EXHIBITION AT LEESTON.

Press, Volume LV, Issue 10057, 8 June 1898, Page 6

EXHIBITION AT LEESTON.

The members of St. John's Episcopalian Church have opened a carnival in the Leeston Town Hall, which is to extend over two or three days. The success of the undertaking speaks volumes for the energy and management of the vicar, the Rev. H. E. Ensor, Messrs J. N. Hammond, W. H Gundry, E. Ensor, Dr. and Misa Gosset. Miss Lunn, Messrs Lunn and Craddock. The large Town Hall is turned into a museum, where a complete and interesting collection of exhibits is on: view. There are shells, minerals and other articles from Fiji, Tonga, New Hebrides, China, Japan, India, Ceylon, Switzerland, France, Germany and America. The Hon. H. K. Taiaroa has sent a valuable and historical collection of Maori mats, implements and weapons, One mat, valued at £500, belonged to the Ngatimamoe ti ibe, which is now extinct, and is some 300 years old. A mat is also shown which was worn by Heke while arranging for peace, with the Europeans at Auckland. Another mat was worn by Taiaroa at the Kaiapoi pa, when it was stormed by the Rauparaha tribe in 1831. Maori weapons are shown which are 300 years old, having been through every tribal war in the North Island. The Mefanesian Mission exhibit is a most attractive and valuable one. Interesting exhibits have been sent by the Rev. W. Grant, Mr W. Inwood, Miss Holley, Miss McDonald (who exhibits part of the cloak worn by Flora McDonald, Messrs C. Hurst, Oakleigh, C. Fisse, Frank Browning (amongst whose collection is a sword 200 years old, and two coins of the reign of Julius Caesar), and G. Cooper (who has sent the first post office clock from Lyttelton), tie Rev. H. E. Ensor, Messrs West, H. Cbe, and Gundry. Atnong/everal old manuscripts are London "Gazette," of 1666; "The N ewes," 1665 ; English "Mercury," 1588; and Bishop Hall's Works, 1633: Prayer Book and Bibles of 1600. Four volumes of the " Spectator," sent by Mr Frank Jackson, are dated 1749, and there are other English publications of 1766. Mr H. Coe, who served a3 a lieutenant in the Japanese navy duting the Japanese-Chinese war, has sent arms and clothes taken at the capture of Port Arthur. Mr W. H. Gundry had a complete electric . and {phonographic' equipment. Tne Town Hall and Orange Hall were connected by electricity, and various entertainments being given in the Orange Hall are transmitted to the audience in the large hall.