WAIKATO AT THE EXHIBITION.

Waikato Times, Volume LVII, Issue 8062, 23 November 1906, Page 2

WAIKATO AT THE EXHIBITION.

THE DISTKICT COURT DESCRIBED. [Specially Written For The Waikato Times.] People who are acquainted with the resources and tho agricultural and industrial development of Waikato, tiv Upper Thames Valley and the Kini. Country have expressed disappointment aj the disphty made by these districts at the Int rnational Exhibition in Christchurch. Since the opening, however, there has been a eonsidoiablo improvement. A number of additional exhibits have arrived, and with the last consignment, which has but jus< been unpacked and put in place, the Court is by no means the loast satisfactciy among the district displays at the Ixhibition. Indeed, it must be admitted that, as compared with many othor districts, Waikato has dono roally well. Otng< isuotrepresont.il at all, Wellington P.o viuce is only heard of in the Mvnawatu and Wanganui Courts, and Poverty Baj has asked the Auckland Committee to till its otherwise empty spice. Six feet ot ailey-way separate Waikuto's 15 ,0 squan teat from the Provincial display, nnd tin nauies of tho contributing territories uri prouiineutly shown. One of the leading exhibits is tho trophy of Carbolic SanO •Soap, from Messrs Pearson and Co., ot Hamilton, erected under the person* supervison of Mr O. S. Pearson. It is ■ pyramidal trophy in red and white, and i.we.l placed on aa outside corner of tin Court and under an ornamental wooden Cinouy, on which are hung framed am: enlarged photographs of the works. Tht Kirth Pumice Company is represented by u handsome show case. A structure of 20' butter boxes from as many factories proves that Waikato is a great dairying country, but that fact is still more strikingly shown by one of the last arrived exhibits Whether this should be called a diagram, a trophy or a model, it is difficult to say, bui at all events it is a graphic representation of the growth of the dairying industry in Waikato. It consists ,of a row of gilded übelisks mounted on a board, witn the explanation that one inch in the height ot the obelisks signifies XIO.UOO worth ot butter produced iu the district. Each obelisk stands for one year, and furthei inscriptions make the meaning clear to this effect:—l9ol, £170,000 ; 1902/i>211,000; 1903, i 307,000. This record of steady and rapid growtn cannot fail to impress the visitors. It is the finest thing of its kind in the whole Exhibition, and will be a first-class advertisement for the district.

Tne fame of Waikato tor turnip growing having ipread to Canterbury and even much further, tome disappointment is felt that these roots are only to be seen in photographs. Possibly soma actual samples will arrive later on. Wool also is still to seek, but Mr E. T. Coalfield, who h,s charge of the Waikato division, as well as the Provincial Court, is looking forward to receiving some fleeces, after the coming shearing, from Messrs John Gordon (Leicester and Lincoln), C. J. Storey (Lincoln), W. G. Park (Lincoln) J. C. Allen (iioinney Marsh) and other flock owners. Wauato's pdnoipal grain is represented by bags of A gerian oats from Messrs M. Murphy (Eureka), A. Forked (Ouaupo), K. B. Hmes (tiucoka), H, 8. Hawkins (Hamilton), M, A. Poyntoi (Ohote) and A. Wallis (KaipaJti). All tuese samples h »ve come through the Hamilton branch of the Loan aud Mercantile Company, which has alio sent barley, wheat and ebatl' (the la;tuamed from the farms of Messrs A, Primrose and I'. Hioton) and a bag of Mr Bedford's paspalum seed. Excellent as the;e samples are, it would be worth while tj display some oats and other grain in the sheaf. This would show the length aud size of the straw, and would more readily catch tbe attention of the wandering sightseer. Ihe bee-Keeping industry com;s up for notice in some tempting hone;, both extracted and in the comb, from Mr C. ointon Hutchinson's Newstead apiary. Mr I. Hopkins told the writer that he expects to receive before Christmas a number of samples of honey from the Waikato Beekeepers' Ass.oiation. These will be placed in the Agricultural Department's Court. Other immediate, though not strictly agricultural products of the soil, are to be seen in the dressed thx from different localities, the tire bncks and clay of Mr \V. Coilins (llmtly), the ornamental woods from Mr G. J. Meal aud the line trophy of the South Auckland S.iwmillers' Association. The last compares almost as well wita the proluotious shown m o.her Courts as does the dairying exhibit described above. All the pnnoipal Waikato and King Country timbers are shown in large panels and tneir names, quantity and value of output and other statistical facts are well displayed. Another tine timbar exhibit consists of a series of panelled doors, some-of them glazed, acid all made of beautifully tigured timber. No name is attached to them. Amoug the ti tz samples, one of spucial interest Oomes from Mr VV. A. Graham. It is a hank of liax dressed by Maoris after their ancient method. Much softer and riner than the product uf the mills, it suggests that if only soma suitable machinery could be devised, the native fibre might be put to far more delicate uses than the mining of rope and twine. The Department of Agriculture has contributed a stand of Waerangi wine, and Mr G. J. Neal, of Cambridge, has sent the burk of a wattle tree, which grew to a height of 43ft 9,n in six

years fr®m a seed sown by himself. Sjuw mterooting and clever woodwork is shown by several exhibitors. Mr Anderson, of Livingstone Park, Erankton, has sent a large collection of carved walking sticks, in which advantage has been taken

