NEWS BY THE MAIL THE NEW ZEALAND COURT AT THE COLONIAL EXHIBITION. (ANGLO-NEW ZEALANDER.) The New Zealand Court.

Waikato Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2133, 11 March 1886, Page 4

NEWS BY THE MAIL THE NEW ZEALAND COURT AT THE COLONIAL EXHIBITION. (ANGLO-NEW ZEALANDER.) The New Zealand Court.

No less than twonty-one commissioners have boon appointed t<t represent; the colony at the Colonial and Indian Exhibition. The selection of such a lart?e number is generally condemned by the Press, and ia considered discourteous to H.R.H. the Prince of Wales, who specially requested that the uumtiui should be limited. A cil lection of exhibits has been prepared at the Wellington Museum by Dr. Hector. Among those N a relief model of Now Zealand, 22ft. in length, on a scale of four miles to the inch horizontal aud 4,000 ft. to tho inch vertical. The model is in plaster, and is in block*, which can be put together on arrival. On account of tho extent of flat country in tho south, it was necessary to have a somewhat exaggerated ncilc, in order to bring out the Southern Alps more prominently, and Mount Cook in the south and Mount Egmont in the north show out boldly. The configuration of the country lias been brought out very minutely. The model will be in the geological section, and will be surrounded by geological and iniuerological specimens, of winch nearly forty cases have already been packed. One prominent feature of the collection will be castings of the laige fossil reptiles found m j the colony. After tho exhibition the collection will probably be handed over to the projected Colonial Museum in London. The natural resources and natural skill of the province of Auckland will be worthily represented. Applications to the number of seventy-two have been received, and of the T.ilue of £-1,000. Such a nuccfMsful issue must be very gratifying, as the exhibits, from their variety, will form | an approximately adequate representation j of its natural resources and industrial skill, j Mining exhibits have been collected at the Thames, and buildini? stones, wool, train, fruit, and other farm produce will b<-. shown. A cool chamber on one of tho , New Zealand Company's steamer-, will bring over, either in April or May, tin; best fruit that tho North Island cau produce. The Government are also desirous of proving what excellent choose can bo manufactured in New Zealand, and have offered to purchase from the Waikato Cheese Factory from 200 to 3001bs. of their very beat cheese, to go by the Fohruiiry or March steamer, the cheese to be exhibited in their name, and to be judged by experts and used in the restaurant. The New Zealand Shipping Company have been communicated with on the subject of reduced fares during the exhibition, and they have replied that "the matter is not definitely settled, but it is improbable that any reduction will be made on single tickets. Rates will probably be £03 single, £100 return." The steamer Rimutaka, which has just arrived, has brought exhibits from Auckland amounting to forty-seven tons, and of the declared value of about £1,700. Thero are a number of other exhibits to come forward. These will require to be shipped in time to catch the Ruapehu leaving Wellington for London about the 15th January. The Auckland Timber Company are Mending a series of exhibits illustrative of New Zealand woods, etc. The first is a case, 4ft. (iin. square, 7ft. 6in. in height, and the four corner posts are respectively of puriri, totara, ritnu, and kahikatea. Each aide of tha square is filled by a door, which swings on a pivot, both sides of the door ilhibtrating tho grain and polish of the various woods. Tho body of the door is of wavy k.iuri, the panel* being of mottled and figured kauri. The cornice is of rimu and rewaiewa. The company is also sending an exhibit of 130 mouldings and two flitches of kauri, oft. in breadth, partly polished, so oh to show the grain in polishing. The case is also polished with the same object. It would be difficult to obtain more beautiful specimens of New Zealand woods than those selected. Amongst the Wellington exhibits is a large case containing medical remedies prepared by Mr W. C. Fitzgerald, chemist, from plants indigenous to New Zealand and Australia. Among the preparations are bottles of koromiko (Veronica arborea), both in the leaf and fluid extract form. Koromiko is a well-known and highlyesteemed Maori remedy for all affections of the bowels. A sample of bottles containing kawakawa leaves, another remedy for a very distressing disease, is to be sent home, and also a variety of preparations from the Australian blue gum (Eucalyptus globulus). Among other exhibits is one by Mr Reischek, naturalist and taxidermist, which will attract some attention. It is a collection of kiwis and kakapos of different varieties and will be exhibited in the educational department of the exhibition. There are fourteen specimens in all, eight in one case and six in the other, the birds being so mounted as to illustrate to students of natural hi-tory their peculiarities, habits, and .surroundings. One of the kiwis is of a variety which has never been seen in London as yet. A handsome wardrobe, so constructed that it may utilised citherns a wardrobe or a stationery case, i.s being sent by Messrs Ciarlick and Cianwell, of Auckland. Tho design is of Queen Anne style, modified to .suit tho introduction of New Zealand woods, as also In disulay fine examples of Maori carving. The framing is of limn, but there are altogether fifteen or sixteen varieties of kauri, rewarewa, kokekohe, totara, puiiri, pukat"», lance-wood, etc. The wing doors contain seven panels, the top is a diamond of knotted totaia, white lace-wood ground, Htirrnuuded by four small corner panels of puriri, caived from natural foliage of New Zealand forest trees. The largo panel is of mottled kauri, with rewarewa margin, tho bottom panel is of filmed kauri, with mouldings of pukatea. Tho frieze i«> copied from Maori carving. The centre part of the wardrobe has two doors at the top, each containing two panels; the upper one is an oval of wavy totara on puriri ground, with four carved sprigs of different foliage, flower.-*, etc. The lower panels are of figured kauri, and benetth is a panelled recess of vnriou-, woods. Below this are three drawers, with rich mottled kauri centres, on kohekohe grounds. The whole is surmounted by a cornice and pediments of rimu, exquisitely caned from examples of Maori carving kindly lent by Mr Eric Craig. The panels to tho corner studs are carved kauri, pine cones and leaves. (Ireat credit is duo to tho workmen who have constructed this exhibit ; the carver, a young Now Zealauder, trained by tho firm, has very accurately delineated the graceful nnd intricate scroll work and chasing which constitutes the chief beauty of Maoii art. There will also be a number of paintings by various New Zealand artists, illustrative of Now Zealand scenery. Amonjj those who are so contributing is Mr E. W. Payton, of Auckland, who sends three picture-, to the exhibition. No. lis "Ngaui'obe (Tongariro). Evening, from the heights above Taumarunui, King Country." In the foreground is tall totara standing in a trass of ferns and bramble. Looking down tho gorge is to be seen the whams of the native settlement of Taumarunui. Beyond the village is the Wanganui River, which at this point is very shallow, and about aquaiterof a milo broad. Ngauiohe, itself, appears over a high hill, snow-capped, nnd the steam hovering over the crater, us it does continually. The bush is in deep shade, and the setting sun lights up the snows of the mountain. No. 2, "Ti and Pnkatea," is a study of trees up the Wanganui River. In the foreground is a study of a cabbage treo, and a grove of them is to be seen in the distance. On the right foreground is a clump of pukatea. The whole sketch is characterised by great fidelity to nature. No. 3, "A Bend of the Wanganui River," depicts a scene near Kaiwhaiki Pa. A clump of trees runs up the side of a steep hill, with a gigantic tawhai towering above the rest of the forest— pukatea, birch, fern trees, and willows. The idea running through the whok> of tho three pictures i* to give tho English public an idea of New Zealand bush scenery, the colours of the foliage of the trees being totally different to anything to be seen in Europe.