MR GILLIES' INDUSTRIAL EXHIBITION.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 3044, 29 March 1881, Page 3

MR GILLIES' INDUSTRIAL EXHIBITION.

This exhibition opened last night at the Protestant Hall. It contains a great variety of objects of the most interesting discription, and as most of these models are entirely constructed, painted, and arranged by Mr Gillies himself, the whole exhibition is an example of the greatest ingenuity and patience on the part of the exhibitor. All these models have been constructed during the spare moments of a busy life, and are made from materials of the commonest discription. Mr Gillies has now been in the colony for about seven years, and although some of the models were constructed, and took prizes at industrial exhibitions in the old country, most of them have been made during .his residence in Napier, and are an instance of what can be achieved by patience and industry under the most ordinary opportunities, and with the commonest materials, The model of the Great Eastern steamship, which took Mr Gillies three years to complete, and which placed its constructor in a very honorable position among the exhibitors at an important exhibition in London, is a marvel of constructive skill and patience. Models of a portable engine, and ot a beam engine, are remarkably well done. There are also numerous exhibits of tools for working in metals, made by Mr Gillies, which show the interest taken by the exhibitor in mechanical contrivances. On the walls and tables are numerous sketches of ships, and incidents of the author's voyage out to the colony, which, although not great as works of art, are notable instances of his industry. The exhibition also contains very much that will interest young folks. There are taking dolls, dancing niggers, and performing bear and elephant, and a box of moving figures, which will prove a great source of amusement to the rising generation. The cork and cardboard models of buildings are beautifully constructed, and give a good hint to maDy who find time bang heavy on their hands of a way to afford instruction and amusement to numbers. The exhibition will afford a capital opportunity to those who take an interest in the " bairns," and we all do, to give them a treat seldom offered in Napier. The school children would derive considerable benefit from a visit to this exhibition of time well spent. The exhibition is open from ten in the morning to a late hour at night, and we would advise all parents who wish to give their children a real treat to take them there, and get Mr Gillies to let them see his niggers dance and hear his dolls talk.