HUTT AND PETONE NEWS.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 205, 23 May 1908, Page 8

HUTT AND PETONE NEWS.

A CURIO EXHIBITION. A unique exhibition was held in St. James's Schoolroom yesterday. The exhibits consisted of articles of almost every descrip-tion-fifty years of. ago or over. • The Mayor (Mr. T. A. Pcterkin) opened the oxliibitiin, which was well, attended during the afternoon and evening. Tho Mayor, in opening the proceedings, read a letter from tho Duke of Wellington to the colonel commanding tho North Hants Yeomanry, .in the year 1845, conveying tho appreciation of tho Queen of the coriduct of the corps. Very interesting was an inspection of the relics .arranged and ticketed. A: copy of tho London "Times" of January, 1793, was an exhibit by Mrs. Clulow, .'and a spinning wheel _ over .200 years old was another interesting article; copper warming pans, a policeman's rattle, dirks from Trafalgar, and bayonets and rifle from the Cawnporo Massacre, cameos and miniatures,- coins, and jewellery of many designs were also there, whilst needlework was well represented from tho samples of 150 years ago to embroidery and Indian shawls. A signed portrait of General Williams, who commanded the Turkish troops in Ears in 1853, when invested by the Russians, was shown amongst a large display of curios, otc., by Mrs. Jackson, who also showed a naval officer's uniform and cocked hat. A copy of the " New Zealand Spectator," dated. 1846, was interesting to largo numbers of local families, as it g'avo a long list of the various families who had been attacked and driven from their homes in tho Hutt Valley by tho insurgent Maoris. • An autograph of Carolus XIV, King, of Sweden, was on view. Carolus was formerly Marshal Bornadotto, of Napoleon's staff, who roso from ' tho ranks of the French Army to the throno of Sweden. A complete edition, of 45 vols, of Sir Walter Scott's works wero viewed with some interest, as they had been presented by tho author to tho father of the present owner, Mr. Ward, of Blackbridge. Literature formed not the least attractive part of the show; some very valuable and rare specimens of old print being amongst a numerous section. Some good examples of old crockery wero sent in, and some of the articles wore very quaint in design. A chair with a longthy past was one from the Bishops' Palace, Durham./ It was dispensed with in 1861, when tho Palace was refurnished, and had evidently been part of some very ancient furnishing. A violin lent'by Mr. Gwilliaui was aged 191 years, and some willow plate dishes were not ashamed to own to. 130 years. Tho collection was quite bewildering in. tho variety of articles included, and it would be impossible to refor to half tho exhibits there. Those present during the afternoon and evening had tho ploasuro of listening to a nice programme of musical items arranged' by Miss Treadwell. The proceeds are to go towards defraying the cost of the now church buildings at Mnritai, and should realise a substantial amount.

Tho District School children went through the ceremony of 'saluting tho flag yesterday afternoon. Afterwards the school closed for a week's holiday.