WELLINGTON EXHIBITION.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1291, 26 November 1896, Page 18

WELLINGTON EXHIBITION.

LATE NEWS. The lighting- has been entirely in the hands of Messrs T. W. Ballinger and Co., Limited, and when Mr Baflinger was looked up for some particulars thereupon he courteously gave to the writer his time i'or a personally-conducted tour through the buildings, during which the facts herein set down were noted. Electricity "being the medium of lighting, the description may be taken up in the switch-room (a veritable gallery of mystery), where the current is received from the Electrical Syndicate into the transformers, of which there are 16, from thence it goes into the meters, and before the week is out theie will he 19 of these registers; on again, and the *' cut-outs " catch the eye, and the seeker after knowledge learns that this is a friend, a safeguard, instead of an obstacle of danger ,• now the switches come upon the scene, the lever is pressed—and lo! the light is on. A very simple process—as it reads. There are some 24 switches, and each controls 25 lights. In the gallery also are curious things upon the wall, known as " chocking coils," regulating the arc lights in the cycling track and the " big fellow" (to quote a wondering Maori from Papawai) in front of the main entrance.

The Ballinger Company have altogether, counting the fittings to private cases and •exhibits, put into the Exhibition 550 lights, the great majority of which are 32 candle-power. In the concert hall there are fourteen 50 candle-power lights, over the stage ten 30's, and under the gallery six 16's. The plan of lighting adopted by the Lighting Committee has been the providing of one candle to every 4ft of space, and that has been followed throughout, exceptional brilliancy in certain spots being due to the flight from private exhibits. There is little room for complaint in any portion. In the art gallery special care has been taken to avoid shadows, and the angle adopted has proved most effective, 50 c.p. lights being the medium. Some very attractive electric lighting has also been done in private bays and cases, and the whole has been carried out under the direction of Mr C. W. Martin, foreman for the Ballinger Co., and when it is said that it reflects credit upon that firm, the overseer and his staff of assistants it is no light compliment, but a well-deserved truism.

ABOUND AND AMONG THE EXHIBITS.

THE EMPIRE COMPANY. Messrs T V. G. Turnbull and Co.'s " Empire " covers a multitude of things—from Royal blacking, with which to shine your footwear, soap to make your linen white as the driven snow, to the housewife's terracotta hearth powder, Koyal laundry blue, flavouring essences and Dragon baking powder, vinegar strong enough to make the mouth water on sight (certified as genuine by the Government analyst), and syrups so sweet and luscious a 3 to create and satisfy all thirsts. The candied peel should appeal to all encouragers of local industry, the fruit being grown in Gisborne and prepared at the works in this city. Considering that the exhibit covers a space nearly 20 yards long, and the packages run up from floor to ventilator, it is easily understood what a difficult task it is to mention a tithe of the contents of tho multitudinous array of bottlos, tins, parcels, boxes and bags shown tho pickles, oils, sauces, fluids, paints ; the honey, treacle, spices and powders ; tho rice, oats, coffee and pepper ; the soap-extract, blue, jelly powders (a delight to the wife in a hurry) and the 101 other things "put up " under direction of Mr K. fc>. Haughton, the manager of the factory in town and supervisor of this exhibit.

THE DBA.GON BRAND TEA is run under the same banner as the Empire Company, bub is made a separate exhibit, just across the way from Messrs Turnbull's miscellany above referred to.- The Dragon kiosk is a very popular resorb for thirsty -women-folk and their " cousins." Kiosk, interpreted, means a summer-house, and the Turkish custom of taking tea therein has now come to be a recognised institution at all exhibitions. However, no matter what the name wherein you get it, the tea's the thing, and not only do you get a fine blend when you take the Dragon, but the summerhouse it is served in, with the nimble and attractive attendants who wait upon you, all tend to the making of it a pleasurable exercise. Miss Browne has some half a dozen assistants under her, and they are kept going from opening to closing time. Mr P. M. Shortridge is the tea expert, and n U i he blends he has put upon the market ho has satisfied a large craving not only in tins city, but up in Auckland, down in Christchurch, in our own immediate! back country, and wherever settlement goes, a package oi" Dragon goes with it. The company's business is spreading, and its praise is sung at many an At Home and High Tea. Mr T. Turnbull designed the kiosk, Messrs Carmichael and Son carried out its erection, and in the fitting up and decorating of it much care has been spent. Fifty people can sit at the tables, and photographs of various' phases of life in the Ceylon tea gardens meet the eye at every turn. A pleasant resort for pleasant folks at a pleasant place is this.

