THE LOCAL INDUSTRIAL EXHIBITION.

Evening Post, Volume XXI, Issue 121, 26 May 1881, Page 2

THE LOCAL INDUSTRIAL EXHIBITION.

♦> The Exhibition was largely attended yesterday evening, notwithstanding the boisterous weather, and the several departments attracted considerable attention. In oar istue of last night we referred to the exhibits on the jjround floor, the first floor landtag, and .Room No. 4. In this issue we will deal with the rest "f the exhibits, except those in the art departments, and Boom N. 12, which will be dealt with to-morrow. FIRST FLOOR (CONTINUED). Boom No. 5 calls for little notice, the only exhibit being an ingenious and naturallooking contrivance, showing the Mont Cenis tunnel, with waterfall and train in motion. The model is the work of Mr. George Woodward, of the Government Printing Office, and is worth inspection. Room No. 6 contains a display which may be classed amongst the most interesting in the Exhibition. The whole apaf tment is devoted to the various branches of the art of printing, bookbinding, &0., and has been more patronised by the public than any other in the building. Ihe principal exhibitors are the heads of severaTtfTSnOhes of the Government Printing Department j Mr. J. W. Frost, rubber stamp manufacturer ; Mr. W. B. Book, engraver ; and Messrs. Lyon and Blair, printers and bookbinders. From what is to be seen in the collection of machines and specimens, the visitor is imprcssod with the fact that the printers' art has reached a degree of perfection which is most creditable to a young oolony like New Zealand. A few years ago little beyond the plainest of printing work could be executed in the colony ; now we have in this city a largo number of highly- skilled workmen employed in turning out every branch of printing and bookbinding work, most of which is equal to that done in any part of Great Britain. In the Government Printing Department not only do they carry on printing, binding, stereotyping, electrotyping, and engraving of a high order, but "loads," "clumps," "nippers," "galleys," "shooting-sticks," and other articles used in the trade are manufactured on the premises, under the superintendence of Mr. W. J. Kirk, in a style whioh, if not quite equal in point of finish to the best English manufacture, is at least as durable, and sufficient to meet nil practical requirements. In one part of the room workmen are engaged showing to the curious the various processes of binding, gilding, and marbling books of all sizes ; in another part the visitor may see in operation a marvellous little contrivance printing and numbering railway tickets at the rate of ten thousand an hour. The blank cards are put in at one end of the machine a boy tnrns a handle and out com* the printed tickets at the other. Should anything go wrong while the cards are in their passage a bell rings and warns tho " ticket-grrinder," who rectifies the error and " grinds away ' again. Then there ia a counting machine, whioh counts the tickets at the rate of 24,000 per hour. There is also a blocking machine for gilding and embossing the covers of books. By means of this apparatus a cover can be ornamented ia the moat artistic style in half a minute, while under the old process probably some hours' labour would be necessary. Another feature in this room is the specimens of bookbinding Bhown by Messrs. Lyon and Blair, and a neat little machine which prints business cards at the rate of 10,000 an hour. The printing process is somewhat the same as the railway-ticket machine— the cards are packed in one end and shoot out at the other, neatly printed. The bookbinding of this firm is worthy the attention of business people, and all interested in the progress of local industry. The brass-bound ledgers could not bo surpassed in the best London office, and the intricate rulinar is done in the most finishei style. There is already a fair demand for this class of work in the oolony, and doubtless before long the locally-made article will be able to compete in price, as it does in quality, with that procured from abroad. Mr. W. J. Ffrost'a rubber stamps may be classed among the printing exhibits, and very neatly too they print. Th»y, however, are too well known and appreciated to require any lengthened notice in this place. Mr. Ffrost ia there to tell the visitor all about them, and will not be above booking as