THE SOUTH CANTERBURY COURT.

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

THE SOUTH CANTERBURY COURT.

% ' I South Canterbury produces ar I attractively larrangod provincial _ court. lt consists practically o: . two parts — one on the subject of c : weil-delihed decorative scheme, con- . taining almost exclusively the l>ro- ■ i ducts of the soil ; the other being ' | devoid to pictorial, 'educational, , ' and emblematical representations . Grain and seed are the media usee I in the work of decoration, am ' their arrangement shows considerl able artistic skill. The principal 1 feature of the decorations, how- . ever, is an octagonal summei I house, the walls of which are pan- - nelkd with grain and seeds. Ir i each wTi.ll is a window of Gothic • j shape f ringed with ears of corn . The lower parts of the wall are de- - , corated with maize and peas, and I the upper parts are covered alter- - , naU'ly with straw and seeds ol I mangiel-wurzle. The general ef t | feet of the cereal decorations is tc . •emphasise thi. premier position oc * | cupkd by South Canterbury as ar 1 agricultural district, and this facl ' is borne out by the exhibits insidi ' the court. There is a striking disj play of seeds and minor agricultu . | ral requirements, as well as t ■stand of milling produce ind.icativc [ of one of the principal indusu-ivs il j tho district. Root crop .samples _ I are also in evidence, as well a; . I tweeds, flax, and twine, showing , i the dilTerent industrial assets or _ ] which the district can rely for its . prosperity. Factory butter, hams . bacon, with a selection of home I made wines anti preserves comi plete a verj - fine testimony to thr j.ruductiveness of South Canter > bury. The art section contains an , assortment of photographs and oil i paintings, in about equal propor- , tions. Tho photos couvev sonic i i-ntc-resting and instructive informal.tion regarding the early history ;; of tho district. There is ni- •■■■ so a collection clevotod to the - works of the students of the Technical School, and this contains c display of high-class needlework. A large assortment of drawing i.< shown, tho architectural and me- ' i chanical being most admired, while b . writing and drawing by school children is displayed in quantity. The minerals of South Canterbury present a varied seiection. " Chief amongst tho contents of the sec- [ tion aro specimens of cut building- : stone, a brick and tile arch made from Timaru and Makikihi products, and a large collection oi cream coloured pottery manufactured from a fine white .clay found at Kakahu. In the sporting sectjon are ducks, geese, wallaby, wild boar, and other game, as well as some fine specimens of stuffed trout.