NEW ZEALAND EXHIBITION.

Lyttelton Times, Volume XXV, Issue 1636, 14 March 1866, Page 3

NEW ZEALAND EXHIBITION.

—+ — 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 large 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 extensively used 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 stone 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 cubic feet. It is possible to get blocks containing 200 cubic feet. Eorgan & 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 greystone from a quarry near Lyttelton. It is a good stone to work, and costs 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, Heathcote Yalley, near Christchurch. This quarry has been extensively worked since 1863. The stone forms a vertical dyke 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 any size, up to 15ft. in length, can be obtained. AGRICULTURAL PRODUCE, 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, BEERS, TOBACCO, &0. Messrs. Ward and Co. of Christchurch, exhibit a most excellent ale, which elicited the unanimous commendation of the jury. j&RATED WATERS. T. Kaine 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 18G2. " 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 of salt and water or other adulterants." ANIMAL SUBSTANCES USED IN MANUFACTURES. J. P. 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, Horsley-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 fine bold description of wool well suited for 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 2| 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, Homebush 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 ma<le 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 fully 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 Phormium 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 an 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, (lE., exhibits a specimen of the permanent way laid down upon the Christchurch and Lyttelton Kailway. 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. AGRICULTURAL 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 mentioa for good workmanship and I lig'i finish. His ploughs were the only ones exhibited which 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 and 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. CIVIL 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 which the piers consist of cast-iron cylinders of ample bearing power, but comparatively small diameter, and consequently small lateral stiffness. The suspension arrangement invented by Mr. Doyne, 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 Lyttelton and Christchurch Railway Tunnel, was sent by E. Dobson, C.E., 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 Railway 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 are moderate, and the workmanship and finish good. PHOTOGRAPHY. In the Canterbury department are twelve views of the country, by James Elsbee, about Christchurch, which are very good specimens. Among those particularly deserving of notice are "Entrance to the Tunnel, Heathcote Valley ; " an " Evening Scene ; " " Kowai ; " " The Club House and Government BCtildings ;" also, a " Winter Scene " at Christchurch, and a " Stormy Effect" in Lyttelton Harbour. There is, however, a want of sharpness in some of the other pictures in this frame, which detracts from their otherwise good character as photographs. They are, however, on the whole, exceedingly good specimens of photography, and admirably i epresent the scenery that surrounds Christchurch 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 chromolithography, including an interesting series representing the various tints printed from the separate " stones," which combined form the perfect picture. These exhibitors were 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 chromo-lithograpby was also' entrusted to them, and both the original design, and the chromo-lithographs of it, reflect great credit on Ward and Reeves, and have elicited warm praise from all quarters. Ward and Reeves, in acknowledging the award of this premium, _ have stated that the merit of the design is due solely to Mr. H. H. Glover, a lithographic artist in their employ. Doyle and Co. exhibit specimens of engraving and lithography of good character. T. Cass, Chief Surveyor, contributes a map 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. v. 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 recen times, geological map, goological section across the province, geological sections across the Malvern Hills, geological sections of Grey and Buller 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.' SPECIMENS 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. Few 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, Opal, Amethyst, Jasper, and Garnet. We find also specimens of gold, copper, coal, marble, and iron ore, showing the wide distribution of valuable mineral and metalliferous deposits. FURNITURE AND UPHOLSTERY. W. Howell exhibits a small work table composed of twenty five varieties of New Zealand woods; the workmanship and general design 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 nature and the general finish of the work all that could be desired. IRON MANUFACTURES. W. H. Barnes, a register stove of his own manufacture—a neat, useful article, and a 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, BIG BEN, A black jet looking coal, with conchoidal fracture. It burns freely; with an offensive odour, and is easily pulverised. The powder has a faint tinge of brown; ash, light buff. It yielded 46.9 per cent, of a non-coherent coke, and 4.2 per cent, of sulphur.

BROWN COAL, NO. 20. A dull black coal, difficult to ignite; recent fracture bright, cleavage slaty; powder and streak, dull black; ash light brown. It gave 39.2 per cent, of a non-coherent coke, and 1.6 of sulphur. COAL CREEK, MOUNT SOMERS. A coal of a dull black colour, fracture uneven, very pyritous, burning with difficulty ; powder, dull black ; ash, white mottled with red. It affords 52.6 per cent of a non-coherent coke. BITUMINOUS COAL. GREY RIVER, CANTERBURY. A very compact coal, of secondary age, very difficult to pulveriza. Its colour is black, lustre dull, the fresh fracture however has a glistening appearancc. 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. GREY RIVER, NELSON. The beautiful irridescence exhibited by this coal when broken 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 b'ack; lustre resinous; powder and streak, dark brown; coke dull, puffs up a little, coherent; ash grey. The per centagc of coke is 64.22 Another specimen from the same locality, is described as a beautifully bright, clear, homogeneous coal. The fracture is generally uneven; in parts, however, plain 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 mass, leaving about 61.20 per cent of a semi-metallic coke. BULLER RIVER, NELSON. This coal is singularly free from impurities,and from its external appearance and composition evidently bears a close relation to the column of coal from the same locality. This sample was not quite so lustrous as some of the Grey River 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. 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 Glauber'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 exhibited by Graham and Weybourne are 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 building stones with strong disintegrating solutions tended to confirm the idea of durability which a physical examination of them would suggest; and the toughness, which is a characteristic feature of many of the porphyries, especially recommends tbem for situations where this property is imperatively necessary—in the kerbing of streets, for instance, for which purpose, indeed, that of Chalmers and Hall is at the present time employed. Of those exhibited by P. Thompson, No. 2 was of a brownish colour, mottled with white crystals. No. 3 had a lighter colour. They are botli 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 long immersion in water—indeed it is possible they may be worked pretty readily at the quarry before drying; if so, they would prove of more general use than the harder varieties. The stone exhibited by W. G. Brittan, from the Halswell 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. FREESTONES. The quartzose sandstone of Graham and Wey bourne, 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 coherent, 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. They 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 resolation of the Commissioners passed October sth 1864. ' SILVER MEDALS. S. Bealey &F. A. Weld, Vice-presidents. 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 cont ibutions to the Exhibition in connection with the Lyttelton and Christchurch Railway 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 ; his ! extensive and admirably arranged collections illustrating the Physical history of the same provinces; his general services to New Zea--1 land as a naturalist and explorer and his zealous efforts to promote the success of the exhibition. R. L. Holmes for his zealous services as Secretary and Agent for the Canterbury local committee. BRONZE MEDALS. W. H. Barnes, as manufacturer of his registered stove. K Doyne, C.E., for his ingenious apparatus for allowing the expansion of girders over the pieces of long iron-bridges. H. H. Glover for his design for the Honorary Certificates, of the Exhibition. Mis* Greenwood for her 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 Reeves for the successful introduction of Chromolithography into New Zealand.