of sundry freakish growths; Mr D

Gardner, of Hamilton, sends a violin of iiome manufacture; and Miss Dorothy Wilkie some carved picture frames. The Ngaruawahia Regatta, gives a hint of its

interest to oarsmen and its popularity with

the holiday-loving public by sending its Waikato Cuallenge Sai.ld, two model war canoes, a pair of typical Mauri paddles and some photographs. Deer-stalking obtains recognition in a screen hung witu beauti-

ful skins and also in some fine heads sent by Mr C. C. Brunskill, one of which was awarded honours at the St. Louis Exhibitiou. Another deor head is quite a curiosity, as the antlers are entirely covered wit'i short furry hairs. It was shot by Mr Tom E. West, on the Maungakawa Ranges, last February. Other exhibits, which Mr Ohatdeld is at present unable to refer to any special exhibitor or locality, are a patent removable window sash and throe stained sheepskin mats. Samples of supposed phosphate rock and bog iron ore from Ngaruawahia are al3o shown.

The Maori exhibits form an interesting section. There are three valuable shoulder mats, onu of which, eont by Mr R. M. Soni irville, is said to be worth £lO. It is made of kiwi feathers. Mr Somervilie has also sent 23 Maori n ix mats and kits, and from Mr C. J. Christie comes an ancient greenstone adzo.

The large framed photographs of the live stock, farming, runway building and soonery of the Waikato, Thames Valley and hung Country are a feature of the Ourt. I hey area very tine set, and come from

the studios ot Messrs <i izi and Co., A. Q, Tibbutt and L. Iskerwood. Tho farmim' pictures reprerent scenes at Pukerimu I'ukekura, Uordon, Ruakura SUte Farmj Ohaupo (a sheep fair), llinuera, Okoroire] Eureka (Mr Joha Gordon's estate), Hamilton and other localities, while one that deserves speoial meutioi. is a group portrait of the three famous Matauinta bullooks, the proparty of Messrs Hunt and MoNieol and Co., which are respectively first and second prizes and a " highly commended " ticket at tha Christchurch Show and were spoken of by competent critics as the finest beasts ot their ola-s ever seen on the Addiogton ground. Mr Neal has sent an interesting photograph demonstrating his success with Late Rose potatoes, and another which seems to have abut it a touch of American humour. It-shows a man sawing a potato in two with a cross-cut saw, and is solemnly entitled "Cross-cutting a potato for re moval" If tho in .ii and tho saw are of normal sign (and they both look as real as could be wished), the potato would appear to lie almost a yard in diameter and twelve fret lung. The camera cin do wonderful things nowadays, aad Air Meal hascertainlv raado a bold attempt to convince the world

rhat the Waikato is a wonderful district for potatoes. Push scenes near Taupiri W in the King Uuuatry and railway iabour scenes on the Main Trunk line are inter, and well-treated picures. ')he Vuckl icd Farmers' Freezing Co., Ltd., hai * contributed framed photographs of the (ila-gow works, ind th> Prankton but- \ ter fact >ry of Messrs nnd English x muiiUrly repiesented. Pioturebque Cambridge, and Hie Tower at Matamn.U have also received artistic treatment •

licough the camera. Among the other photographs hang two f Mr K. C. Moon, the I'd Uku postmaster, who in spite of disabilities which would have daunted a les* courageous spirit, occupies (as the public learnt some time ago mm the of He Postal and Telegraphic employees), a useful and respected ii ice in the life of tho community. One of the portraits shows Mr Moon painting in i ater colours, using the brushes with his feet, and the mount is ornamented with one of his fl iral paintings. 'J.hU article will require a poßtcript later m, as exhibits premised by the bounty CouucU and the settlers of Kowhai and other pertons have not yet arrived. It should also be mentioned that there are some Waikato productions in ther parts of the big building. There is needlework in the Home Industries section, including an original sampler worked by 'lrs J. S. Bond, which is amongst the iest of a number of specimens of the

cross-ititch so much beloved of our great grandmothers. Jn the Machinery EhV! h re is a waggon made by the Count* and Ukin Carriage Factory, Ltd., Hamilton, md embodying improvements patented by desars P. 0. Kowhiti and T. T. Bawhiti, if Hamilton. Toe Waikato Court, on the iher hand, has given hospitality to the nly Poverty Pay exhibits—a splendid tlitch of riinu timber from Motu aid an •mbleinitie picture illustrating the pro<ress of the district, both having been *ont at considerable personal expense by \lr Whinray, of Gnsborne. Taken altogether, the Court, as it stands to-day, among other New Zealand diejlays, is creditable to the distriot and its people, but anyone acquainted with the resources, extent and prosperity of large territory it represents cannot help wishing for soma improvements. One or two suggestions have been made in this irticle, and it may here be added that stock raising and meat export are not adeqtnte'y represented. The Same may be said of the rtax industry. Then again, there is no general scheme of arrangement or decoration if the Court. Apparently, the local committee overlooked this matter altogether and merely sent the exhibits along leaving it to those on the spot to place them. Mr Holmes (the Auckland Provincial Commissioner) and Mr Chatfield have done this carefully and with resulta •is satisfactory as could be expected under the circumstances, but whether owing to want of foresight or want of funds on the part of the Waikato people, thevgeneral effeot compares unfavourably with that of some of the neighbouring courts. However, it is not too late to make improvements.