28

H.—23

attracted so much attention, that a barrier was required to keep off the pressure of the crowd. In the upper part of the case are a series of models illustrating the mode of preparing the gold for export, and especially Miller's ingeniously simple process for removing the silver by the injection of chlorine ga» into the molten gold alloy. The statistics accompanying the gold, state that in 1874, there were 12,947 alluvial gold miners employed producing gold valued at 6,470,315d015., and 2,119j quartz miners, the value of whose production was 1,745,000d015. In the rear of the gold case is an iron safe to which the more valuable specimens are removed at night. On each side of the central space of the Court is a screen 17 feet long covered with watercoloured sketches and photographs of Zew Zealand scenery by W. M. Cooper, Deveril, Burton, McCrombie, and other artists of note in the colony ; also sixty sheets of New Zealand ferns mounted by Mr. Hay, of TaranaUi. In the centre of the Court is a huge gilt pillar, 25 feet high, representing the yield of the New Zealand gold fields since 1862. This pillar, which towers above every other object in this part of the building, represents a bulk of 246 tons of 23 carat gold, or 497 cubic feet, valued at £30,810,137 or 151,271,293d015., gold, all of which information is written on the sides of the pillar in bold characters, and eagerly transferred to the note books of hundreds of visitors. In front of the pillar is a small relief map of New Zealand modelled and geologically coloured by myself. Still continuing down the centre of the court is a trophy of large blocks of coal and minerals, surmounted by tall glass cylinders of petroleum from the East Cape ; also another trophy of polished timbers, some of the large slabs of kauri, rimu and totara being very attractive. Between these tropies and facing the side .floor there is the skeleton of a large moa bird lent by the Smithsonian Institute, and originally sent from the Canterbury Museum by Dr. Von Haast. Continuing to the back of section is a table case 14 feet long and seven feet wide, containing samples of hams, soap, candles, glue, grain, veneer-timbers, tan-barks, wine, beer, sauces, etc., and surmounted by a magnificent collection of all the varieties of kauri gum as sold in the Arnreican market, and eight different kinds of varnish which is made from it by Felton and Co., of Philadelphia Against the walls of the Court on each side are three handsome upright cases of walnut wood, alternating with ebonized table cases. In the fipet, on either side of the main entrance, are placed a selection of beautiful articles of'ladies' dress, manufactured from the feathers of sea birds by Liardet, of Wellington. Over these, on one side, are suspended the plates from Dr. Buller's great work on the ornithology of New Zealand; and on the other, groups of photographs of Maories, all mounted in inlaid frames, which show to great advantage. The first upright cases and the table cases in front are occupied by a most interesting collection of Maori mats made of feathers and flax, and by implements of stone, bone, and wood, forming a very instructive ethnological series, part of which has been lent by the Smithsonian Institute from the collections brought by the Wilkes exploring expedition of 1839, and the Transit of Venus expedition of 1874 On the left hand follows a long glass case containing a classified series of the minerals and ores found in the colony, over which are huug geological maps and sections. The next case is filled with an exhibit of 31 kinds of tweed cloth made by Messrs. Webley, of Nelson, in front of which have been placed a series of the books published in the colony, handsomely bound. The remainder of the west side of the Court is devoted to phormium fibre in all its forms of preparation and manufacture, from delicate textile fabrics to large hawsers, the coils of which are piled up in several great pillars. On the opposite side of the Court is a range of glass cases 38 feet long, containing selected fleeces of wool, the surplus of which, and also the grain, is stored separately in the Agricultural Hall, in a covered bin divided into compartmentss which completely covers the small space allotted to New Zealand in that building. Nailed up to the wall, over part of the wool cases, is an extensive exhibit of leather by T. Wilson, of Canterbury, and in a good light Mundy's series of photographic landscapes, and Sealey's views of the Southern Alps have been grouped around Dr. Von Haaat's elaborate map of the glacier and mountain system of Canterbury. Mr. H. Severn's panoramic view of the Thames Gold Fields is also against this wall; while in various vacant places other maps and views, 50 sheets of Auckland ferns, and 12 exquisite views of the Eotomahana geysers, by McCrombie, of Auckland, have been suspended. The total number of views exhibited in the Court is 519, all of which have been specially mounted in walnut by Mr Creamer, of Philadelphia. Over the centre line of the Court are suspended two large maps of the colony by myself, the one geological and the other physical, contrasting the present surface features with those of later tertiary times. The area of the New Zealand Court is 1,600 square feet, and the number of exhibits entered is 1,114. These exhibits appear in the official Catalogue of the American Commissioners under 136 entries The total number of exhibitors names given in the Catalogue is 68. In the Catalogue of the British section they are described in detail, from which it appears that the various exhibits were contributed in the following manner: —