THE INTERPROVINCIAL EXHIBITION.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 1504, 24 December 1872, Page 2

THE INTERPROVINCIAL EXHIBITION.

There was a very fair attendance of visitors yesterday. TIMBER. The court for timber also forms a very prominent feature of tho exhibition. It is very completo, and the arrangement of the different specimens has evidently been a subject of great care and' labour. For the. completeness of the collection the committee are indebted to Mr Armstrong, jun., who waa sent on a search expedition to the various forests in the province, and tvho must have brought great zeal to bear in the fulfilment of his commission. Certainly tho result attained does him credit, both as to the number and excellence of the specimens exhibited. Another point deserving of commendation is the arrangement of specimen foliage upon or above each different kind of timber. This will bo very useful to those visiting the court who aro not fully acquainted with the various trees, and will be much appreciated. Another gentleman, who deserves great credit for his energy and self-sacrifice in arranging the court, is Mr F. Jenkins, a member of thotimber committee. Nearly the wholo work in this respect devolved upon him, and he worked very hard to make the court as attractive and woll arranged as possible, in which success has undoubtedly been attained. The exhibits comprise specimens from the Oxford, Pigeon Bay, Little River, and Otira Gorge forests ; a number contributed by Mr Blair, engineer, Otago, and a splendid collection from fche Canterbury Museum; Taken all through they arc very fine, and speak well for the resources of tho province and colony. There are many timbers of a very ornamental nature for cabinet work, comparatively unknown, exhibited, and the serious attention" of those interested in such, matters may bo directed to them. Ifc would be impossible to comment upon every species of timber, and remarks can thereforo only be passed upon the more notable ones, commencing with tho Canterbury contributions. Whitcwood or Mahoo, aud Black Mapau or Tarata aro both largely used for ornamental work, being capable of taking a good polish. A fine specimen of White Mapau is shown. This is a very ornamental timber, not much known hero at present, but will be a r favourite for light work when properly understood. Ribbonwood is already well-known, by cabinet^ makors, but ifc iB worthy Of hofco fchat tho bark being very fibrous is peculiarly adapted to papcrmaking. Eokako is fche best imitation of walnut we have seen. It is a large tree, and besides its properties for cabinet work the bark yields a fine purple dye. The timber is nofc much used yefc, but should become a great favourite. Mako is very prettily marked, and would be usoful for veneers. A specimen of Wild Irishman is shown, such as very few are aware is to be found in our forests. Most people aro under fche impression thafc the small prickly shrub found on some of the plains is the only kind in existence, but thia is a mistake, for the specimen shown in fche exhibition is from a good-sized tree, which has a fine hard«grained wood that might with advantage be used for veneers. Titoki is vory durable, and adapted foKwhcels, coachbuilding, &c. (Joai resists water well/and is used,' for cabinet work or axe handles, White Matipo (oak) being very tough, is also well suited for axe handles. Karmai, Towhai, is a very heavy, hard, durable timber, which, when known, should be largely used for millwright's purposes. Rata is of a similar character. Konini, or Fuchsia, is a fine tree, with white wood mottled with purple, suited for cabinet work, and for producing a purple dyo. Lancewood and Manuka arc also shown. The Ivy tree, soft and tough, would do admirably for bread plates and culinary purposes generally, added to which it yields a yellow resin. Broadleaf is only known here for use as firewood yet; but it is a red hearted timber of a very durable nature, and fro-"" quently used in other parts of the colony for various purposes. It is of a very durable