many orders as he can obtain. The other exhibits are a couple of specimens of Blen-heim-made parchment, shown by Mr. George Didsbnry ; a couple of frames of engravings and printing specimens by Mr. Bock, and a curiosity in the Bhape of an original copy of the London Evening Post of January 16, 1776, contributed by Mr. H. Blnndeli. A glance at the contents of this journal, and at the other exhibits in the room, will show that the world has moved ahead somewhat during the last 105 years. It may be mentioned that the Wellington Evening Post, when first published in 1865, waa the same Bize as the Englibh journal referred to above. BKCOND FLOOR. Landing. — The principal exhibits here are those shown by Mr. E. H. Crease, of Wellington, and the new Davis' vertical-feed Bewing machines, sent in by Messrs. B. Holliday and Co. Mr. Crease's show is very handsomely arranged, and comprises samples of spices (ground and whole), egg powder, self-raising flour, maize meal, &c, from his manufactory in Old Custom House street where an extensive business is carried on by the manufacturer. The canisters and ornamental spice boxes arc also manufactured on i the premises, under the superintendence of Mr. Kead. The Davis' stwing ma3hine3 are the only ones 6hown, and the visitor has, thereforo, no opportunity of making comparisons on the epot These machines, however, carried off tho highest award given for family sewing machines at the Sydney and Melbourne Exhibitions, on aouount of their " being a complete departnro from the ordinary ttyles of sewing machines, possessing all the advantages of such ordinary sewing machines, and in addition an increased range of work, with the greatest simplicity of construction, and reduction in number of working parts." The machines on view have attracted great attention, especially from the Jodics, and are highly spoken of. Boom No. 9 contains a miscellaneous collection. A considerable portion of the space is taken up by exhibits of imported brass work, shown by Messrs. Dan-s and Son ; gas-cooking stoves (Home in operation) by the Wellington Gas Cou^any ; and gas gtoves and plumber's work Ly Mr. J. E.

Hayo*. Mr. A. Tver, Ngahauranga, has a collection of sole leather and basils, excellently dressed. One side of solo leather reaches the extraordinary weight of 441bs. Of Mr. Evans' collection of harness and leatherware nothing special need be said, the whole of the varied stock being of the quality usually turned out by him, though of a cUss not usually made by colonial saddlers. Among the most noticeable of the exhibits in this room, as showing the progress of a young industry, is a collection of brushware, manufactured by Messrs. Trevethiok Bros, at the Lower Hutt. Hero in to be seen almost every variety of brush, frdm the "' Turk's head/ used for sweeping cobwebs from ceilings, and the common' scrubbing brush, up to the clothes brush of softest hair, and finely finished parlour hearth brush. Most of the material used is obtained locally, and the goods are sold at a reasonable figure. The middle of the floor is taken up by a oolleotion of boots made at the establishment of Messrs. Lindsay and Watson, and a large assortment of hats from the factory of Mr. C. Hill, Lambton Quay. Tho other exhibits are — Specimens of turnery, Mr. R. A. Wakelin, Greytown ; dyed sheepskin mats, Mr. Wm. Crawford, Brandon-street ; wool mat, Mr. Guildford, Sydney-street ; mats and basils, Messrs. Harvey and Murray, Masterton. Eoom 10. — There are two collections of goods in this room which are especially interesting, as showing not so muoh tho progress made up to tho prosent in tho branches of industry represented, but what may be expected iv the friture. Wo allttdet to tho Kaiapoi woollen gods, exhibited by Messrs. Thompson and Shannon, and the locally-made clothing from New Zealand woollen goods, shown by Messrs. Wilson and Richardson. It is true tho woollen goods Bhown by the first-named firm are not tho result of strictly looal industry, but as the tweeds and flannels from Kaiapoi are largely used in the mauufacturo of clothing iv this city, and as it is desirable that New Zealand products should bo patromeed as much as practicable, the exhibits under notice are worthy of some attention. The Kaiapoi mills employ a large amount of labor, and cause the retention in the colony of much money which was formerly Bent