THE NEW ZEALAND EXHIBITION.

Press, Volume VII, Issue 685, 9 January 1865, Page 4

THE NEW ZEALAND EXHIBITION.

The Daily Times of the 4th inst. gives the following account of the progress which has been made in arranging the different articles sent in for exhibition:— Very visible progress is now being made in the arrangement of exhibits; but supposing everything to go on as favorably as can possibly be hoped, all concerned will assuredly have to do their utmost .in order to have the exhibition in a presentable state on this day week, the 12th inst., which is fixed for the opening day. That the Commissioners and their ofEeers may be enabled to work as we know they desire to do it is essential that the Ramsay, from London, should be in the port by the end of the week at the latest; that the AbouTrir, from Glasgow, should also have arrived; and that local exhibitors who have hitherto neglected to send in their goods, should awake to the necessity of their so doing. It is strange

that, after the many urgent remonstrances addressed to exhibitors in this province on this subject, there should still be so many to whom it is necessary to repeat the remonstrance, that by their neglect they are adding difficulties to the task of the Commissioners —a task which, with the most ready compliance from contributors, and the most perfect organised staffs procurable in the Home country, is always a most trying one, even with exhibitions of less extent and variety than that which is now being got together in Dunedin. It may be well to hint that the Commissioners will be able easily to use, and to use well, every inch of available space, even if many things for which space has been allotted should be altogether excluded. The under-gallery area, allotted to Otago, is now pretty well filled with packages of goods, or with glass cases that are ready, or nearly so, for the reception of exhibits. "We noticed yesterday the names of Matheson and Campbell, Maclaggan street; Bentley Brothers; Reaney Brothers; Grant P. Farquhar, Princes street ; and James Mollison upon upright cases for the display of saddlery, boots, prepared leather, &c. The representative of Mr. W. Kennedy, of Jetty street, was opening out collections of the American patent portable stoves, for cooking by gas or kerosene, which we recently described, and which seem as compact in their arrangements for baking, boiling, and grilling as is possible. Mr. Beeves has his sodawater stand complete; and Mr. Pelling, lozenge manufacturer, has a small wall case thoroughly well filled. Passing into " England," we found one large stall in three heights completed, and another in progress, which we learned are to be devoted to the manufactures of Messrs. S. W. Silver and Co., of Bishopgate street within ; the former being intended for military and naval accoutrements, saddle bags, &c, together with portmanteaus and travelling gear, and the other for multifarious productions chiefly in indiarubber and gutta percha, which have been sent by the Indiarubber and G-utta Percha and Telegraphic Wire Company (Limited), whose works are at Silverton, Essex, and in which the firm named are largely interested. The indiarubber and gutta-percha goods include many articles of ornament as well as of widely differing uses. There is a long counter stand waiting for the various contributions of china, crockery, &c, which form part of the freight of the Ramsay. A side counter is already filled with articles of saddlery. Messrs. Silver's goods have arrived ; and so, fortunately, have a good many other cases containing English exhibits. A few steps take us into " Auckland," all the exhibits of which province have arrived, and are now being arranged by Mr. John Mason, of Durham street, Auckland, the agent, for that purpose, of the Provincial Q-overnment. This collection was exhibited in Auckland, and our correspondent there has already enabled us to give some general description of it. On one of the two large stands in this section there is a well executed model of a bridge now being erected over the Tamaki, at Panmure. The length of this bridge will be 578 ft with a 20ft roadway, 45ft above the river level, and having near one end a swivel opening 40ffc. wide. The engineerisMr. W. "Weaver, A.1.C.E., and the contractors Messrs. M'Neil and Wilson. Upon the model of the bridge will be placed a large model of a Maori war canoe, really an excellent bit of wood carving, sent by his Excellency the G-overnor, to whom it was presented by a chief. The Governor's contribution embraces several of the gods of the Maoris of old, numerous weapons, and several walking-sticks. If the Maoris are ignorant of " the nice conduct of a cloudedcane," as it was practised by our greatgrandfathers, they nave a strong, if peculiar, notion of what is foppish in the way of walking-sticks, as will be evident to any one who examines the specimens in this section. There is a numerous collection of specimens of wool, prepared some time ago by Mr. Mason, each in book-form, and opens on hinges ; there being cavities in the interior to contain a section of a branch so as to show the bark, and also a sample of the foliage and flower. These specimens are arranged on three shelves of a combined book-case and secretaire, made by Mr. Mason from woods indigenous to the North Island, and nicely inlaid. The Auckland collection is a very varied one ; but we need only mention further that there are' several boxes of coal from the recently-opened Kawa Kawa Mine, Bay of Islands, which has been tested on board her Majesty's screw steamer Falcon and other vessels, and has in each case been declared to be excellent for steam purposes. In the section allotted to Southland there are only a few packages, and they are unopened; and Wellington, although better represented as regards bulk, has not yet made much display. Canterbury is. progressing satisfactorily under the superintendence of Mr. R. L. Holmes the provincial agent. The geological specimens are arranged in three cases and labelled; a number of geological sketch maps await hanging, as do many large frames containing beautifully displayed specimens of the Alpine flora of the province. There are botanical specimens to fill a commodious case. Architectural drawings and photographs are pretty numerous; and by means of photographs and sections, the mode of work in the railway tunnel through the Lyttelton hill, and the progress made, will be clearly shown. The machinery sent by Canterbury-has been placed in the annexe; and her wools and cereals are with the like exhibits in the gallery. Nelson's contribution cannot yet be well indicated; but it seems to include a good many models. Hawke's Bay shows well forward. We have before described the collection promised by Mr. Colenso, M.P.C., M.H.R., and this forms a considerable portion of the Provincial whole. Ascending to Otago's section of the gallery, we find that Dr. Hector and his assistants have completed the arrangement of the G-eological Museum belonging to the province, with various additions, including

