ALL SAINTS' INDUSTRIAL EXHIBITION.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXV, Issue 8987, 27 February 1888, Page 6 (Supplement)

ALL SAINTS' INDUSTRIAL EXHIBITION.

The industrial exhibition and promenade concert in aid of the reduction of the debt on All Saints' Church, was opened on Feb. 24, at seven o'clock, at. which hour All Saints' school-room, in which the exhibition is held, was crowded to excess. The incumbent (the Rev. W. Odder) at the outset made a brief speech, in which he thanked all those friends who had contributed articles, and who had aided to make the affair a succcss. He hoped that the success of the effort would stimulate others to imitate their example. The school-room presented a very gay and pleasing appearance, being decorated with flags, ana the walls being hung with paintings, largo photographs, portraits, native mats, etc. At the entrance was a flower and fruit stall, presided over by young ladies. It was decorated with a largo number of bridal bouquets, about thirty young ladies competing for the bridal bouquet prize, and all willing to be "counted in." The award will bo made this evening. There was a good display of articles of local industry. Mr. G. A. Cole, of Edon Terrace, had a fine show case in black and gold, in which he exhibited on one side boots and shoes, in which material and workmanship were wholly colonial, as well as specimens of colonial leather; and on the other side boots and shoes of colonial workmanship, in which the " uppers" were English, French, and Colonial leathers, and entirely manufactured by his own hands. The Auckland Timber Company had a nice collection : Model drawers (draftsman's), fretwork, carved trusses, cornice poles, beehives, butter casks, &c. Some attention was attracted to the exhibits of iron and steel from the Oneijunga Iron Works. There were various articles of steel, a steel ploughshare, sections of iron rails, "blooms"from ironsand of Manukau Heads and of Taranaki : axles, hook and thimble, horseshoe, miner's pick, &c., from Manukau ironsand. Messrs. M. Cook and Sons, of the Freeman's Bay Glassworks, had a capital collection of glassware, comprising oonfectioners' show glasses, • fish bowls, flower vases, fruit stands, water bottles, pastry rollers, jam dishes, etc., which did great credit to the firm. This collection was generally admired, and this local industry should be more patronised than it is. Mr. Morris, cabinetmaker, exhibited a very handsome whatnot, of kauri, comprising six tiers, and thecarvine 1, of quaint design. Mr. T. Cole, basketmaker, etc., had a nice collection. He exhibited cane lounge, gipsy stand with ornamental baskets, occasional table, and baskets. The McLeod Brothers, of the Basket Factory, Albert-street, had a good series of exhibits — cane armchairs, music stand, and picnic baskets of all designs. Some very tastefully designed ones were made by boys. Some Venetian blinds were show,p by Mr. F. Brown, blindmaker. Messrs. Coleman and Cleggs exhibited their Jubilee peram-

