NEW ZEALAND EXHIBITION, 1865

Lyttelton Times, Volume XXV, Issue 1630, 7 March 1866, Page 2

NEW ZEALAND EXHIBITION, 1865

The jurors' reports and awards have been published, from which we have extracted the portion having immediate reference to Canterbury. MINERAL PRODUCTS. Canterbury exhibited a larae number of fine samples of excellent Building Stone. W. G. Brittan, exhibited specimens of building stone from the Halswell quarries, seven miles from Christchurch. This stone is extensivelyused for rubble walling. The Council Chamber and the Wesleyan Church, Christchurch, are built of it. Chalmers and Hall send specimens from the Crighton Dale quarry, Lyttelton. It is procured easily in lengths of six feet, and is well suited for'kerbing. The price quoted by the exhibitors is 3s. per foot, cube, delivered in Port. N. & A. Ellis exhibited a turned and polished column 5 feet 6 inches long, and several cubes of Btone from the Grey-stone quarries, Bank's Peninsula. This stone exists in abundance in dykes, about 17 feet wide, and is used for ashlar works of all kinds It is durable, and is delivered at the quarry at 2s. 6d. per foot cube. The size of which blocks can be most readily procured is from 1 to 15 cubiu feet. It is possible to get blocks containing 200 cubic feet. Forgan & Son send samples of excellent lime-stone from the Weka Pass, northern district of Canterbury, where it exists in unlimited quantity, and can be got in blocks of almost any size. Price at the quarry, Is per cube foot. Graham and Weybourne exhibit two cubes of free-stone, from Governor's Bay, Lyttelton. Price at the quarry, from Is 9d to 2s per cube foot. The same exhibitors send two cubes of greyslone from a quarry near Lytt< lton. it is a good stone to work, and eost< at the quarry, Is 6d per foot cube. Hall Brothers, send two blocks each, of two varieties of stone, from Governor's Bay." It can be shipped on board, at 2s per cube foot, and can be procured in blocks 18 ft. x 14 ft. x 3 feet or larger. • F. Thompson sends twelve blocks of stone of four varieties, from Bridle-path Quarry, Ileathcote Valley, near Christchurch. This quarry has been extensively worked since 1863. The stone forms a vertical <iykc or reef about 20 ft. in thickness, which appears to extend in a straight direction for several miles. At Mr. Thompson's quarry the reef rises out of the steep hill like a wall to the height of 30 ft. Blocks of auy size, up to 15ft. in length, can be obtained. AGRICULTURAL PRODUCT, D. W. Wood exhibits sample of wheat, oats, peas, beans, flour, and chaff, of fair average quality. E. Steggall exhibits two samples of oatmeal, for which an honorary certificate was awarded by the jury. W. H. Lane sends a sample of flour of moderately good quality. WINES, SPIRITS, HEBItS, TOBACCO, &C. Messrs. Ward and Co. of Christchurch, exhibit a most excellent ale, which elicited the unanimous commendation of the jury. JERATGD WATERS. T. Raine of Christchurch, sent some sodawater. OILS, FATS, WAX, AND THEIR PRODUCTS. J. King, manufacturer, Christchurch, sends

a quantity of " extra pale" soap, the price of which he fixes at 425. per cwt. This soap is more attractive to the eye than the other specimens, and is of good quality. It is a mistake that in all cases the pale soaps are purer than the browner kinds ; and without questioning the genuineness of this article, to which an honorary certificate was awarded,, we may quote the following remarks from the Juror's Report on soaps, in the International Exhibition of 1862. " There is still an unfortunate tendency to adulteration, owing in a great degree to the ignorance displayed by the public in preferring light-coloured soaps, as being, in their opinion, the purest, consequently in order to gratify this mistaken judgment, the soap-maker has to reduce the quality of a pure soap of rather brown colour, by the copious admixture oil salt and water or other adulterants."