THE MATAURA FALLS PAPER MILLS COMPANY

The display of the above Otagan firm is a small one, but tells of possibilities great for an industry which is as yet in its infancy. Made in Germany, England and America paper has been supplying the colonial demand, but the exhibit under notice tells us that at least one New Zealand mill knows how to turn out something superior to the rough brown wrapping and bag material forming the bulk of colonial manufacture. In the samples shown are strong manila, stout hosiery cartridge, yarn and six varieties of printing, white and coloured, glazed and unglazed, and a very good quality of blotting. There are also lines of bag, bleached cap, coloured wrappings, fruit bag, &c. Messrs Coulls, Culling and Co. have year by year been improving the facilities at their mill, using up-to-date machinery and devices, and it is satisfactory to learn that their enterprise has been meeting with yery happy results in the increase of the de-

mand and output and improvement in the quality of their manufactures. Mr A. E. Kernot is the "Wellington agent, rind he readily gives every information to visitors. A MODEL EXHIBIT. A novelty in the Home Industries Department is Mr C. Green's model of a modern 9 torpedo catcher, "The Rocket," interesting * at any time, but doubly so at night, when 5 | every port-hole and light-hole sparkles with l j light. The secret is that the exhibitor has 3 fitted inside an electric light, and with collie spicuous success. 3 EVANS THE SADDLER. ' An old identity, one of the bsst-known • business men in our city, no one thinks of i calling him aught but Evans the saddler. He , is an enterprising man, and it is rarely there is not some new exhibit of curiosity in his window on Lambton quay —which oftentimes is worthy the name of a private museum. Mr Evans has carried his enterprise into the Exhibition, where he shows portmanteaux in every kind of make and material —in solid leather, alligator, serpent, hogskin print, English and colonial leather. He holds a stock of more than 500 of these articles of t-javel and convenience, and it maybe noted that buying his manufacture saves a 25 per cent, import duty. Do you want saddles, bridles or other horse furniture ? Mr Evans has it, and his 45 years' business experience guarantees to our country cousins that their wants will be faithfully supplied. A good name marks good work, f J. E. Evans imports bicycles, sells and restrings tennis racquets, binds cricket bats, ) and jis a surgeon to all the damages to golf apparatus. Evans' noatsfoot oil, bottled 11 years ago, is just the thing for bicycles and other machines; and if there is anything, excepting boots, that one thinks of connected with leather, the twin-thought is—you'll find it at Evans'. DAVIS AND CLATER. Wandering down the " Hall of Machinery " —our own phrase, after looking at the Otto gas exhibit, which adjoins the two fine carriages shown by our Railway Department —the name of a well-known local firm catches the eye, and there is no need to road " 79, Lambton quay," to know that Messrs Davis and Clater are referred to. Their exhibit is contained in a large show-case, into which an artist in window-dressing has hung so that none are inconspicuous a sample of every " line " in which this firm deals in their two shops in town. Here in this case, as in Willis street and on the quay, are shirts of the latest colour, cut and texture ; collars fit to grace the neck of Lord Soanso. Mr Buzynes or Harry Quilpon ; athletes will find articles of costume light enough to help in racing and strong enough withal to please . a Sandow. Ties chaste enough for any connoiseur, neat enough for every day use, original enough to suit the New Woman are : there. And writing of the ladies, eonspicu- ] ous in this case are somo stylish blouses, tied i and collared so naturally as to clearly demonstrate that the firm of Davis and Clater know , pretty women, know what pleases her, know ; how to dress her,and in the casa lies tho dial- \ lenge to her to put their taste to the test. ] The firm has long had a name as makers to ; order of all kinds of shirts, and if any visitors < desire ocular demonstration upon this point, j by all means let them take advantage of a \ turn in the Hall of Machinery and see the . showcase bearing the legend Davis and . Clater, and be satisfied. ARTHUR BRISCOE AND CO. A popnlar notion has it that tea-tasting is -, as conservative as China herself; that as un- i changable as the ways of that groat nation J has been tho fixed European tasto for the beverage. But the public are sometimes wrong. There have been decided and marked • changes in the national taste for tea 3. j Twenty years ago our mothers gossiped over their cups of good old China unmixed ; ten ' yoar3 later and the taste was for Indian ; later it camo to Ceylon ; and now tho demand \ is for blends of tho epoch-marking trio. In tho several spaces reserved by tho Empire ' Tea Company, the A. Briscoe Company, etc., [ for the display of tea exhibits the obsorvcr , will notice this phase of tasto, and ladies , especially, as experts, will be enabled to t gather pointers bearing thereupon. Tho space occupied by Arthur Briscoe and Company's tea exhibit, 1000 square feet, is - ( tho largest applied for in the Exhibition. Of * this 34ft x 20ft is taken up by a handsomo kiosk, fitted up in tho Japanese stylo with - curios specially imported from Japan, while , tho walls aro hung with photos showing the • various processes of the product from growth to shipment in Ceylon. The entrance to the kiosk is under a dome in the form of a striking pagoda, the names of " Sirisanda," " Gold and Silver Crest " and " Avondale " brand of teas being prominently set out. On cither side are counters, on which are arranged pyramids j of teas, presided over by young ladies dressed in the colours of the firm's " Golden Crest " (blue predominating), whilo the outside walls are decorated with tbe packets and tins of the teas which the Company blend and pack, the whole presenting a brilliant appearance, which adds to the general effect of this excellent exhi- \ bit, reflecting credit on Mr W. C. Chatfiold, architect, who designed, and under whose supervision the exhibit has been erected. The management of tho lias been undertaken by Mrs Irvine, of the Panama street Kiosk, and for special information we are indebted to the courtesy of Air David Lang, the tea expert of the firm, recently of Melbourne, and , who makes a fi rst-cla.ss host to all who , patronise the commodious tea-room at the rear of tho kiosk.