•character. TWilrn. Mik, wifch curiously marked yellow wood, is good for veneers or axe handles. A magnificent specimen of Ake Ake is Bhown, the tree from which it was taken being twelve inches in diameter. It is a splendid imitation of rosewood, is heavy, very hard, and durable. Nei Nei is a very handsome timber, wifch a beautiful mottled figure, which should make ifc very much sought after by makers of cabinet work. Ifc has nofc yet been brought into use in this province. A pretty sample of the Honeysuckle is shown The Large-leaved Birch is a fine tree, growing to a height of 100 feet, and is very useful in all building purposes. Totara and WhitePine are well represented. The Kawaka cedar is very beautiful, but never sound. Ofthe mountain Totara — the most durable of its family — fine specimens are shown. Rimu is also well represented. Yellow pine, light and soft wood. As also Toa Toa, a small Alpine pine, giving heavy and durable wood, have both a very useful appearance. Two specimens of Manuka, excavated on the site of the new city drain, are exhibited, and though they must have been buried for many years, they are as sound as ever. Two pieces of wood detached from tho piles at the Royal Hotel are well worth inspection. One iB a piece of broadleaf, and fche other of black pine, which have been twenty-one years in the ground, yefc are sound. Collections expected to have arrived from Oxford and Pigeon Bay, are nofc yefc to hand — the former including black birch, the latter Totara and black pine. Turning next to Mr Blair's specimens, some very valuable experience in the comparative durability of timbers will be obtained. From Nos. Ito No. 11 inclusive, are totara. Nos. 8 and 9 are portions of fencing posts, which had been in fche ground 20 years ; No. 8 being all heart, is quite sound, but No. 9 being very sappy, is completely decayed. Both, it may be observed, were token from the ground level, or between wind and water as ifc were, a part which is always first to decay. No. 16 is ; part of a sleeper which was nine years on the [ Bluff railway, and No. 11 is a piece of bog totara, which must have been buried for. ages, yet is perfectly sound. Nos. 12 to | 21 inclusive are black pine. No 15 is part of a sleeper in use on the Bluff railway for five J years, and perfectly sound. No. 17 is part of < a fencing post, many years in fche ground, and ; without a sign of decay. Nos. 22 to 28 in- 1 inclusive are ordinary specimens of white j pine, and Nos. 29 to 36 inclusive are Rimu. . No. 36 is part of a post 14 years in use, and j is completely doca3'cd. Nos. 37 to 43 inclusive are Miro. No. 40 has been used for a 'few yeara as a railway sleeper, and is com- ' plefcely decayed. Nos. __ to 51 inclusive are Gowai, all very fine specimens. Nos. 52 to ' 54 are cedar; No. 54 is a very beautiful 1 specimen. Nos. 55 to 59 inclusive are! Manuka. No. 60 is Rata. Nos. 61 and 62 ' are Broadleaf, which Mr Blair recommends as ' one of fche best timbers in Otago. No 3. 63 to | 68 inclusive are Moko, a species of cork wood. ■ Nos. 69 to 72 inclusive, are Bokako. Nos. 73 to 75 inclusive are Hini Hini, or Mahoe. Nos. •76 to 80 inclusive, are Tipau firewood. Nos. 81 to 82 inclusive are Tarata. Nos. 83 and I 84 are Konini, very useful for turners. Nos. \ 85 to 87 inclusive are Mika Mik. Nos. 88 to j 90 inclusive, aro Ribbonwood. Nos. 91 to 94 ! inclusive, are Milk wood. Nos. 95 and 96 are j Turpentine wood, very good looking and durable. Nos. 97 to 99. inclusive are Lance- j wood, and Nos. 100 and 101 are Oho. It will be seen thafc many of Mr Blair's specimens are nofc remarked upon, because thoy have been referred to in fche Canterbury exhibits. OBAIN AND FLOUR. j This department will prove very interesting to all. In fche wheat and flour fche' exhibits are numerous, and though some other of the productions might very easily have been much better represented, there is some consolation in the fact that all fche exhibits are extremely good, the majority of them being in fact very Buperior. In wheat, Messrs J. and T. Meek, Oamaru, exhibit three samples ; Messrs P. Cunningham ahd Co., Christchurch, fifteen j Mr J. fi. Rodgers, Hororata Mills, two ; Mr J. N. Tosswill, Prebbleton, one; Mr W. D. Wood, six; and the Rev W. J. G. Bluett, one. The whole of the samples are so good, that it will be no easy task for the judges to decide I their awardß. All aro well grown, very well got up for exhibition, and do great credit to the provinco, indeed they would nofc bhamo any diatrict in fche world. In eveiy respect they fully justify the judgment of the English public us shown by recent grain udviccs in their" preference for Canterbury wheat even beyond thafc of Australian growth. Among.fc the samples the purple straw and Tuscan wheat, which were introduced to this province by Mr S. D. Glyde, late of Prebbleton, from Australia ■a few year, ago, were very conspicuous. The comparison with othor samples is greatly in their favour, and will earn them many friends. In tho samples of spring wheat four samples [ are of very superior quality, and must average at least from 64 to 65 lbs to the bushel. The most notable of these is Mr J. N. Tosswill's sample of purple straw, which is remarkably ■well grown, and should weigh about 65 lbs to the bushel. Had a little more trouble been taken with the cleaning, ifc would indeed have fceen