ANIMAL SUKSTANCES USUI) IN MANUFACTURES. J. F. Nettleton, Kaiapoi, exhibits a number of specimens of scoured wool, some of which are well got up, others open to the objection of being harsh, and unkindly to the feel. J. D. and H. Lance, Ilorsley-down station, are most extensive exhibitors, they having sent more than 40 fleeces, chiefly of Merino wool, from their several flocks. A character of great excellence pervades the whole collection of wools, and there is evidence of great care and attention in preserving the best features of Merino blood. The fleeces of Merino are a very valuable description of wool—long in staple and fine and silky in fibre ; and some are a line hold description of wool well suited foi* combing, and still retaining the desired silkiness. The average weight of the fleeces, cut mostly from 3 year-old animals, and eleven months' wool is lbs, skirted. The fleeces of merino lambs, nine months old, average lbs. Messrs. Lance exhibit specimens of Cotswold and merino wool, which show the value of this cross, and fully maintain the best points of the two breeds. Pepperell & Co., of Christchurch, exhibit scoured wools, in which the preservation of the freedom of the staple is a praiseworthy feature. J. Mcllrath, Homebusli Station, exhibits a skin of fleece of a merino wether, the wool being four year's growth and of extraordinary length. The breaks in the wool at each year's growth are, however very apparent.

FIBROUS SUBSTANCES. It is interesting to notice that an attempt is being made to establish a paper manufactory in Christchurch, the projector of which, Mr. R. Cameron, exhibits specimens of prepared pulp in various stages of manufacture. These specimens appear fullj r to justify the sanguine expectations of the introducer of this new branch of local manufacture. He exhibits an interesting case of samples of the fibre of the Pliormium tenax, as prepared for the manufacture of paper. They are in the condition of " half-stuff," and clearly show the adaptability of the native flax for the manufacture of paper.

WOODS. G. W. Holmes, C.E., sends three fine slabs of white and red pine and totara, of large dimensions, from Banks Peninsula.

RAILWAY PLANT, &C. J. Anderson, Canterbury Foundry, exhibits

specimens of tramway and set of castings for a self-acting turn-out and crossing-point in use upon ati inclined plane at Thompson's quarry, Bridle path, near Christchurch. The tramway consists of only one line of road, with a turn-out in the centre to admit of the ascending and descending trucks passing one another. The tramway is of the most primitive character, consisting simply of wooden rails fastened to stone blocks; but the crossing - point has been ingeniously arranged, so that the rope attached to the ascending trucks is protected, and runs in a groove at the crossing-point while the descending trucks pass over it into the turnout where the trains pass each other. An honorary certificate was awarded to Mr. Anderson. G. Holmes, C.E., exhibits a specimen of the permanent way laid down upon the Christchurch and Lyttelton Hailway. This is a good specimen of an ordinary description of permanent way on the transverse sleeper system, which, after innumerable trials and experiments, has been generally approved of and adopted by English engineers.

A.GBICDLTUKAL IMPLEMENTS. Foremost amongst the manufacturers of agricultural implements in New Zealand we have Mr. J. Keetly, of Canterbury, whose ploughs and harrows deserve the highest mention for good workmanship and high finish. His ploughs were the only ones exhibited whicli were manufactured in the colony, the others being contributed by the agents of the different British firms, and by some importers. The merits of the several ploughs were tested on a piece of lea-land, kindly placed at the service of the Commissioners by Mr. G. Hepburn, and a very full trial was given, which resulted in showing Mr. Barrowman's plough to turn out the best work. On the first day's trial, it was difficult to say whether Mr. Keetly's or Mr. Barrowman's plough was the better implement, so a second day's trial was given, on which occasion Messrs. A. Todd, J. B. N. M'Gregor, and — Gow were associated with the jurors. To secure the thorough testing of the ploughs, each plough was worked by three different ploughmen, with their respective teams, and the result was in favour of Mr. Barrowman's plough, though the jurors and associates expressed a very high opinion of Mr. Keetly's plough, suggesting only some slight modifications, which they considered would greatly improve its efficiency. The wheel-ploughs did not give satisfaction, with the exception of those made by Mr. Keetly, several of which were arranged in such a manner that they can be used either as wheel or swing ploughs. There appears, however, to be a demand for wheel ploughs, although the swing plough has hitherto been almost exclusively used.

Ball ancl Sons, per D. Hight, Canterbury, exhibit some very excellent implements, amongst which was a very useful tip-cart, with moveable frame for loose hay, &c.; and Bedford harrows, which the jurors recommended for an honorary certificate.