Bo woman of the new order or the old, one | is sometimes inclined to debate the question whether dress or tea takes first place in her taste and appetite, therefore, in the matter of the exhibit under notice, a description of the Arthur Briscoe Company's brands and blends will bo of special interest to many betterhalves of Wellington households. " Silver Crest," Nos. 1 and 2, are two degrees, in price and quality, of skilfully-blended China, Indian and Ceylon teas. "Golden Crest," also in two numbers, consists of Indian and Ceylon teas. " Avondale," in three assortments, is a blend ot choice hillgrown Ceylons. " Sirisanda," which is a veritable aristocrat among teas, ranging into four qualities, is a blend of the choicest golden tipped, hill-grown Ceylon Pekoes. All these teas are retailed in packets of ',lb, lib, 51b and 101 b, at 2s, 2s-id, 2s 6d, 3s" and 4s, which certainly give a variety of taste at an i equal variety of price. I THOMSON, LEWIS AND CO. "Golden ale! What is it r " That is the line, writ large, upon the northern side of, perhaps, the most entertaining bay in the the Exhibition. Not that the side is so, for the writing on the wall tells of the specialty of the New -Zealand i widely-known firm of Thomson, Lewis and Co., a specialty which appeals very strongly to those who avoid strong drinks, and which will, now the summer is upomiSj appeal to all .tastes if it

! happen anywhere in reach. Golden ale may just as well be disposed of right here in tbis paragraph. It is a non-alcoholic beverage, brewed from wholesome ingredients, and possessing all the stimulating and tonic properties of the best English ales. • It is time the reason is given for the use of the tarm " entertaining," and this brings us in front of the bay, when that "fascinating mysterious ball," somersaulting in ( giddy whirl upon the top of the I central jet of a quaintly-conceived and I excellently- carried-out design repre?entf iiig the trade-mark of tho firm—" Crystal Springs"—is to be seen in full play. This fountain, with its two side sprays and a base of ferns naturally laid, is deservedly a | constant attraction to old and young, never deserted by day and simply crowded about by night. Endless amusement is caused by the balancing efforts and triumphs of the ball, and the Executive Committee of the Exhibition should express their thanks to Mr A. M. Lewis, the city member of the firm, for the trouble he has taken in the display, for they are certainly indebted to him for providing what is practically an additional side-show for visitors. I

