EXHIBITION OF PAINTINGS.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XXIV, Issue 189, 12 August 1890, Page 2

EXHIBITION OF PAINTINGS.

Ou Thursday ncxo is to be opened in the Shelbjurne-streeb .-cho.droom an exhibition of very choice paintings, principally of the flowers and foliage of New Zealand trees and shrubs, by Aliss Harris, who during last summer paid n visit to Taranaki. where for five days she camped at the foot uf Mount Egmont, whose: sides she explored wibh a view to obtaining wild flowers to serve as studies for her studio, Tbat she was very fortunate in obtaining specimens and highly successful iv producing faithful imitations of them will oe admibted by all who visit her exhibition during the latter part of this week. Having had an opportunity of seeing some of the paintings we will just mention two or three which struck us as nuing the most beautiful. Pirst of all there is the Mountain frimula, which grows plentifully under the busiies and in sheltered rocky crevices. To this full justice has been done, and leaves and foliage are most faiohluily depicted, Theu there is the yellow itununculus, with unusually hue leaves. A red Naiuai from Mokau, aud also a white one from the Dun Mountain, are sure to attract a deal of attention, and will be greatly ad mired. The "Ti Ti," or a3 the settlers call it, " Elastic or India Rubber Tree ' is a very etiarming specimen. Tbis tree is at its greatest beauty when from (5 io 12 feet high when the leaves are from 5 to G leet long and about 6 inches broad, and very rigid. The mid rib and stripes are of a rich orange colour, aud bhe surface blueish green, Tne fibre of tbis leaf was especially valued by the Maoris for making fishing and mooring lines, as ib wichstands the action of salt water much better thau flax, Auooiiur painting is that of the very beautii'ul 'lower and handsome foliage of the *' Tainui." This is a small tree abous 20 feet high only to be fouud near tiie mouth of the Mokau river where it was discovered by sir Jam.s Hector in 1878. lt is of special interest on account of the legend connected v.ith it, The natives state that the spot whero it wus found wa-; thu sice of the camp selected by tbeir ancestors on lirst lauding in New Zealand, ;;nd that it must have grown from the rdlers or skids and the green boughs tbat were laid ns a flooring in their great canoe the Taiuui. We can only make brief mention of the many other beautiful flowers and foliage that Miss Harris bus -o fckih'uily jruncod. Among them are the Buah Ake" Ake, the T.'iwh'ii, a foresi tree, Alpine flowers, the Ast^h ■. Soiaudri, a loveiy yellovv dtooping flowtr with very graoeful lo iage, all from Mount Egmont. There is also a very rare flower, namely, a yellovv Rata, reoeni ly di -covered at Collingwood by Mr Dall. Then tbere are fltudies in bronze and gold, and a beautiful Primu'a from Mount Egmont painted on lincrußt.i., » kind, of leather ; a bawl of Ci»ryein(huuuins and a basket of lhe .ame flo'-vc-re. To these must be added a eet of ihree small piotuiea entitled "The lun cents Abroad, " which was supge^ted by the appearof the bear which waa receutly to be bi en iv lhe streets, ,but which, we heftr, has since been shot at We3t,« port in consequence of the death of its owner) ; " Three Choristers, " and a very cleverly painted picture of " Pubs. " On the whole : he exhibition promises lo be one fu! : of sttradiveness to the bo'anisfc and the lover of art, and to a'l who take delight iv well and faithfully executed piotures of some of Nature's choicest production-*.