Several barrel and other churns were exhibited, the former being generally used where butter is made to any extent, and these are manufactured in the colony. That exhibited by M. Hall, Kaiapoi, Canterbury, is recommended by the jury for the improved method of securing the mouth, and general superiority. CIVII. ENGINEERING. Mr. Doyne exhibits a " Model of an improved apparatus for allowing the expansion of iron girders over the piers of long iron bridges, and reducing the oscillation produced by moving loads." This represents what we believe to be an important invention, though the model itself is not very clearly intelligible to an unprofessional eye. Mr. Doyne's idea is to suspend the end of a girder from a point practically above it, though really below the roadway, and he was led to devise the suspended link and radial slot arrangement in order to diminish, as far as possible, the lateral strain on the piers of those bridges especially in whicli the piers consist of cast-iron cylinders of ample bearing power, but comparatively small diameter, and consequently Binall lateral stiffness. The suspension arrangement invented by Mr. lJoyne, will, we believe, meet the end in view and as an important novelty we consider it highly deserving an honorary certificate. A highly instructive and interesting sectional drawing of the Ly ttelton and Christ - church Kailway Tunuel, was sent by E. Dobson, C.K, and J. V. Haast, Ph. D., showing the geographical arrangement of the Port Hills, and is said to be first instance in the world, in which a geologist has been able to show a complete section of what is believed to be the lip of a crater. Some other exceedingly well executed and interesting drawings of the same Kailway were contributed by Mr. Dobson, who also supplied a set of lithographic illustrations of the Mount Cenis tunnel; and a map showing "proposed drainage of the city of Christchurch." An honorary certificate was awarded to Mr. Dobson for these productions. ARTICLES OF CLOTHING. C. McNicol, of Canterbury, shows samples of well-made cloth-legged Balmorals, price £2 ; elastic-side plain boots, price 28s ; and watertights, price 275. J. Suckling exhibits a case of boots of his manufacture. The

prices affixed to the articles arc moderate and the workmanship and finish good.

PHOTOGRAPHY. _In the Canterbury department are twplv views of the country, by James Elsbee Christchurch, which are very good Among tlune particularly deserving of nnt; are "Entrance to the Tunnel, lleatW 6 Valley ;"an " Evening Scene ;" « K oWai . ® " The Club House anil Government Bmi'i ing 3 ; " also, a <• Winter Scene" at Christ church, and a " Stormy Effect" in LvtMt, Harbour. There is, however, a want { sharpness in some of the other pictures i this frame, which detracts from their otho H wise good character as photographs, r n' T ' are, however, on the whole, exceedingly ~ sp cimens of photography, and a(?mi ra blv represent the scenery that surrounds Christ church and Lyttelton.

PAPER, STATIONERY, PRINTING, ETC,

The exhibits of engravings by Ward and Reeves, Christchurch, are in every respect of great merit, and would bear comparison with the productions of London engravers. Ward and Reeves show also examples of cliromo lithography, including an interesting- HCir j G " representing the various tints printed from the separate " stones," which combined form the perfect picture. These exhibitors werr the successful competitors for the premium offered for a design for the Honorary Certificates to be presented by the Commissioners to the successful exhibitors. The reproduction of the original by chrorno-lithof'ranhv was also entrusted to them, and both the original design, and the chromo-litho-'ranhs of it, reflect great credit on Ward and Reeves, and have elicited warm praise from all quarters. Ward and Reeves, in aeknow ledgingthe award of this premium, have stated that the merit of the de 'js due solely to Mr. 11. 11. Glover, a lithographic artist_ in their employ. Doyle and Co exhibit specimens of engraving and litho graphy of good character.

T. Cass, Chief .Surveyor, contributes a man of the province of Canterbury, on the scale of four miles to one inch ; lithographed maps of the .Road districts, and a report on the Survey of Canterbury from 1848 to the end of 1864.

J. Y. Haast, Ph. D., &c., contributes a valuable series of geological maps and sections, admirably illustrating the geology of various districts of the province,—viz a sketch plan of Canterbury, showing the glaciation during Pleistocene and recent times, geological map, geological section across the province, geological sections across the Malvern Hills, geological sectiong of Grey and Boiler River Goldfields, sketch map of Canterbury lithographed, sections parallel to the rivers of Canterbury plains, sections across the Canterbury plains illustrated Popular and .Scientific Work on New Zealand, by Dr. Frederick von Hochstetter.

