No. 4 COURT.

Auckland Star, Volume XXIX, Issue 284, 1 December 1898, Page 37 (Supplement)

No. 4 COURT.

Entry to this Court is- obtained by passing through another archway and descending a few steps.This Tpurt is double the size of the forme| ones, being 100 feet wide by 280 in ftngth. It is, however, divided, the northern half being devoted to general exhibits, while the other end has been tinostly occupied by machinery and ccV exhibits. Turning to the Northen);: end first the attention of the visitor U«u •/ not fail to be fixed by the admiral?* exhibit of the Tonson Garliek CoL ' pany. Here on a space in the centre?. 55 feet by 20, has been constructed--and furnished in sumptuous style a^ model house, comprising a hallway,

. with linoleums laid, and handsome i stand, a bedroom with bay window, • and luxuriously fitted up with a magi nificent wardrobe and Duchess suite and bedstead, the walls being done in tinted and not figured paper. In another division is an equally well furnished drawing room. All these rooms are lighted by electricity and New Zealand woods have been used for making the furniture. Adjoining this is a space 25 feet by 20, Messrs Mennie and Dey of Albert-street, have on exhibition a pyramidical erection of tins displaying varied assortment of biscuits and lollies manufactured by that firm. At the western side near this spot Mr McLeod of Karangahape Road has on view a number" of go-carts, perambulators of varied style as well as cane work. Adjoining is Mr Gregory's display of photographic work, including numerous fine enlargements. At the northern end of the first row in the centre is situated the exhibit of the Great Northern Brewery. This is a structure built in imitation *of the old stone brewery with the exception that the corners are composed of pillars made from barrels. Inside are casks of beer and other exhibits connected with the liquor industry. Fronting this on the western side Mr Moses Exler hao a creditable display of what may be termed fancy pottery, including besides tiles vases and pedestals, also well finished articles such as crocks, teapots, and jugs. On the eastern side of the Great Northern exhibit is a flue collection of stoves and ranges shown by Messrs Scott Bros, of Christchureh, and occupying a space of 40 feet by 10. Close by the Singer Company exhibit a great variety of sewing machines. Messrs Harrison &, Beckford, representing Richmond & Cc, occupy a space ol! 40 feet by 10, in whicli are placed on view a large collection of gas stoves. In another division of this space the same firm show a number of splendid oedsteads, the manufacture of the Mersey Bedstead Co. This collection secured first prize during tlie present year at the Manchester, Warrington, aud Liverpool Exhibition. Samples of jointless rims for bicycles are also shown by Messrs Harrison and Beckford. In* a glass case near the entrance to court No. 4 Mr Kronfeld shows specimens of the canned fish put up by the Zealandia Company at Otamatea River. Owing to the large size of No. 4 court two rows run down the centre. At the end near the main entrance Messrs Cousins and Cousins have on view highly finished specimens of the work done at th.ir coachbuilding factory. A novelty shown here is a funsized model of a dapple grey horse in harness. Next to this the Kauri Timber Company make a fine display of joinery work in a space 20 feet by 20. The inner area is occupied by doors finished mantle pieces, and all descriptions of joinery work turned out by this company. The upper portion' of the structure carries a soffit and faeeia. Amongst the'exhibits are also specimens of carving. Further down the line Messrs Maselield Brothers exhibit specimens of canned fish, and Messrs J. Wiseman and Sons show an admirable collection of saddlery and saddlers' ironmongery, which occupies a space of 20 feet by 20, and is a most interesting exhibit. Near the end of the row _ .esrs Hipkins and Coutts, representing J. Speight and Co., of Dunedin, have quite a unique exhibit in the shape of an enormous vat capable of containing 7500 gallons. At the four corners of the space secured by mis firm are erected pillars constructed of barrels topped by giant bottles all illustrative of tlie brewing business. The vat and barrels are composed o. polished wood, and the hoops being gilded combine to produce a very striking effect. In front of this exhibit is a large glass case, in which -Messrs Partridge and Co. show samples of the tobacco ami cigars for which they are agents. A striking exhibit close by is that of fhe Tauranga people, who to illustrate one of the main exports oi the district hit upon the happy idea of constructing an archway of cobs of maize, and at. the top the word Tauranga is worked in coloured cobs. Underneath are placed other samples of the products of the district, such as coal, quartz from Te Puke and elsewhere, and kauri gum. In one exhibit Tauranga is without competitors, for the pecuilar N.Z. lizard found in that neighbourhood is also shown for the benefit of visitors. Adjoining this is the exhibit from Opotiki. in which maize also takes a prominent place, cobs being built up in a column of considerable height, and around the base are other products from the district. On the eastern side of the Court, near this point are two stalls that will naturally attract the attention of the charitably disposed visitor who sympathises with all who work for the upraising of the fallen or the assistance of the afflicted. The first is that of the Salvation Army, opened for the purpose of exhibiting and also selling the articles made by the inmates of the Rescue Home, Maternity Home, and the Men's Home. Amongst the articles shown are plain and fancy sewing, as well as knitted goods. All proceeds of sale, of course, go to benefit the funds of the institutions named. The other stall contains exhibits that must appeal to all, as they are the work done by the inmates of the Institute for the Blind. These include handsomely polished horns, various kinds of mats, basketware, hammocks and sewn goods, all of which are for sale. In the same row, occupying a space 40 feet by 10, is the W.C.T.U. ' refreshment stall, opened under the management of the United Temperance organisations. Next to this Mr W. Hart shows the process by which wire mattresses are made and further on Mr Eugster has -his 'Round the World Exhibition.' THE COAL INDUSTRY. Ascending a few feet from the lower half of No. 4 Court the visitor reaches what should prove to be of universal interest, namely, the Machinery Court. This has been a scene of activity for some time past, a large staff of workmen being employed fitting up machinery and putting down massive concrete foundations. As many of the machines are working, visitors are bound to find plenty to interest them. The west wall of No. 4 Court is occupied by exhibits from coal companies, cement works and pipe works. The first to attract attention after'arrival is that of the Westport Company, in which ore shown two trucks of coal, as well as samples of fire clay and numerous photographs of the mine and its surroundings. Adjoining this space is a fine sample of the coal produced by the llikurangi Company. Large blocks of coal were sent up from the mine, and by this means an idea of the coal measure at present being worked on this property is produced. The seam is built up to a height of from 8 to 10 feet, and pro-

