THE HORTICULTURAL AND LOCAL INDUSTRIAL EXHIBITION.

Evening Post, Volume XXI, Issue 58, 11 March 1881, Page 3

THE HORTICULTURAL AND LOCAL INDUSTRIAL EXHIBITION.

The combined Horticultural and Local Industrial Exhibition, under the auspices of the Wellington Horticultural Society, was opened in the Aroade this afternoon. That the horticultural department would be poorly represented as regards the number of exhibits, was only to be expected, owing to the long continued dry weather. The cut blooms are few, and, on the whole, of indifferent quality, and there is but a small display of. pot plants, Ac. ' The vegetables are for the most part of excellent quality, though the drought has materially interfered with this branch, of the show. 1 here are some splendid, samples of, bulb onions— in fact, it would' be almost impossible to^beat them anywhere. Cabbages, tomatoes, parsnips, pumpkin^ and potatoes are'all of fine quality. Apples are the most noticeable in the fruit department, there feeing a great variety, while the quality is all that- could be wished fpr. ,One° exhibit of ribstone pippins shows' the marvellous perfection to which this delicious fruit can be brottghYin Wellington. A Wairarapa exhibitor \Mr.^ M'Creotie) hak an exhibit comprising, no. fewer thin 99 varieties of apples growiTby him. Taking all circumstances into consideration, the Horticultural Show is by no means a bad one. ¦ The Judges were as under : — For fruit — Me-srsV .Bramley, ' Mann, and Jay. For ! vegetables — Messrs. Bramley, Dixon, and Jay; .For pot plants— Messrs. McCardle, Wilkinson 1 and Cooper. The 'following are the principal prizetakers {—For Vegetables.— Amateurs : B. Clark, ,S. Sanßon,M..BfiyLand W. Parris. Gardeners: P. I___f;* s T. Mason, W. Prier, and G. Mann. All-comers : P. Laing. PotPlante.— An»tenrs: J. BrowT-j, W. Pnillips,' W. Pafis. and Cl\°ii and Linnell. Gardener^ A. M'Kay, G. J?egden, and D.-WilkinnpnV -All-comers : Awll'Kay. Froit.— Amaftra6fc*-F. 'i urnbnl}^ J^Burna, and HjH l . Travers. Gardeners-lLMason, W. W x M'Cardle, ,P. Lain& W. Koer, g! Pegden,.F. Cooper, and D. Wilkinson.' All.

comers— P. Lain?! Mr. M'Cardle was awarded a certificate of merit for his splendid collection of apples Cnfc Flowers. — Amateurs— W. Phillips, H. IT. Travers, and U. Clark. Gardeners— R. Donald, G. Pegden, and T. Mason. All-ioniers — T Mason, G. Pegden, Miss Halra, and Miss C. Kirk. The introduction of a local industrial exhibition in connection with the flower and vegetable show, though somewhat novel, is not without its advantages, as the combination is doubly attractive, and a periodical display of local manufactures and works of art tends to stimulate trade. The exhibition at the Arcade, though necessarily small, is a very creditable affair, and brings into prominence many branches of struggling industry which otherwise would be kept greatly in the back ground. The exhibits are confined to the Btalls and galleries in the upper part of the building, and most of the space is utilised. It may be here remarked that almost everything shown has been manufactured in Wellington. Nearest the stairs, to the left, Mr. J. W. Ffrost has a nice variety of rubber stamps, some of the designs being exceedingly handsome. Besides the ordinary office stamps, he has some neat samples of pocket dies in cases, and it is alleged that 2000 impressions may be taken off without renewing the ink in the case. The adjoining stall is taken up by Mr. E. Garton, Mr. Herbert (Newtown), Mr. Garrett, and Mr. Monteith. the principal exhibits being sauces and ! cordials. Mr. Garton exhibits the well- i known I.X.L. sauce and vinegar, Mr. Herbert samples of " Berkshire sauce," and Mr. Garrett has a display of his " Wellington Relish." Mr. Monteith has a { large variety of cordials, including raspberry vinegar, lemon syrup, singer wine, bitters, &o. He has also a display of pomades and locally-prepared medicines, one of the latter being an extract of koromiko, the leaf of which plant is so much sought after as a speoifio for dysentery. Mr. Fitzgerald, chemiflt r has" a show of dog cakes made to his order by Mr. S. S. Griffiths, and also a case of quinine and iron wine of his own manufacture. An interesting feature in the Exhibition is Messrs. Trevethiok Brothers' show of brush ware, whioh is equal to anything of the kind imported. The articles, which comprise clothes, boot, blacklead, horse, scrubbing, hearth, flue, and bottle brushes, besides a variety of brooms, have all been manufactured at the firm's establishment, Lower Hutt, and reflect much oredit upon their workmanship. The wood used is of local production, and some of the brushes are made of hair procured in the district. As showing the neatness of the work it may be mentioned that the hair has been so set in one brush that the words " Support local industry" are shown in white hair against a black ground. This is a class of industry which is likely, sooner or later, to meet with considerable success, providing the prices compare favorably with those of the imported article. Mr. Evans has a stall to himself for the exhibition of his leatherware and oils. He has a very excellent display of bridles, harness, leather bags, and portmanteaus, the workmanship being of a very superior character. Recently Mr. Evans has commenced the manufacture of hair and machine oils from trotter oil, the latter, as well as neatsfoot oil also, being made at his establishment. The two laat-mentioned oils are very pure, and Bhow that great pains have been taken to refine them. The manufacture of hairoil from trotters is quite a new branch of local industry. Pressure on our space compels us to hold over the rest of the description till tomorrow.