THE EXHIBITION.

ELEVENTH NOTICE.

THE EXHIBITS

THE DISPLAY OP COAL

i One of the feature's of the Fourth j Court in the Auckland Inldustrial and j Alining Exhibition which attracts a I great deal of attention daily, is the ; splendid show of coal on view, from j the North, the Waikato, and from j West port. The Auckland exhibits of j 'black diamonds' are especially fine, and give visitors an excellent idea of I our resources in the line of fuel for j steam and househoftl purposes. I WESTPORT COAL COMPANY. The -Westport Coal Company (Limited) has a striking display illustrative of the output of its mines. The foremost feature of this court is the exhibition of two tubs of coal shown as they have come from the Co.'s Denniston Mine, some ~()00 feet above sea ; level, near Westport. The tubs or j iron trucks were themselves nian.ili factured at the Co.'s works, and two sizes of tubs are shown, one weighing 5 cwt., and carrying 13 ewt. of coal; and the other weighing 7 ewt., and carrying 17 cwt. of coal. At the ends of the stand are divisions showing samples of household coal, small coal, smithey, and unscreened coal, with samples- of gas coke made from small coal. Some of the coal is the celebrated Coalbrookdule coal, which is now extensively used by the British navy on this station; the Union S.S. Co.. the Shaw. Saville and other steamer lines; and the product of the Millerton Mine is also shown. Photographs showing various workings, and some of the scenes near the mines, and a map of the Westport harbour are shown. One picture shows 11.M.5. 'Calliope' steaming out of Apia Harbour in the memorable hurricane of nine years ago, on which occasion she owed her escape solely to Westport coal. Another picture is a photograph showing the barque 'Cynosure' leaving Westport with a cargo of coal I for Valparaiso, and there is n photo I showing the water front and a number of barques and steamers busily loading coal. RALPH'S TAUPIRI COAL MINES. Further along in the same row in the Fourth Court is a splendid display of Ralph's Taupiri Coal Mines Co. (Limited) of coal from the Co.'s wellJ known mine at Huntly. A collection lof very large pieces of coal from the 1 big seam in the mine is on view, and a plan of the workings is shown. Some interesting photographic views of the interior of the mine showing the underground workings are also on view. The mine is under the superintendence of Mr Thomas Snow, and (an increasing output of 2500 tons per month has already been attained, which is equal to about 100 tons per day. The con! is excellent for household and steam purposes, and is in brisk demand both in town and country and on the goldfields. It is a clean coal, throwing out remarknble heat, and burns with a clear, bright flame. The mine itself is one of the most interesting industrial sights of the district. Tt stands in a unique position in the matter of shipping facilities, having the railway within thirty yards on one side of the shaft and its' own wharf on the river bank an equal distance on, the other side. The shaft is 173* feet in depth. The last seventy feet of the descent is through a solid layer of firm, bright coal, the seam being of this thickness, and dipping gradually as ir crosses the river. The workings follow the dip of the seam, and therefore extend underneath the bed of the river, between which and the level on which the miners are working there is something like 250 feet of earth, fire-clay rock? and solid coal. A layer of coal seventy feet in thickness has been proved over the greater part of this property, and which, therefore, extends in front and behind, and on either side over the whole area of the property, which is three-quarters of a mile square. The workings nre not yet across the river, but the company knows the coal is there, because bore? have been put down and have gone forty and forty-five feet through the layer or seam without getting to the bottom of it. HIKURANGI COAL COMPANY. The visitor's eye is once attracted to the exhibit of the Hikurangi Coal Company. by the immense blocks of j coal weighing about 20 tons in all, , which are arranged in the form of steps, the top of the highest piece being- about 10 feet, from the ground. These blocks were hewn from a seam from'lo to 10 feet thick. Photographs of the coal mine and of the peculiar limestone rocks around Hikurangi, which is inland from-Whangarei, are shown, and besides these are several very beautiful specimens of limestone and marble obtained from the same district. The company was formed in 1894 by some of our leading capitalists to work the principal coal area at Hikurangi, distant, about 13 miles inland from Whangarei, The property of the company consists of 780 acres. The coal-bearing land within this area contains, undoubtedly, the cream of such country in the Hikurangi district. The railway line runs through it, and within a few yards of its main workings. The quality of the coal is excellent for both household and steam purposes. HADLEY AND CO.'S EXHIBITS. Further additions have been made to the exhibits of Messrs Hadley and ! Co., and arrangements are completed ; for running the different machinery. Messrs Hadley and Co. show the only shafting working in the Exhibition, which is 20ft long, and from this lead runs the vauner, two of Gates' new pattern ore and rock breakers, viz., D and F, Gates' high grade .roll ore crusher, and other machines. It was intended by Messrs Hadley and Co. to work the Tremain steam stamp mill and arrangements were made for a supply of quartz for this purpose, but the Executive of the Exhibition decided it would not be wise to run the risk of fire attendant upon the use of steam. Messrs Hadley and Co. also show in addition to the articles previously noticed linnd drills manufactured' by the Hardy Patent Pick Company, and a winding engine from the works of the Lambert Hoisting Enp-ine Company, New Jersey. In the centre of the stand is situated a pyramid of black and galvanised wire %-opes, manufactured by George Craddock and Co., for general mining and haulage work. Besides the coils there is a large and handsome showcase containing samples of new and worn ropes, also a large framed photograph showm»- the immense works of the makers&of the ropes, Messrs George Craddock and Co., at Wakefield, Eng- | land, Messrs Hadley and Company