At the rear of the fountain and ferns in this bay are rows upon rows of bottled samples of the lines manufactured in Dunedin, Wellington, Wanganui and Otaki by Messrs Thomson, Lewis and Co. —cordials of every kind, superior soda water, lemonade, blends galore —in fact, everything in the liquid way that such a firm as this undertakes iu tho aerated water and cordial linos. A guarantee of their superior quality is found in the fact that this firm are the sole contractors, for the third term (nine years), to the Union Steamship Company, who, as is weil known, are noted for their particularity in testing and trying before buying. The firm are just placing on the market a natural mineral water, bottled with the natural gas as it is collected at the springs. Wai-rongoa, which is situated at North Taieri, Ouago, gives its name to this water, which has peculiar curative properties, and promises to open yet another way to revival in health to its drinkers and success to tho enterprise of one of our most go-ahead colonial business firms. MRE. ARNOLD, MANUFACTURER.

A row of all classes, degrees, makes, shapes and variety of perambulators, go-carts and wicker seats catches the glance. We cannot all order a silver spoon with our birth, but few and far between are tho colonial infants who are not provided with their "pram." or their go-cart. Well here is a fine display of all that is to be seen in the way of vehicles for infant locomotion. Mr Arnold's name and fame reach further than Wellington, and his

" prams." and go-carts parade on other quays and streets than Lambton and Willis. All th') foregoing description might lead to the belief that Mr Arnold is a specialist in the furniture just noted. Quite so —he is ; but he is also a manufacturer of other equally important wares. Come along here, and you will see card and afternoon tables, curiouslydesigned wicker chairs, and there at tho back are die latest, most up-to-date wire mattresses; eveiything shown, mind you, being manufactured and put together for local sale and export at his place of business in Willis street. Mr Arnold has received awards of honour at various exhibitions, and here he involuntarily causes many exclamations of approval for his large exhibit of an important and flourishing local industry. MB HENDERSON'S INCUBATOR. Incubation and incubators aro Mr J. Henderson's hobbies, and his exhibit at the Exhibition—you keep straight down on your right after entering tho gateway, the outside run of the chicks abutting on the cycling track—is a constant source of wonderment, instruction and amusement. Two days after the Exhibition opened, the chicks, no doubt as anxious as a budding genius, began to come out of their shells in groat and lively style, and they've been arriving almost daily since. From tho incubator, where the eggs lay (they are laid in another place), tho hatched arc put into the brooder or artificial "mother," where tho air is tempered to the shivery chick until it is enabled to go to the run. The term from first to last is some six weeks, and there are four stages in this artificial life of tho fowl. An examination yesterday showed a lively lot of run-abouts—--90 brown and 20 white Leghorns, 4t Langshans and Langshan-Houdan cross, and 54 Minorcas. Another lot of eggs are expected to incubate to-day, and as the process interests many already, Mr Hendorson will be in close attendance, and visitors will find him not only courteous but quite enthusiastic upon his hatchery and his chicks. TnE ECONOMIC, Messrs George and Kersley have secured one of the very best spots in tho Exhibition for a display that is in every respect worthy of its aristocratic quarters. What could be more desirable than the reserved-seats door making one boundary and tho public door the other, whilst in front the people stream both ways seeking admission to the concert hall ? And where is the lady who can resist, even when in her utmost hurry, " without a moment to spare," stopping for " just a minute" to yet again examine, it may bo, a dress, a bonnet, a wrap, a blouse, or other article of femininity which she has set her eye and her heart upon ! There are all these and more in the vast showcase exhibited by Tho Economic—in fact, it is beyond mere man's power to tell ol the "dreams" and "ducks" and millinery "poems" tastefully and prodigally and temptingly set out therein. In front of that case man looks, woman sees, thinks, longs

