to turu the handle," An. ingenious friend of mine who resides in the country having some trouble with his washerwoman, once rigged up a machine into which theclothes wereplaced. This machine was connected with a small water wheel. The clothes were put in the machine along with houd and water, and, heigh presto! the wheel went merrily round, and the clothes were eleaned without the assistance of the erratic washerwoman. The machines under notice are not exactly of this description, but there can be no doubt that they facilitate operations to a considerable extent, A public trial of Mr Vuiln's machine was held iu tho Exhibition show grounds the other day, when some 25 dozen articles, both and heavy, were put throuirh it in four hours Tne complete operation from boiling to mangling was performed by the machine, and the trial was wit nessed by a large number of people, who were favourable impressed with the success of the trial. Mr Metcalfe's machine, exhibited in the Home Industries Court, also does more than the simple process of washing, as it is described as a patent washing tub with board and wringer comhined.

The Kauri Timber Company exhibit a useful invention, called the acme corrugated batten. Tfc ia an invention for fixing and supporting corrugated iron sheets for, roofing. Roofing put on in this way will certainly be far superior in many respects to the roofing put on in the ordinary manner. In the Game bay that contains the leather exhibit shown by Messrs Ireland Bros., W. M'Arthur and Co. have a show-case of boots and shoes that attracts considerable attention. The highest priced boot in the case is only 225, and the lowest is 5s 3d. All kinds are shown, from the strong Cookham down, or perhaps I should say up, to tho tan yellow of the modern masher. Another point worthy of mention is that all the boots and shoes in the case are made out of the aforesaid leather shown by Messrs Ireland Bros. In soaps Messrs Warnock Bros, have a capital case which has been arranged with very great taste. The remaining exhibits in the Auckland are not of a kind that call for special comment, Among them however may be mentioned samples of dried fruit and fish by Blagrove's patent, exhibited by the South Pacific Steam Drying and Packing Company ; New Zealand flax shown by L. D. Nathan and Co., ropes, etc., by the Auckland Fibre Manufacturing Co. ; a simplex incubator shown by Bellian and Roberts, teas by John Earl and Co., tiles and drain pipes by the Auckland Brick and Pottery Co.; blood manure by R. and W. Hellaby; Pond's churns and butter boxes; and a few items in the watchmaking way sent by A. G. BartIttt..

On the whole it must be confessed the display made by Auckland is not quite of that imposing nature that might have been expected, and the more one looks round the Canterbury and Otago Courts, the more he feels that fctoe Northern province suffers by the comparison, ' Canterbury in particular has shown what can he done in the way of giving an idea of the natural products'of t.he noil.