THE EXHIBITS.

Grey River Argus, Volume XXXV, Issue 7814, 21 December 1893, Page 2

THE EXHIBITS.

Those who visit the Exhibition will be surprised at the comprehensiveness of it. To be sure it is not a World's Fair, nor 9ven a . Colonial Exhibition in the trae sense of the word, bat It is a representative one bo far aa showing what can bo done when people enter Into an undertaking with a truly honest desirn to make it a 3ucce3B. Many obstacles have had to be overcome — if the lukewarm support of aorne and the endeavor to throw a wet blanket over any project on the part of others, is taken into consideration. Then ; there is the apathy of exhibitors sending exhibits, the leaving of everything over to the last moment, and the conseqnent late arrival, but in spite of all, bo far aa the Greymouth Exhibition is concerned, It must be pronounced a decided success. A few days since the attempt would have been voted an utter failure. There were no exhibits arriving, and it seemed as if the awifcchbaofc railway would have to be reoorded as a folly, bat now all is changed In place of a few carpenters scores of men are busy In every direction, and the result of their labors will be found in one of the prettiest and most tasteful exhibitions ever place! before the public on a small scale, aa a glance through it wlli convince even the most casaal observer. It is hard to say how and where to com- | mence, as it ia not only one exhibition, j but several riled into one, and not one visit will suffice, aa there are so many objeots of taste and general interest to examine. To attempt to give a deacription at the "present time would be futile, < > asthere Is 'so much fco : be seen; but a oaraory '■ view^as it struck oar representative yesterday morning may be worth recording. The armory ha 3. already been pretty well described itf ; these colnmnß, but every view reveals new objects of destruction In preserving what Is called "an armed peace." A nation should never be unprepared, and the knowledge of this Is >hab constitutes peace. Woe to the nation that is unprepared, and this is the reason why the armories of the world are an interesting study. It was the supposed pre-eminence of f <rce contained ia the mitrailleuse thafc caused France to declare war against Germany, bat the genius of Von Moltke and the rapid firing of the needlegun decided otherwise. Perhaps one of ihe most popular exhibit will be that contained In the FiD6 Arts , room. Unfortunately the exhibits from I Dune^fn have not yet arrived, aa they f are in the Herald, and ( this accounts for blank space which perforce had to be reserved, but there Ia enough to occuppy attention for more than one examination in this room alone. In the centre rfthe room is a raUed in table, and oa this are. models that will bear close scrutiny', especially those of machinery. Two exhibits by Mr Garth, .of Ahaura, are' perfect in their way, one being that of a horizontal engine made out of old

b.lard ball* and the other of a beam engine made out of cfg*r cases. Theße are working models, and the boauty of ihelr finish is bound to command admiration. Then there are engine models by Mr Young of Wellington, by Mr Tomkles of Brunnerton,.-and others. Violins -by Mr Adams, of Reelton, made of colonial wood j various carved objeots, including a Cheviot estate settler, by Sqaaretoes, MHR, - &c. The walla are decorated with paintings aud photographs, among the' most noticeable of paintings are thb~se " contributed by the Christchurch Art Society and by Mr B 5 Clark, of Chrhtchurch. The paintings of the Southern Sounds by this gentleman are perfect pictures, indeed one, Dusky Sound, reminds one of the paintings of thafc great Victorian artist, M Chevalier., iriofe; you look -at it they more t|pu'f.,iadnoire ib. The other paintinga .by; tkfe|same gentleman of Milford^Soundf^ Mount > Cook,' &c, are all jemi of oil painting. P Valentine and Sons, of .London, exhibit per favor of Mr Perkins, a series of medallion photos, which are as pretty a* a ...photo can be rendered, but unf / ortunat'ejy|«th^y are In a bad light. The PubliciVWorks Department also exhibits some magnificent photos. Round the room are arranged varioua'exhiblts. Mrs W A Taylor contributes a hearthrug mat that, are an example ; of pat eat ;. lngenuity, as also a counterpane' by Mm H Scott. The overmantle has already been attended to. Mr John Barrowman, of Westport, contributes a kiwi and Its egg. The kiwi is not so much a curiosity aa the egg, which is as large as a swan's, and the query ia how the bird managed to stow it away. Pariah marble statuettes are Bhown by Mr Lord, t and. Mj W Arnett, also alava vase by' Mr Elmer. The ship Neva is, in., this .room, aa, also a model cheat of' drawers by Master ; Wisdom. The adjoining rpbm la devpted essentially to West Coast exhibits : a'nd' after looking at them it can't; be sald: ; there Is no taste on the West Coa*t. Paintings, photo 3, mounted; fernsj, shells,; drawings,- abound, and somo of the latter are of more than average merit, 'especially' a water color painting of Mitre Peak, by an old West Coaster, Mr Pownall. The photos exhibited by Mr Pant of Hokitika are beauties, especially thosa of the glaciers. None but an enthusiast could take the trouble arid paina ■■■ shown in these photos, Mr Charles James exhibits a nfee collection' of photos of the various localities visited by the s a Hlnemoa in her xisml southern trip, also a cas* of shells, Hzardßi and eggs ; ferns by Mrs Ibsen of Reefton, and lacework by Mra O Hill and Misa Maggie M'Davitt. There are numbers of other exhibitß that will require notice at another time. In another room are pret y exhibits of paintinga, needlework, embroidery, &o, from the Convent ot ihe Immaculate Conception, Nelson, and the Greymoath Convent, which is being fitted up under the direction of the Rev Father Savajean. Anselbrook and Co, of. ChcUtchurch, exhlbife two well designed frames of cQhfectlonery, cakes, and such sweet things. Ia this room are exhibits of the Gear Meat Company and Kirkpatrick Jama. Mr Lalng exhibits a tasteful collection of china, glass, and porcelain ware. Mr Tymons, millinery, Mr C Smith, drapery, and others. Elsewhere are to be found the B'ackball Coal Company's collection of coal, coke, grindstones, and monumental stone ; cutlery by Messrs D M'Lean and Forayth and Masters ; p!anJng and mining machinery by tho Dispatch Foundry Company, the tea kiosk of Messrs Griffan and Smith, the various handiwork of the school children of Grey and Westland, the mechanical display of Mr Rae, and other objects too numerous to mention. The temperance refreshment department was under the control of Mrs D Hanson and assistants. In the room devoted to school exhibits were come nice work in embroidery, fancy wool and shell work by Mrs W Arnott, Greymouth ; Miss Singer, Weatport, and others. There waa aUo a good collection of minerals. Mr D M'-Lean exhibited in an annexe come agricultura? machinery of great interest, and they drew the attention of all wbo inspected them. Messrs Forsyth and Masters also exhibited in an annexe some striking articles that wore well worth Inspecting. But the Exhibition as a whole is most creditable, and is not to be disposed of In a day, or even two for that matter. Th.9 exhibits of the Dresden Piano Company, Dunedin, and M.eßßis Mllner and Thomeon, Ohrißtchurch, were an important feature.