BPECIMENB OF NATURAL HISTORY. W. L. Buller, F.L.S., _ sends two cases of Ornithological Specimens, containing illustrations of 30 varieties of New Zealand birds, the whole of which are beautifully preserved and mounted, and may as a collection be considered one of the best in existence.

Dr. Haast contributes several cases of specimens of rocks, minerals, fossils, dried plants, &c., collected by the exhibitor for the Provincial Govenment. The rocks and minerals are arranged geographically, and illustrate most fully the geological character of the Canterbury province. An inspection of these specimens reveals the existence of numerous interesting and valuable substances. Eew persons unacquainted with the geology of New Zealand would be prepared to find that many varieties of gems and precious stones exist in the colony. In the collection under notice, there are specimens of several kinds of quartz gems, viz.. Chalcedony, Cornelian, Onyx, Opd, Amethyst, Jasper, and Garnet. We find also specimens of gold, copper, coal, marb'e, and iron ore, showing the wide distribution of valuable mineral and metalliferous deposits.

p - FURNITURE AND UPHOLSTERY. W. Howell exhibits a small work table com- _ posed of twenty five varieties of New Zealand L woods-, the workmanship and general design r of which are admirable. GENERAL DECORATIONS. B. Button, Christchurch, exhibits twelve specimens of painting on board, imitations of woods and marbles. The specimens ' of graining are cleverly executed and reflect the highest credit on the artist's skill, the ■ imitation in each instance being very true to 3 nature and the general finish of the work all ! that could be desired. r £ IRON MANUFACTURES. , W. H. Barnes, a register stove of his own [ manufacture—a neat, useful article, and ft good, clean casting. The following particulars of the coals of ■ Canterbury and Nelson, and the building stones and freestones of Canterbury, are taken ! from the appendix to the report. ; BROWN COAL. j A dull black coal, difficult to ignite; recent , fracture bright, cleavage slaty; powder and streak, dull black; ash light brown. It gave i 39.2 per cent, of a non-coherent coke, and i 1.6 of sulphur. L COAL CREEIC, MOUNT SOMERS. A coal of a dull black colour, fracture uneven, very pyritous, burning with difficulty ; powder, dull black ; ash, white mot- ■ tied with red. It affords 52.6 per cent of a non-coherent coke. BITUMINOUS COAL. GREY RIVEK CANTERBURY. A very compact coal, of secondary age, very difficult to pulveriz.'. Its colour is black, lustre dull, the fresh fracture however, has a glistening appearance. It possesses a slaty cleavage. Powder of coal black; ash light brown. The coal puffs up slightly when heated, and gives 68.37 per cent, of a metallic coke. BITUMINOUS COAL, GREY RIVER, NELSON. The beautiful irridescence exhibited by this coal when bioken in the direction of its cleavage recommended it for analysis. It appears to be due to the presence of thin films of a white opaque salt. The cross fracture is back; lustre resinous; powder and streak, dark, brown; coke dull, puffs up a little, coherent; ash grey. The per centage of coke is 64.22 BITUMINOUS COAL, DULLER RIVER, NELSON. This coal is singularly free fiom impurities,and from its external appearance and composition evidently bears a close relation to the column of coal fiom the same locality. This sample was not quite so lustrous as some of the Grey liiver coal, but it had a glistening appearance on certain cleavages. Its fracture is rhombohedal; it easily pulverizes to a brown powder, and yields 50.0 per cent, of a very porous and semi-metallic coke. The ash is a light buff. BITUMINOUS COAL. GREY RIVER, NELSON. This is a beaut'fully bright, clear, homogeneous eoal. The fracture is generally uneven ; in parts, however, p ain surfaces are displayed. Its powder is brown, the ash white,and does not appear to have the least tendency to clinker. Ignited, it burns freely,_ evolving a good flame, and when coked in the usual manner, it swells up considerably to a porous coherent mas<, leaving about 61.20 per cent of a semi-metallic coke. BASALTIC ROCKS, QUARTZOSE, TRACHYTE. These products from Canterbury were re presented by several cubes, sent by Messrs. Hall and Co., of Governors Bay, Lyttelton, and were extremely alike in every particular, the base consisting of principally an amorphous and crystalized felspar, the pure white colour of which is pleasantly relieved by smoke-coloured crystals of quartz. Their hardness is not equal to that of some trachytes. Still it is very great,and must tend to restrict their use to rougher kinds of masonwork. They do not yield in the slightest to the disintegrating effects of Gla'ib r's salt. These stones are said to work much freer at the quarry before oeing dried. BUILDING STONE" The whole of these belong to the group of trachytes, their colours varying through different shades of green. Those by Graham and Weybourne ar? porphyritic. Messrs. Chalmers and Hall and F. Thompson also exhibited in this section. The specific gravities are 2.414, 2.329, 2.402, and 2.357 respectively. The behaviour of these several