also show power rock drills on tripods, and mining columns manufactured by the Bullock Manufacturing Company of Chicago, known as the Monarch. There is also a line exhibit of the articles manufactured by the Hancock liispirator Co., Boston. UNION OIL ENGINES. Of late years oil engines have come ! greatly into use, and various kinds are shown by different firms in this I Exhibition. Messrs W. A. Ryan and Co. being- the sole agents show in the ! next bay samples of the Union oil engines, Union gas are also shown by^ this firm. A considerable space is occupied by the exhibits, which ' are of interest to those contemplating the introduction of power for driving purposes. SOUTH SEA ISLANDS COURT. An exhibit of special intei-est in the annexe close to the gold exhibits is that of South Sea Island curiosities, the property of Mr Kronfeldt. On the counter in a glass case is displayed two specimens of Malau birds from Niuafooun, which are said to be now very rare. Arrayed over the walls of the interior of the space are to be seen valuable spears from New Guinea, Solomon Islands and New Hebrides, clubs from Fiji, Samoa and Tonga, besides well got up tortoise shells, kava bowls and cups, war dresses, Nine Sisi, Solomon Island armour, .meke dresses, native pillows aud hundreds of other articles peculiar to the tropics. Here and thei-e in the stall are to be seen fans of different shapes. Samoan bracelets, beads and other articles. There is also shown a representation of an elaborately got up Tahitian canoe used at festival time, besides a capital specimen of a Samoan wig worn at festivals, and a collection of shells from Santa Cruz, many of which are handsomely carved. The Samoan coral set off in a glass case contains rare specimens. On the counler cocoa beans in 1 lie rawstate from Samoa, vanilla beans from Tahiti and coffee beans from Raratonga are shown under glass. These go to show the industries of the L> lands. curiosities have never been in Auckland before, and they were collected by Mr Kroul'ekU personally at a good deal of expense. The exhibit is personally looked after by a lady who can explain all its riches in an intelligent manner. AUCKLAND TECHNICAL SCHOOL. This school shows in a smart exhibit what splendid work can be done within its walls at Rutland-st. Specimens of the work done are freely displayed, as well as freehand and model drawing, mechanical drawing, wood carving, carpentry and joinery, and other branches of technical and trade sciences. DUPLEX TELEGRAPH APPARATUS. The New Zealand Post and Telegraph Department also exhibit in this space a Differential duplex telegraph apparatus for sending two telegrams in opposite directions on one wire at the same lime. A wire is connected with No. 1 Court alongside Webster's floral display, and messages are sent to and fro every night. This latest invention in the telegraphic art is a source of great interest to many visitors to the Exhibition. BILLIARD-TABLES. In the annexe Messrs Wright, Ranish and Co.. of Wellington, through their local agents. L. 1). Nathan and Co. .have also on exhibition three well made billiard tables. This firm are celebrated for their billiard and dining table combined, which is fitted with Hanger slate all in one piece. MODEL OF MAORI WAR CANOE. There is on view in the annexe a perfect model of a Maori war canoe, beautifully carved and decorated, about 7ft in length. It is an improved representation of one of the celebrated canoes named the Tainui, which brought over the first batch of ('migrants, about. 00 persons, from Hawaii or Hawaiki, one of the Polynesian group, and landed them first at Otahuhu, about 500 years ago. The model is a perfect one, and it was made by a veteran Maori chief named Patara te Tuhi, of Mangere, who was engaged on tlie work some six years. In all respects it is fully equipped according to ancient usage. BUILDING STONE. Alongside the Maori canoe are located a number of boulders or blocks of splendid building stone. Five blocks are from Ohinemuri. and there are also shown large pieces from Matamata, Te Kuiti, and Churchhill (Rangiuru). Mr John Wither, settler, exhibits a sample of stone from near Waikumete. This stone is a rich grey free sandstone. It has been tested with acids and then frozen at the Auckland Freezing Works. The stone is reported to have stood the tests well. We understand that it has also been shown to Mr Cheesernan and that authority thinks it is good stone, but he wishes Mr Wither to leave a portion of the quarry exposed for 12 months, and he will then be able to give a better estimate of its value. It may be here mentioned that Mr E. C. Ilea ley is in charge of the annexe and mineral court on behalf of the Exhibition Executive. HIKURANGI COLLIERIES CO. Messrs Cook and Buddie, representing the Hikurangi Collieries (Limited) and the New Zealand Portland Cement Co., have a bay in the fourth court, and make an excellent show. An immense block of coal hewn from a seam 14 feet thick is shown, also several samples of fire bi-icks made from the company's clay. The New Zealand Portland Cement Co. shows samples of its lime and cement from Limestone Island, Whangarei Harbour, where the company owns 83 acres. A case displaying the different processes through which the limestone rock is reduced to the finished articles hydraulic lime and cement is on view, and the whole bay is arranged in an attractive manner. The colliery is situated at Hikurangi, in the Whangarei district, adjoining the property of the Hikurangi Com Co., and is connected with the port o! Whangarei, distant fourteen miles, by Government railway. The present company commenced to open out at the end of IS9O. The output from July, 1597. to September, 1808, was over 13,000 tons. The output for September last was over lliOO tons for the month. The coal is semibituminous, and is a first-class steam coal. WILSON'S LIME AND CEMENT. One of our most important Auckland, industries is well represented in a section at the extreme end of No. 4 Court, near the annexe court. This is the manufacture of hydraulic lime and Portland cement by Messrs J.