bulators, and Mr. Smith some doublehooded perambulators, all beinf; line specimens of workmanship, and marvels of cheapness. The wonder is that with perambulators turned out in the style of those at the Exhibition, that a single English or German perambulator is imported into Auckland. The Union Oil, Soap, and Candle Company had a large showcase for their manufactures. It contained a pyramid of household soap, a large variety of toilet soap, kerosene soap powder, lubricating oils, and cocoanut oils. The exhibit of I candles was a very fine one, the candles being firm as marble, and of beautiful evenness of colour. They were being used in various parts of the building on Fob. 24 which was the best compliment to their merit. If our people practised protection, instead of simply talking about it, these candles should completely block foreign importations, or drive them out of the market. A placard on the side of the showcase made a plaintive if silent appeal to the audience, breathing a spirit of sorrow rather than anger. Why will the public buy imported articles when they can get equally good made in Auckland from the raw material and produce of our own fields?" Well, it is a conundrum, and we give it up. "Why," said the man in charge of the exhibit, "the people will purchase outside short-weighted candles in preference to local full-weights, because if a little cheaper they think they have a bargain; buy outside common soap in boxes, similarly, weighing 841b, against the local boxes at 1121b, in the mania for bargains. As for the korosene soap powder, it is sold £14 per ton under the imported article, and put side by side no one could tell the difference, yet the people cry out for English," and are as unreasoning in that respect, as the Cockney who went to Paris, and, sick of the parley-vooing which continually greeted his ears, thanked Heaven, when he heard a cock crow, that " there was something English at last!" We were glad to learn that the lubricating oils are coming into steady use in the local steamers, and that the engineers of the direct steamers speak highly of them. A fine inlaid table was shown by Mr. R. Cotter, in which the design admirably illustrates the variety and beauty of New Zealand woods. The Carder Brothers had a large and varried assortment of terra cotta work : some of the vases were utilised at the flower stall, and were bedecked with flowers and fruit. Messrs. T. and H. Cooke, cabinetmakers and upholsterers, exhibited specimens of the wire-woven mattresses, which they make a specialty. Mr. John Henderson, of Wyndham-street, showed two panels of church decoration, and one window in cathedral glass ; a door with original design, embossed on glass, and panel ornaments in enamel ana gold. There were several inlaid tables, of choice designs, by Seuffert. The Onehunga Woollen Company had a fine collection of their tweeds on view and tweed yarns and hosiery yarns, as well as exhibits of wool in its natural state. Mr. F. Willmett exhibited pedal bass organ ■pipes, sub bass or pedal reeds, designed for organ or harmonium. On the walls were some large coloured photographs by Messrs. C. Hcmus and G. Gregory (of Ponsonby), giving striking likenesses of His Excellency the Governor, Bishop Cowie, and Mr. J. C. Firth. There were some choice kauri gum ornaments shown by Mrs. Young, and gum specimens by Mrs. Cosson. Mrs. Dowden exhibited some stands of wax flowers beautifully executed. Mr. W. Gulliver, draughtsman, had on view a heraldic design, which did credit to his taste and skill as an artist. A model of a ten-ton yacht, on a scale of one inch to the foot, by Master C. Dixon, is a creditable piece of workmanship. Among the rare and curious things exhibited was an antique watch, being one of the first of English manufacture, and originally worn by Oliver Cromwell. A curious sketch of the celebrated field of Worcester is to be seen on the dial. The watch goes with catgut instead of chain. It was exhibited at the London Exhibition of 1862, and attracted much attention. Engraved on it are the words, "Gift of His Royal Highness the Prince Regent, 24th June, 1810," which would snow that the watch had passed through several hands. Whether the party to whom it was presented left it with "my uncle " is not known ; but it is now the property of Mrs. E. Fairs, and was exhibited by that lady. The watch was one of the biggest "lines" in the show. Hard by Mr. H. Payne, jeweller, exhibited the largest and the smallest watch on record. The large one, if not Captain Cuttle's bears a suspicious family resemblance to it, and has a dial face like a cheese-plate. It was kept for timing salutes by the "A" Battery. The Lilliputian watch was a gem, and seem ed to be knocked out of time altogether. Mr. Payne also exhibited a pair of gold-mounted earrings, made out of the thigh-bone of a Maori. Just the sort of thing which a Maori swain would delight to present to the "nut-brown maid." In addition there were all sorts of Maori and Island curios, and a miscellaneous assortment of articles too numerous to mention ; a galvanic battery was in full play, affording muoh amusement to the youngsters who came in " contact." Not the least important and agreeable feature of the evening was the promenade concert given by the All Saints' choir (assisted by friends), under the conductorship of Mr. Edger, the church organist, Mr. C. Hemus, as first violin, leading the orchestra. The following was the programme, each item being preluded by the chimes of bells : — Pianoforte solo and musical-box; overture, " Couronne d'Or ;" song, "Children's Home," Mr. T. M. Jackson ; trio for flute, 'cello, and piano, Messrs. Jones, Edger, and Miss lnnes; part song, with orchestral accompaniment, "Gipsy Life ;" song, " The Romany Lass," Mr. C. Chambers ; overture, " Meretrierde St. Wanst;" song, "All the World's a Stage," Mr. Moore ; part song (with orchestral accompaniment), " Up Brothers, Up;" song (with 'cello obligato), " With Harp and Crown," Mr. Barnes; part song (with orchestral accompaniment), "Good-Night, Farewell." The feature of the concert was Haydn's "Toy Symphony," which was enthusiastically encored, and had to be repeated Cuckoo, Miss Dixon ; nightingale, Miss Henderson ; rattle, Mrs. Edger ; triangle, Miss Harley ; bells, Miss Barnes ; trumpet, Miss Campbell; and drum, Mr. M. Kelly. ;