and covets —and generally buys, lb is with satisfaction she learns that each costume in that cabinet was designed and executed on The Economic premises by its own staff of costumiers, for she has taken a fancy to some style shown, and to fancy is to obtain. In ono of two neatly-furnished recesses, Messrs George and Kersley show a lady's bicycle costume, tne model standing alongside a Gladiator machine. The Economic will make

j up the style of costume shown, and probably can arrange also, if desired, for the supply of this excellent bike to any lady having a desire for both. I THE TEREX AND JONES CO. ; Though not claiming to bo prophets or the | sons of prophets, Messrs Yerex and Jones hold the name for carrying on a profitable agency business, and of the lines held by them or run through them the ends of the earth generally and U.S.A. particularly are j drawn upon and kept in leading strings, as it j were, for the benefit of a novelty-seeking, fin-de-" cycle" age. It is a fine, catchy, | unique show given at the Exhibition by this , firm, and a natural line of demarcation of their distinctive features is drawn by means of a passage-way between. The click of the typewriter draws first attention, and Mr Joyco soon catches the wanderiug eye looking for something to settle upon. Under his guidance an examination of the latest and very latest Yost tj r po- j writer is made, and he arttully leads up to some conversation upon the V ost school of shorthand and typewriting, with instructive exhibits and examplis. 'There are many machines, and there is the mimeograph, and office appliances right up to the times. The acceptance of an invitation to come along in the evening shows a busy scene, there being two styles of 'ists at work with busy lingers, and whether the gazing crowd admire the expert manipulation, or the manipulator, certainly both succeed in making an interesting and instructive object lesson. Catching sight of Mr G. M. Yerex over on the other side, thoughts turn from typewriters, and speech ensues upon bicycles. National Registers, and for awhile the belief holds there is only one bike, and that is the Columbia. This machine is shown in all its glory, and pride of place is given the one upon which Mr F. B. Muir lowered the one, two and three-mile records. The Hartford is also shown, being especially taking with boys, because they are "just their height." A card with a peculiar legend upon it, supported by a bike, draws special attention, for, in letters that all may read, it says " The Rational Dress Columbia, as ridden by the young lady above !" This implies that she is dead ? Not so; she is only suspended—-picture-wise, above your head. There are novelties lying all around. Look at the ingenious computing scale ; but greatest of all is the No. 79 casdi register till, covered with Old and New World glory and by over 300 patents. It is a marvt.l, containing in its handsome casing a cash register, adding, numbering and dating mechanism, a paper cutter, printing press and typowntor, yet withal so simple a child could run it and a burglar or any other body need bo no stronger than a girl to lift it. The first or sample machine cost 50,000 dollars ; you can buy one bearing the No. 100,000 odd upon it here for 300 dollars; there are 90 different registers made in the Dayton firm, and Messrs Yerex and Jones aro "right hero" to keep these and other things before our business people. JOHN NEWTON AND HIS SOAP. Punch said, many years ago, "Ifthere's any truth in tho proverb that cleanliness is next to godliness, then a eoapmaker should take rank next to a bishop !" John Newton, of the Caledonian Soap Works, Kaiwarra, is certainly a cleansing influence in this Colony, the bishopric is yet co come, and as ho hails " fra " Glasgow, and swears by Bobbie Burns and Burns' Al soap (there being no relation between the poet Burns and the soap Burns) it in nut likely that the Bishop of Kaiwarra will bo installed yet awhile. Mr Newton has had 40 experience in a business which under his direction has been peculiar to Kaiwarra since 18S5, be having in that year landed from the Old Land with a complete plant. Three years ago he purchased J. Kitchen and Sons' and Apollo Company's soap an 1 soda crystal plant, and since then his business has increased by "leaps and bounds" until it is now ono of the largest soap and soda crystal factories in tho Colony, and his leading brands, "Burns' Al Soap," in bars and tablets, and Newton's " Perfection " soap (registered;, are now as familiar to our housewives as the article is necessary.