beyond seas. These are advantages which everyone will appreciate; but besides sttl this, tho quality of the goods turned out at Kaitfpo) are reluctantly admitted by Home manufacturers to be superior in some reapeots to the product of British factories. One Sootoh manufacturer some time ago asserted that the wool used in the Now Zealand tweeds was superior to that usually put in the Home tweeds, though the finish was not quite ho good. This is high praise, coming from euoh a quarter. It may be mentioned that the Kaiapoi factory has recently had largo additions to its plant, and a great improvement is now observable in the finish of the goods. Besides tweeds and blankets, the exhibits in the Athenieum show that Books and yarns of all colors and patterns, undershirts, tam-o'-snantor hats, and a large variety of small articles can be turnod ofti at the mills in first-class stylo. The other 1 class of exhibits mentioned at the outset are the made-up goods of Messrs. Wilson and Bichardson, from various? New Zealand tweeds, flannels, and plaiding. This firm are strong supporters of local industry, believing that, if their gain be somewhat less now, it will be augmented anon by their action. They at present employ Borne 30 persons outside their business premises in making hats under - olothing, dr«Bsinggowns, &c, principally from New Zealand ■ wools ; and also white and Oxford shirts. Tho superior quality of the goods is undeniable, and the prices at whioh they are sold ia sufficiently low to enoourage their" Sale. It is a branch of industry which doservea support, because it affords employment to girls and women, who may have difficulty in otherwise obtaining a means of livelihood ; and it is an industry whioh can be extendod indefinitely. Another feature in the local industrial exhibits in this room is the surgioal belts, oorseta, &c, manufactured by Mrs. Maodonald, Willis • street. The artioles ' made by this laiy are not for mere ordinary wear ; they are intended to assist nature and relieve pain, and are said in many instanoes to have been very effioaoious. The other exhibitors are — Mr. D. I>. Hydes, hairdrosser ; Mr. James Huxley, tailor ; Madamo de Launay, milliner; Mr. H. T. Price, hairdresser ; and Mrs. C. Frantzen, Palmorston North (ladies' shawls Ac.) Thers are 1 also a number of small and handsome exhibits, the work of various ladies and amateur artists. Kooto No. 11.— The farm and agricultural produce in this room is very limited, comprising a few bha&Bes, contributed^ J& Messrs. Gk Brown, Porirua Road, W. Barp, Porirua Road, James Skerman, Palmerufcon North, and Gilpin and Pardon, Feathoraton i bacon and lard, by Kuch and Co. ; bacon, by W. M'Koever ; preserved meats, by Woods, Crosbie,'"' alid 60. and J. Gear; bone-dust, by John Plimmor ; preserved - butter' (for export) by H. F. Logan; and flour and various meals, principally I rom the South. Measrs. Vile and D'Arey, Masterton, show a sample of mixed flour, and Messrs. Bacon and Wrigley have a collection of wheat, Oats, flonr, and oatmeal. Mr. Jodb Frederiksen, of the same place. has started a new industry in the snipe ox flour manufactured from potatoes And parsnips, which is said to bo a good substitute for arrowroot or cornflour. A sample is on view in the room. Mr. Wm. Crawford exhibits, from tho Fairflold Mills,liOWor Hutt, starches in various conditions, linseed grown at the Lower Hutt, and a bottle of linseed oil made from it. It would be interesting to have tho goods of Messrs. Crawford and Frederioksen tested and the result published, as, if favorable, an impetus would be given to those branches of industry. The cheese industry is one <oF considerable importauop, and .it is satisfactory to Bee so much competition for public favor. Tho Featherston Choeso Company is worked upon the American principle, and gives promise of ultimately being a very thriving affair. Mr. L. Hansen, Johnsonville, showssome potato arrowroot — another new production in Wellington — and some sample* W locally-manufactured glue. The other exhibits requiro no special mention. «3TWf exhibitors are — J. Staples, brewer ; Thomas Ellis (patentee of Ellis' churn), J. and T. Meek, millets; Baunatyn© and 1 Co , ! Himmer, Beeves and Co., Waterhobse, M'intyre, and Co. (the last four firms being exhibitors, of flour), and P. C. Chriatiensen, Maurioeville (exhibitor of lime).