The Industrial Exhibition.

Hastings Standard, Issue 200, 18 December 1896, Page 2

The Industrial Exhibition.

The Industrial Exhibition and sale of work in connection with the local Weslcyan Church was formally opened last evening in the Princess Theatre by the Mayor, Mr C. A. FitzKoy. The public turned up in large numbers, and the shifting, winding, and blending of the gaily dressed throng reminded one of a kaleidoscope. The hum of animated conversation, the rippling laughter, the collisions, the apologies, the dove-like of the young ladies as they the last copper out of their victims ; the refreshing dresses of the Maypole children, the heat, the music, the phonograph, and the thousand and one other elements which go to make up the bewildering abandon of a bazaar were all present in delightful confusion. During the evening the Town Band, under Bandmaster Fowler, rendered selections. A feature of the evening was the precise performance of the Maypole dance by a band of little girls, consisting of Daisy and Gertie Pilmer, Lynda and Stacy Toll, Gibbs (2), Minnie Marbrook, N. Brimstoii, Hilda Foreman, Eva Charlton, Charlotte Carrington and Lillie Gill with Miss Muriel Foreman at the piano, who kept remarkably good time, and ivent through some intricate movements in a graceful and easy style, which spoke volumes for the pains taken by their instructress, Mrs D. Pilmer, to bring the children so close to perfection. The music selected for the dance was hardly suitable—a barn dance or a tennis dance would give better time, at any rate it would be less monotonous. A pianoforte duet byMissM. M'Coobrce and Mrs lloltz. and a song by Mr Ryan were both well done, but at an exhibition such items are not appreciated by the public, and they are better onfhted. Miss Taylor, a lady professing the art of hand-reading, was surrounded by a large number of clients during the night, who had their characters told and the curtain lifted from the vague possibilities of the future all for the ridiculous outlay of threepence. Mr Garnett's display of a drawingroom suite, manufactured from New Zealand timber, at his cabinet works, was ,a striking example of the excellence and finish of the work which can be turned out in Hastings. Another novelty, and one that formed a centre of attraction, was Edison's phonograph, exhibited by Mr George Ellis. Mr Ellis has secured some very good records, both humorous and otherwise, notably nigger songs, selections by brass bands, vocal and instrumental solos, and part of a speech uttered by Mr Gladstone on the Irish Home Rule Bill. The Exhibition itself, from a technical standpoint, might be a great deal better, but this cannot be attributed to want of energy on the part of the management. The following are the stalls and exhibition:— No 1. Needle-work, oil painting by Mr T. Collins, " Calves " ; oil painting by Mr Mclvittrick, " A scene from Havelock." : Mrs Catherall and Miss Parsons. No 2. Fancy goods, oil paintings by by Miss Hastings, " Pansies " and " Robins," and an elaborate fretwork frame by Mr J. Ebbett.—: The Misses Clara Hosking, E. Tressider, and Bessie Parsons. No 3. Refreshments : Mesdames Garnett and Foreman. No 4. The Christmas Tree, in charge of Misses Flossie Parsons (principal), Lileth Curtis, May Knight, and Ada Farmery. No 5. Mr Palmer's exhibit of his herbal remedies. No 6. Mr 11. H. Hunt's Christmas novelties. No 7. Messrs Whitehead Bros', collection of photographs. No 8. Fruit Stalls ;—Mesdames Siddles and Collier. No 9. Mr Garnett: —Drawing room suite and other furniture made at his works, also Wellington basket work. No 10. A Victory sewing machine, exhibited by N.Z. Clothing Factory, showing samples of the different work done, braiding on netting, embroidery, quilting, pleating, and such rough work as sewing together moleskin, linoneum and even thick leather and lead. No 11. An automatic spray invented and exhibited by Mr lvingswell. The art gallery contained some good exhibits comprising " The Fold," " The Charge of the Light Brigade," "An Ironclad," " After Tea," " The Lost Chord," " Women's Rights," " The Meet of the Hounds," Domestic Ties," The Fringe of Morning," " A United Pair," Departed Spirits,' and " On the Threshold of Home," the majority of which were certainly above the average amateur attempts in this line. The museum showed some interesting relics amongst which were noticed: —A walking strick, lent by Miss La Buff, 150 years old ; a snuff box and Chinese swords, lent by Mrs Catherall ; greenstones, lent by Mr Bridges; Chinese God, lent by Miss Thomson ; shells, and Kauri gum, lent by Mr Pepper; Emu egg, bullock's horn with Maori engraving, lent by Mr Joll; boomerang, candle snuffers and tray, lent by Mrs Collier ; specimens of 1110 a bones, sulphor, horns, and a sword that did some- execution in the battle of Waterloo ; there were some literary relics lent by other friends; such as -'Duty of Man," 1770; French Bible, dated 1701 ; " The Art of Good Living and Dying," dated 1701; French Liturgy, dated 1785 ; Sporting Magazine, 1819 ; boar's tusk, lent by Mr Elliott; medal given by the Queen for bravery in the Egyptian war ; a magniiicent cushion by' Miss Stubley, hand worked ; also some very curious handworked mats, over 100 years old ; large mat purchased from Renata's sale by Mr T. Collins ; a Maori picnic cup made of fern-tree ; and a whole lot of othev things too numerous to mention.