a really -magnificent Bample, and it is very probable that-first prize will be awarded --to it. Mesßrs Meeks' sample of Tub•can is also very fine grown, and by its remarkably clean condition would appear to liave been paßßed through a Bmutter and .leaning tackle, specially for the occasion. It weighs about 64lbs to the bushel. Mr Bluett's -exhibit of white Tuscan will doubtless stand third ia the order of merit. It is very well £rown, very clean, and should weigh exceedingly well. Amongst the winter wheat there appears to be six or BeveH remarkably good exhibits, Messrs Meeks' velvet chaff, weighing about 6_ibs to tho bushel, being perhaps the beat of the whole. Ifc iB not brtly very well grown but remarkably Well cleaned. A sample shown by Rodgeray-Horbrata, wiir.tand > second, and one" by J_Tr-. : W. : : ; D. Woods is co good a.^ to be deseiVrag of €hird place. The large number of exhibit

by Messrs Cunningham and Co., and principally grown in the Timaru district reflect much credit on that part of the proyince, but will not be likely to appear in the prize list. Mr W. D. Wood's samples also deserve strong commendation. Iv Oats there are only four exhibitors, of which Messrs Cunningham and Co., Ohristchurch, contribute two, and Mr W. H. Lane, Christchnrch, two. The whole of them are of a very superior character, being very well grown and exceedingly well got up for the market. Their weight is very good in each instance ; such, indeed, as will surprise any other oat-growing district iv the world. They will go at least 50 lbs tothe bushel, and doubtless a little over, which is very exceptional indeed. The exhibit which will attract the most attention from those understanding grain, is a rather short potatolooking oat exhibited by Mr Lane. In barley, the only exhibitor is Me3srs P. Cunningham and Co., Christchurch, whose sample is, howeve;:, not first-clnss, being small, and rather light- in weight. It is very difficult to understand how this cereal should ba so poorly represented. In malt there is only one exhibit, and that is not entered in the catalogue. It is only of average quality. The exhibits oE manufactures from cereals are well represented, flour particularly so. The exhibits of the latter comprise two from Messra Meek and Co., Oamaru ; one from Mr J. H. Rodgers, Hororata ; four from Mr W. D. Wood, Christchurch; one from Mr G. Pannell, Christchurch ; and one from Mr W. H. Lane, Christchurch. Ifc is to be presumed the effort i 3 fche best the province can make, and most unquestionably. it is a very creditable one. There is an evident superiority in the colour of tho sample showu by' Mr Pannell Heathcote mills, but tho one exhibited by Mr Rodgers, Hororata, must also forcibly strike tho visitor as a very oxoellenfc sample. Of C'?uvs? it ja difficult to tell the real value of flour until used, as its best properties are shown in the quantity of water ib will absorb and the quantity of bread it will produce. 2V_osfc o£ the remaining samples appear as if i they had been manufactured from pearl wheat | or something of that kind, which has made them a little brown and " specky." Ifc cannot otherwise than be thought, however, by those who are competent to form au opinion, that, all the samples will satisfy any reasonable market in the world. No doubt on this subject Canterbury possesses a bad name, but it j can hardly be thought deserving of ifc to the extent which exists in some markets. When strangers come to Christchurch they invariably wonder how it ia our bread is so good, and often ask if we do nofc import Adelaide flour to mix with our own. The opposite of this is, however, the case, for there can be no doubt tliat instead of Adelaide flour being used to improve Canterbury flour here, Canterbury flour is used in other markets to improve foreign flour wifch. But on this subject much more could be written than space will permit, and we therefore turn to the exhibits of oatmeal, bran, &c. The only sample exhibited of the former is from Mr Steggall's mill, Rangiora, and is "a very good one, well worthy of commendation. In bran there are two exhibits — one by Mr W. D. Wood, and the other by Mr W. H. Lane, both of Christchurch. Mr Wood's is the better of the two, being exceedingly well cleaned and showing good workmanship in every detail, but Mr Lane's is by no means a bad sample. In pollards, Mr Wood is the only exhibitor, with a very excellent sample indeed. ln sharps, Mr Lane and Mr Wood have each one sample, ! but although both are really very good, the former again stands best; Messrs Trent, Brothers, have one exhibit of pearl barley, than which it would be invpossible to have anything better. This^coneludes the notice of this department.