CANTERBURY.

Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume 14, Issue 1129, 22 February 1870, Page 3

CANTERBURY.

Tho Canterbury Art Exhibition ab Christchurch was opened on Tuesday the Sth insfc., by Mr. liolleston, the Superintendent of the province. Thero was a large number of persons presenb on lho occasion, and the proceedings passed off vory successfully. Mr. Bowen, 8.M., who addressed liis Honour on behalf of tlie promoters of tho Exhibition, apologised for lho incompleteness of some ot the arrangements, such as tha delay in the issue of catalogues, bufc added that, notwithstanding this, the Exhibition was fairly entitled to bo considered a success. Ho also acknowledged tho obligations the committee wore under to gentlemen in other provinces, especially in Otago, Wellington, and Nelson, for the trouble they had taken to promote the success of the undertaking. The Superintendent in his reply dwelt ab considerable length on the beneficial influence exerted by exhibitions of this kind, and congratulated the Committee upon the success which had attended tbeir efforts. _ Ho then formally declare. l tho [Exhibition open, and tho visitors preeecdod to examine lho exhibits. These, we learu from the local papers, are about 3,000 iv number, the oii paintings and water colour drawings being the

strong points of the Exhibition. Among the other exhibits, also, are the Monrad collection, aiid a number of photographs, prints, and engravings, in addition to jewellery, medals, statuettes, fossils, and Indian shawls, carvings, and weapons. A number of selections of vocal and instrumental music were rendered ab intervals during the afternoon. The. number of visitors present on the occasion was between 300 and 400. Scarcity of Labour. — Complaints regarding the scarcity of harvest labourers are common iii Canterbury and Otago. The Press states that in consequence" of fche scarcity of labour throughout, the province, there are a vast number of acres of corn cut and lying exposed to the weather. The rate of wages this season to harvest hands and labourer, uot employed on farms by the year have been unprecedentlv high. The harvest is not anticipated to bo over much before the end of the current mouth. Quartz Crushing. — A one-stamper quartz-crushing battery has been imported to Christchurch with a view of testing the reefs discovered in various parts of Canterbury. The machine, which is provided with all the latesfc improvements, was manufactured by Langlands and Co., of Melbourne. A ton of stone can be crushed in a day, so that it is expected the question as to whether the Canterbury quartz is auriferous or not will soon be settled. A large. quautity of stone awaits crushing, including some from the Waikari, Banks' I-eninsiiia, Rakaia. and Hit or Miss-Com- | pany's claims. The Weather. — The Lyttelton Times ofthe I.6th insfc., says : — '" Yesterday after--1 noon was about the dustiest we ever remember fco have seen in Christchurch. The flue weather which has prevailed for such a long period has reduced evory particle of looso earth to. its driest state, and even with a slight breeze the dust for some days past has completely nullified all efforts afc street watering. Bub yesterday afternoon is to bo particularly noticed for this. A heavy soti'-wester blew shortly after noon, increasing in strength until four o'clock. Tho dust was whirled about in stlch dense masses tliafc afc times ib was impossible to see many yards a-head. Shop doors were closed on all sides, but with little avail, for tbe dust penetrated everywhere, settling in heavy layers on ! goods and furniture alike."