J Wilson and Co.. at Mahurangi. -'The. exhibits are contained in" a room 12 x 12 feet, constructed of laths and the exhibitors' cement, in the centre of the ceiling is a beautifully finished ornamental cornice in cement work, , while on one of the Avails is an artistic reproduction in cement of the British royal arms. Specimens of J the raw material and the finished ar- | tide ,and the various stages through j which the lime passes before it is coni verted into concrete, are shown, and I every information is given concernI ing this industry. Slabs of concrete I and cement, burnt clay, and a large | piece of solid concrete which has been I under the water for eight years are I shown. No less than 3,000 tons have been used for the Napier breakwater works during the last IS months, with results highly creditable to the manufacturers. Wilson's hydraulic lime is also well-known rind extensively used throughout the colony. E. PORTER AND CO.'S EHIBITS. In this court one of the most interj est ing exhibits is the extensive display of machinery made by Messrs jE. Porter and Co. Oii and steam i engines and refrigerators, general machinery, mining machinery, and agricultural machinery and implements are all represented, and some of the more striking-looking machines attract a good deal of attention from visitors. An exhibit which" draws crowds of visitors when it is working is the Humble and Nicholson new dry ammonia compression refrigerating machine, condensing H galls, of water per minute, and manufacturing ice at the rate of 20 cwt. in 24 hours. This machine is specially designed for butter factories, dairies, butchers shops, bacon cnrers, meat pressing works, breweries, and icemaking and freezing works. Ice collects on the outside of the pipes containing the condensed air, and many visitors inspect the refrigerator with interest and try its efficacy for themselves by touching the 'frost' coating. An 8 h.p. Hercules marine oil engine, a 0 h.p. steam portable engine, and a 2A h.p. Hercules stationary engine are shown, in the dairy department Alpha Laval cream separators are on exhibition, and a variety of churns, etc. The 'zero' refrigerator safe or cool cabinet is to be seen. Besides these are all sorts of agricultural machinery and implements, including cha fl'-c utters and double baggers, ploughs, harrows, seed drills, drill hoes, rakes, grass edges, orchard horse cultivator, etc. Pumping machinery for mines, railroad water stations, brick yards, quarries, hotels, etc., are well * represented .and there is a fine dynamo manufactured by A. and G. Price of the Thames. Amongst the miscellaneous machinery and other exhibits shown by this wellknown importing firm are forges, drilling machines for engineers and blacksmiths, assay testing hand crushing machines, vertical saws, saw grinding machines, wire ropes. battery belting, an assortment of household laboursaving and kitchen appliances, well pumps, etc. Another important exhibit is that of the Nobel's Explosives Company, Limited, for which E. Porter and" Co. are agents. There are three show cases containing fac simile representations of this company's high explosives, together with examples of the material employed in their manufacture, and the tools and instruments required by the consumer in using and firing them.