THE NORTH CANTERBURY COURT.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XLI, Issue 306, 15 November 1906, Page 2

THE NORTH CANTERBURY COURT.

North Canterbury Court occupies a space of 105ft long by 64tft deep, and is most effective and tasteful. Most of the articles shown are oi considerable historic interest, such as the first Speaker's chair used in the old Provincial Council, mode of Akaroa blockhouse, and numerous old records and documents con corning .the early life of the provinces. The present conditions ai compared with the past are alsc shown in very marked contrast ii the form of maps and sketches o various; '(tarts of thie district ii tho early days, and now exhibitor alongside tho bromide prints of to day. Wl sketch of Lyttelton in 1852 £alls ,up memories of "the first foiir, ships," and the scene that greeted the pioneers when they arrived In New Z/ealand waters. One corner of thorn Court displays an uniduo collection of the survey maps of the West Coast, admirable relief nlaps of tho province to-day, showing the roads, railways, harbours, towns, and the smaller settlements are also on show. The great resources of the province in timber.; are/ depicted in exhibits from Culvei'deh, Cheviot, Malvern, and other. parts ot the district. The mineral products of this portion of the province also find adequate representation. i-Yoni Snowdcn Hills there is excellent pipeclay, from Glenrhore and Homebush are specin ins of crude clays and tiles and bricks ma<lo from them ; while Mal- •■ vern sends a five-ton lump of coal. i The agricultural resources of the | district are represented by sacks of , wheat, oats, barley, grasses, and clover, peas and beans, and bundles of flax. Wool is represented by fleeces of oach of the different classes of sheep. Some fine specimens of locally-grown ostrich feathers are displayed, the live birds being on show in an enclosure at the rear of tho building. There are in addition exhibits of dairy produce, including a giant choose from Akaroa. There are some fine specimens of trout, illustrative of the sport to l)e found in the streams, while the walls are adornoo with the heads of stags shot in North Canterbury. Not the least interesting is tha head of the pedigree bull J)uke of Ounerstone, founder o; tho Canterbury Shorthorns. Th< progress made in tho breeding o horses, shoep, und cattle is illustrated by numerous photo enlarge ' merits.