> duces an excellent effect by its massivj , appearance- Adjoining this is the ex . hibit from Ralph's Taupiri mines ; which is also a fine one, large blocK. . of bright clean coal having beer placed'in tiers rising one above tn< other. As the seam now being worked is about 70 feet in thickness, ii . was, of course, useless to think cv reproducing the whole measure. The N.Z. Portland Cement Company, ol Whangarei, occupies the next space with exhibits of the manufactured article, and also hydraulic limestone, lime, etc. A large collection is shown in the adjoining space of pottery, pipes, fire bricks, fire clays, vases, fancy chimney pots, etc., from J. JCraig's Avondale works. At the end of this side has been constructed for J. Wilson and Co. a pretty little room out of concrete, for which hydraulic lime was used. It is of substantial construction and well finished. Inside is an enormous cylinder made of concrete, and all round the walls are placed on shelves various blocks of different kinds of concrete. THE MACHINERY. As already indicated, no expense has been spared to render the exhibits of machinery of great interest. The bulk of the space in the centre is occupied by the exhibits imt in by Mr John Cambers, representing Tangyes and Co., and other firms. It is here that the concrete foundations have been put in in order to carry the massive machinery exhibited. Lear the entrance to No. 4 Court is a compound pumping engine with an enormous Ily wheel weighing about 30 tons. This is similar to the one supplied to the Kathleen Go. at Coromandel. Next to this is a Tangyes winding engine similar to those now working at the Kathleen. Waihi, Waihi Union, Waitekauri, and other mines. Further along towards the southern ena is placed a Hirmant Air Compressor manufactured by T. Larmouth and Co. This is the motive power utilised for driving pumps, rock drills and other kinds of machinery in mines. At the Exhibition it is being used to drive the machinery, the advantage being that no steam is required, the. force being obtained by means of oil and gas engines. Near at hand are three Tangyes gas engines working, and in close proximity is a collection of pumps of various descriptions. There is also an eight-horse power gas engine working, a collection of Bachelor's patent ropes, and Gandej-'s belting-. Mr Chambers also shows a number of dynamos which are used for lighting up the court by electricity. Near at hand Messrs Crosher and Sons have working three Crossle3 r gas engines driving five Crompton dynamos, and also a Union oil engine to drive another dynamo, the total power at woric being 28 horse. Th.se engines furnish the power for generating the electricity used by Messrs Crosher and Sons to light up many of the bays in the various courts. On the eastern side of Messrs Crasher's apparatus a large space is occupied by the machinery exhibts of Messrs Hadley and Co., representingthe Gates Iron Works of Chicago. Here may be seen the Tremain steam stamp mill for quartz reduction, which claims to put through 14 tons per day, being thus equal to an ordinary seven stamp battery. Here too is a Gates improved yanner similar to those supplied to the Woodstock Co., a Gates gyratory breaKer, the new 'IV crusher, pair of improved Gates rolls, power rock drill, Bullock Manufacturing Co.'s drill, called the Monarch, one on a tripod, and one on a column; also six coal borers, Hardy patent check ratchet, the Hancock Imperator Co.'s injector and ejector jet pump, lithofuge, border compounds, hoisting eugine, winders and vanners. Messrs E. Porter and Co.'s exhibits occupy 100 feet by 10 on the eastern side of the machinery court, and are of a very varied description, including a Robey's 6 h.p. portable steam engine, Humble and Nic-iolson refrigerating machine working, cream separators refrigerating safes, churns, Hercules oil engine in motion, Worthington pumps of various descriptions, orchard sprayers, hand and power drills, steel ropes, leather beltings, and a large exhibit of Nobel's explosives, as well as numerous agricultural implements. This firm also shows some fine art over-mantles, a tiled registered grate and hearth. Messrs John Burns and Co., representing the Union Iron Works, have single and treble prospecting batteries at work, also a Hoisting engine, improved concentrator, Cameron's sinking pumps, a duplex boiler, feed and light pressure pump., saws of all kinds, Amazon spieral packings, Bullivant's steel -wire ropes, as well as agricultural implements, lubricating oils and pain J. 3, and wheelwright materials. Near at hand the Southern Cross Company exhibit all kinds of galvanised iron ware. The N.Z. Railway Department have on view an interesting exhibit illustrative of the manufacture of wheels, axles and other iron fittings in connection with the carriages. The faggetted scrap is shown, then the welded block, thence through the various stages of manufacture up to the finished wheel centre. Axles arc also on exhibition in the rough state and finished, and other articles as turned out by the hammer so as to require very little finishing off. Around the walls are arranged photographs of the rolling stock. Specimens of embossed glass as done by the sand bias-, are also on view in this department.