HOME INDUSTRY.

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

HOME INDUSTRY.

EXTENSIVE EXHIBITS. Tho extensive and miscellaneous class of exhibits known as the Home Industrias in the Exhibition contain some 25 bays. The 'bulk of the exlii-bi-ts represents tJie efforts of the pupils of tho primary, technical, and art schools in the colony, and New South Wales, and should prove to be of great educational value. Tho work accomplished by art schools is made conspicuously apparent in such branches as wood-carving, copper and ! brass repousse work, and brushwork, needlework being the latest to take advantage of the superiority of the conventional over the natural for decorative purposes. This is illustrated by some well-worked designs of flowers on silk cloth. The display of brush-work from the primary schools of New South Wales is a very fine and interesting exhibit, and one of the most interesting; bays in the gallery shows examples of how children in tho higher standards are taught to apply their skill in brushwork to practical purposes. The water-col-our drawings shown by these schools reach a very high standard of excellence, and from an educational point of view the exhibit must prove of exceptional value. Plain sewing is largely represented, and fills many cases. The pupils of the primary schools are responsible for th-is, and even the native schools arc represented. There is also a fine demonstration of fine and fancy sewing, and there are some beautiful specimens of emIror'dery. The display of handmade lace ip remarkably good, while there are also some very old pioces of the same dainty fabric. Pride of place must be gilven to an exhibit of Maltese lace mode out of New Zealand phormiumtenax. Paintings -In oil and water colors from the different art schools fill some half-dozen bays, and represent various degrees of excellence. Tho studies of "still life" appear to possess most merit, and of these there is a large proportion. Woodcarving and its possibilities are admirably shown in some finelvexeeuted work. On the whole this section is of a highly comprehensive and instructive character.