that made by Dr. Lauder Lindsay, and which has before been enumerated by us. The labelling of this extensive and interesting collection is now being, proceeded with. In the other portions of this section of the gallery, numerous central, side, aud wall cases are completed, and waiting their intended contents; and there are many models, not yet permanently placed. The Great Britain section has one huge three-height counter, and a long upright double glass case, waiting for the Indian Museum and other exhibits now on board the Ramsay. Passing into the Wools and Cereals section, we see many tightly packed bags and a few glass cases; the bags sorted into lots, but nothing else done towards displaying these most important products. Australia is bare at present; but the Furniture section is getting well filled with sideboards, tables, chairs,° &c, all at present enveloped in holland covers. In the tower space, between the Furniture and Otago's G-eolo-gical Museum, Mr. Edmund Thomas Brown, the clever and most persevering constructor of the model of the township of Alexandra (Manuherikia), and the surrounding country, has far advanced in putting his work together. The storm of Tuesday caused him some trouble, not to speak of inconvenience. Rain, beaten in through the louvre boards in the tower, found its way through the ceiling, stained part of the hills at the back of the township, and washed off some of the hillocks, which were made of pipe-clay. A repetition of this has been prevented. The model is 12 feet 9 inches long and 8 feet 1) inches broad; its length representing half a mile of country. Everything is to scale and from a survey. The mode of construction of every store and dwelling, within the extent represented by the model, can be easily seen, as well as every claim and the mode of working it. One bit of inge* nuity deserves mention. Mr Brown made a man mould and a horse mould, and has cast many tiny men and horses of lead ; they have been, or will be, improved by cutting, when necessary ; and the nature of the metal will allow each to be put into its proper attitude after it has been fixed. The model was exhibited in Alexandra, and curious instances of miners' appreciation of its exactitude were afforded. One party of men held a long argument over the model as to the exact position in which the pegs of their claims were; and when a man ventured to suggest that a particular tent was a little out of position, he received a box on the ear from its owner, and was told he knew nothing about the matter. JNTear this model there are several of mining machinery, made by Mr. A. Bobardt, mechanical engineer, Melbourne. They comprise—prize puddling machine, by Mr. Bobardt, with, planetary motion; common puddling machine, with i horse and steajn power; Hart's amalgamator and Hart's puddling machine. With respect to the Central Hall space, we understand that it has been decided to remove into the corridor the fountain contributed by Messrs. Park and Curie. In the corridor, amidst plants and flowers, the fountain will be most appropriately placed; and in. its present position occupies part of the ground required for a large case which will contain all the gold specimens contributed by the banks. One small stand case was visible yesterday, in which are so many of the specimens of Dunstan manufactured jewelry as have been contributed by Messrs. Goodwin and Barlow, of that place. There are rings, brooches, and pins, of simple gold, or with settings; and, whether in excellence of work or chasteness of design, they are a great credit to the province. If the other contributions are of equal merit, our goldfields workers will contribute much to the beauty and interest of the exhibition. There are some other similar cases, but so jealously wrapped, that their contents are not disCQverable. The finishing touches are being given to the front of the Wellington organ, built by Mr. Jones, and sent, by Mr. Lewis. A semi-circular dais of three heights is being constructed for his Excellency the Grovemor, on the opening day ; and a rich canopy is to be placed above it. The oil paintings and water-colour drawings, at present numbering nearly 120, have been removed to the room prepared for them, off the corridor, but the hanging cannot be commenced until all promieed have been sent in. The pannelled ceiling of the corridor is nearly completed; and side tables for flowers and plants are being erected. The decoration of the Refreshment Department is completed. It has been done by Messrs. Holmes and Amos for the lessee, Mr. James Johnston, of the Melbourne Hotel, who has himself superintended what wood work was necessary. A kitchen and pantry .are being erected adjoining the corridor; the former will contain a stove and range, and all other necessary appliances. One of the arches formed at the back of the main building has been assigned to the lessee as a beer cellar, for which purpose.it is eellently adapted. Several men were at work yesterday, putting together machines that are to be exhibited in motion; and all the heavy work of 3reeting the engine has been done except the placing of the fly wheel, which is some Bft. n diameter. The boilers have been sur•ounded by an iron fence, and they are being loused in. We learned last evening that the Aboukir iae arrived at the Heads ; and we hope that he Ramsay will very speedily be in Port.