A few particulars of the industry will not be out of place. In 18S5 the floor spaeo of rhc factory was 3000 ft ; it is now over 11,000 ft. The soda crystal department also shows up important. To the many housewives who get their 31b parcel from the retailer, it is an eye-opener to learn that ovor 100 tons of this article has been sent out by J.N. to a month's orders, and the crystals, as woll as the soap, are to be found as far north as Samoa, Tonga, Fiji, and even unto_ New Caledonia —which latter fact is appropriate to the factory name. The visitor to Mr Newton's stall at the Exhibition will noto that the articles shown there are taken from evcry-day-ordered stock. The mottled bears not an extra " mottle," the Perfection is not. for it cannot be more perfect, the Al doesn't go an extra one letter, the [Surprise is not more surprising, nor the Windsor browner, nor yet the Holt soap extra gracious—none of those manufactures have been touched up " extry-liko" specially for the Exhibition. As ii comes out of the factory, so is it shown there, and whether for woollen mills, dye-works or the home, the quality is always there.

Mr F. N. Meadows, the superintendent or general manager, is not exactly an exhibit, but ho is certainly an interesting quantity to be reckoned with, and one of the hardest things to find —when you want him. Like seats in Parliament, he is in great demand; everybody wants him, and at times the chase has grown exciting, the only result being, when you run him to earth, a cool and quiet, " What can I do for you?" That's just it. He has been doing things so effectively that even at this early stage the Exhibition is in good going order, all space occupied, and exhibitors have taken off their wearied look and wreath their face in smiles, , Mr Meadows is a native of Somerset, - England ; as a young man had a variety of experience Home, including some _ eight years in London mercantile life. Coming to this Colony sixteen years ago, he entered upon a lino of life that has given him special knowledge, so that ho is now known as an exhibition expert, and when a sharp, shrewd man has been under veteran Jules .Joubert he may well be set upas knowing a few things. It was in 1882 Mr Meadows assisted in the Christ- [ church Exhibition ; then he represented that J city and its province at the New Zealand and South Seas Exhibition in 1890 ; and in 1891-ii

he was seat by the Government to the Launceston Exhibition, ou returning from which he successfully floated the Canterbury Central Dairy Company, and for some five years was its commercial manager. This brings us up to within the last few months, J and now he has added yet another bow to his string, marked Wellington. He also took an active part in organising the Canterbury Industrial Exhibition. Mr Meadows has a'so had social triumphs, for as a principal in tho Christchurch Amateur Opera Company he has made his mark as a singer in such productions as "The Mikado," " lolanthe," | " Madame Favart," &c, and in the formation of this Society he took a prominent part. In fact, as an organiser Mr Meadows has had peculiar and particular success. The school committee of Te Horo is moving for an excursion for the school children of that district to the Exhibition ; other committees on the coast arejalso agitating in that direction ; and on Friday next an excursion of some 000 or 700 youngsters are to arrive at the Exhibition from one of the Wairarapa schools. This will be the beginning of what promises to be a great feature of tho show, and it is understood that Mr W. Seager has been brought up from Christchurch to undertake the amusing of the juveniles by magic lantern and other specialties. M. De Mey is busily engaged drilling children for a calisthenics exhibition, including club swinging, dumb-bell exercises, &c, which will shortly be given on the sports ground. A great improvement is being made in the Exhibition cycling track by painting it white. It is expected that it will add greatly to tho light in night racing. Tho glass-blowers are to be placed in tho plumbers' shop, and will be ready early next week to exhibit all their mysteries of manufacture from the sand right through to the bottle.

The cinematographe will be fixed in the hall of mystery next Saturday. Seating accommodation for 400 will be provided. Expressions of pleasure were heard from members of the executive on Tuesday over a rumour to the effect that the Union Steam Ship Company had decided to run special Exhibition excursions from Lyttelton at tho within-the-reach-of-all fare of 7s 6i return. If this be so, there will be every reason for rejoicing, and if the Company are still considering the matter, it is to be hoped they will haudsomely meet, with concessions, the enterprise of the Exhibition executive.