hnildin" stones with strong disintegrating solutions tended to confirm the idea of durability which a physical examination of them would surest; and the toughness, which is a characteristic feature of many of the porDhyrics, especially recommends them for situations where this property is imperatively necessary—iu the kcrbing of streets, lor instance, for which purpose, indeed, that of Chalmers and Ilall is at the present time emthose exhibited by I\ Thompson, No. 2 was of a brownish colour, mottled with white crystals. No 3 had a lighter colour. They are both hard, compact stones, but more absorbent of water than any of the preceding ones exfoliating slightly under the treatment with Glauber's salts, and breaking up with comparative ease after lung immersion in Vl f r -indeed it is possible they may be worked pretty readily at the quarry before drying ; if s0 > tlie . v would P rov .° more eeneral use than the harder varieties. The stone exhibited by W. G. Brittan. from the llalswell quarry, is exceedingly hard and close grained, of a dull leaden grey colour ; its fracture is semi-conchoidal. The excessive hardness of this stone will necessarily limit its usefulness. FRKKSTOXKS. The quartzose sandstone of Graham and Wevbourne, from Governor's Bay, Lyttelton, appears to consist of a coarse-grained quartz sand, mixed With a little mica, and bound firmly together with a silicious and ferruginous cement. Its colour is a faint yellow, mottled with red grains. Though very hard and cohc ent, it is slightly absorbent; solulution of sulphate of soda, however, failed to detach more than a few grains in three days. It has a great resemblance to a stone exported from Hobart Town in large quantities for decorating purposes. _ The calcareous sandstone furnished by Forgan and Son, from the Weka Pass, though affected by solution of salts, their durability, if properly faced, need not be feared. Ihey are said to harden upon exposure, and to work very easily. The following is a list of the persons residing in Canterbury, to whom medals have been awarded, under the resolution of the Commissioners passed October sth 1864. SILVER SIEDALS. Messrs. S. Bealey, Vice-president. W. S. Buller for his interesting essay on the Ornithology of New Zealand', and the collection of admirably preserved specimens of New Zealand Birds exhibited by him. E. Dobson, C. E., for his interesting and instructive contributions to the Exhibition in connection with the Lytte'ton and Christchurch Bailway and his able prosecution of the works of that Railway. J. V. Haast for his essay on the Geography and Geology of the provinces of Canterbury, Nelson and Marlborough ; Irs extensive and admirably arranged collections illustrating the Physical history of the same provinces ; his general services to New Zealand as a naturalist and explorer and his zealous efforts to promote the success of tie exhibition. R. L. Holmes for his zealous services as Secretary and Agent for the Canterbury local committee. A. F. W eld Vice-pre-sident. BEONZE MEDALS. W. H. Barnes, as manufacturer of Ivs registered stove. E. Doyne, C.E., for his ingenious apparatus for allowing the expansion of girders over the pieces of long iron-bridge*. H. 11. Glover for his design for the Honorary Certificates, of the Exhibition. Mis, Greenwood for h<r watercolour sketches of New Zealand. J. Keetly for his manufacture of ploughs. J. D. and H. Lance for their zealous endeavours to promote the improvement of New Zealand wools. Ward and Reev s for the successful introduction of lithography into New Zealand.