AUSTRALIAN EXHIBITS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIII, Issue 13325, 3 November 1906, Page 6

AUSTRALIAN EXHIBITS.

NEW SOUTH WALES. The New South Wales court occupies 65G0ft of floor and wall space and makes a line show of natural and manufactured' products. The forestry .branch of the Lands Department shows a. most comprehensive collection of timbers in the rough, and ready for the carpenter. The pastoral industry of the mother State is represented by an arch formed in wool. This gives access to a most varied assortment of manufactures. The Technological Department makes a most interesting show of work turned out by students in the State and technical schools. The whole side of one of the galleries has been devoted to home industries, which must command considerable attention. The collections of marble number nearly 100, and they are all very beautifully marked. There are three Australian-made pianos, which in tone and appearance are equal to any of the j foreign-made instruments of this kind in the Exhibition. A display of bottles made in New South "Wales, including beer, mineral water, and pickle bottles, shows what can be done in that way in the State. The court is as conspicuous for the. variety and excellence of its manufactures as for its imposing display of natural pioducts. Mr. Anderson, the New South Wales Commissioner, informed a representative of the khali) that manufacturers in Sydney and other, large centres in his State were not at all enthusiastic at first about being represented at the New Zealand Exhibition, the general impression being that but little commercial good wan likely to result from it. However, the Government took the project up most warmly and their various Departments certainly make a verv fine show. It is intended to fit up a tourists information bureau, and in this respect the magnificent collection of panoramic photographs of coastal and inland scenery which hang upon the walls of the court will be of much service. The Department of Mines has a very large collection of tin, copper, and silver, in the ore and in ingots the mineral display is practically a dupli- \ cate of that shown in the Royal Exchange Exhibition. The Sydney Technical College has a most interesting collection of typical . wools iii the grease, and also dyed and "ready for wearing. Several well-known vineyards are represented, but it is understood that no wine will be sold throughout the Exhibition, although samples may be distributed free. For all - practical purposes, however, the wine .trophies .in this and other Australian courts might be built up of empty bottles unless opportunity-is afforded ithe visitors of testing the qualities of the wines. ,

.. south: AUSTRALIA. Here again/one learned that the decision of the local Licensing Committee not to grant a license for the sale of alcoholic liquors within the building was regarded as i pie judicial to the legitimate advancement of 'the purpose of the exhibit of Australian 'wines. South Australian vintages have now become world famous, and it is common knowledge that much of the wine from that State is shipped to Europe for blending and other ; purposes, often appearing in foreign bottles, with foreign labels, and sold as foreign : wines ■ at' foreign prices. The State

Government did not think it , would be advisable to invite manufacturers to forward a display of their goods, as there appeared to be but little prospect of much business resulting, but wine-makers and fruit-preser-vers were induced to combine to make an exhibit which would be worthy of the great importance of these two particular industries in South Australia. The court is not large, but it in very well arranged, and the collection of tropical products from the Northern Territory includes not only vegetable drugs and medicinal plants, but' also some things which afford information of the fauna of this (still little known part of Australia. Included in these are some fine heads of water buffalo and heads of aligators and several varieties! of turtles. There is also a big collection of tin, in ore and in ingots. VICTORIA. The most striking feature of the Victorian court is the obelisk, representing the gold output from 1851 to 1905, of the value of £2/5,000,000, or an average of £5,000,000 a year. The gold mining exhibits illustrate the old methods and the new, the Bcndiga School of Alines contributing models of the primitive cradles used on the diggings of the early fifties, also models of the most modern machinery employed in the Lansell mines. The court occupies 6000 ft of space, and is very well arranged. At first sight it would appear that there is more than sufficient room, but the disposition of the exhibits is such that all can be seen to advantage. The show of Mildura dried fruits is exceptionally good. There is also a striking display of wines, compressed fodder, and fleeces. The latter are contributed by the Australian Sheepbreeders' Association, and are from some of the most celeb ated stations in the colony. There is a collection of bales of compressed fodder as supplied to the Japanese Government for the recent war in the East. A great slab of red gum, measuring 10ft by 4ft lOin, cut on the Murray River, occupies a prominent place. The portrait of Mr. Bent, Premier of Victoria, is hung in a conspicuous position in the court', and the general public are informed that it was mainly through his influence that the Closer Settlement Act came into force. There is a small but well selected art collection, including some beautiful statuary, lent by the Melbourne Exhibition trustees, and some paintings and objets de virtu, including a jewel case which was formerly the property of Marie Antoinette. A miscellaneous collection of relics of some historical value includes the Kelly Gang firearms and armour and an original letter from Lord Nelson. In course of conversation with Mr. Edward Nicholls, representing the Victorian Government, a representative of the Hkrai.o learned that the Victorian manufacturers were not at all keen about exhibiting, stating that the high tariff of New Zealand prevented them doing profitable business in this colony. Nevertheless there is a good representation of Victorian business firms.