QUEENSLAND INTERNATIONAL EXHIBITION, BRISBANE, 1897.

Appendix to the Journals of the House of Representatives, 1897 Session II, H-31

H.-31

Sess. 11.—1897. N BW ZEALAND.

QUEENSLAND INTERNATIONAL EXHIBITION, BRISBANE, 1897.

Presented to both Houses of the General Assembly by Command of His Excellency,

The Hon Mr. Laknach to the Hon. the Colonial Secretary. Wellington, '28th October, 1897. _ T have the honour to report that Mr. Meadows, the Secretary appointed, acting under instructions proceeded on the 22nd April, in charge of New Zealand Government exhibits per s ™Hauroto P " to Brisbane, and arrived at Sydney on the 26th April, thence leaving Sydney per st " Tyrian " arrived at Brisbane on the 4th May. He was met by the members of the Queensland Exhibition Executive and proffered every assistance in the arrangement of his exhibits To insure Sec care in transit, Mr. Meadows had wisely arranged for as many manufacturers exhibits as nos S ibeto accompany him ; but, owing to the short notice given to exhibitors, some were not ready wi hthe exhibits, and these consequently did not leave New Zealand in time for being placed in SeßSffipSr to the opening day. Several exhibits for which space had been bespoken did "*' SielsTdtrtagLTf Spment of such goods at Sydney are very great, not only on account of the delay which occurs there, but also from serious deterioration and damage that must take Place on Sydney wharves caused by the great want of sufficient shelter, together with careless handling and indifferent protection whilst goods are waiting transhipment The site "ranted by the National Association of Queensland for the Exhibition buildings covered about 11 acres, and it "is one of exceptional beauty and convenience. On a portion of the ground stand the substantial permanent brick buildings erected by he Association m 1891, at a cost o £20 500 These buildings comprise two large halls in which were in staled the mining court of n «fn-Lfl «SPthe art galleries Adjoining these courts was the concert hall m which, in 1892, a mS£ oganhafbtn built cottTg nearly £4,500. The loan of £30,000 from the Government SXaSSSSSS 1888 provided the funds for the buildings and the organ General exhibits from ail parts of the world were displayed in annexes strongly built of timber and iron a handsome and bush-house connecting the annexes with the permanent, buildings The the vXe of snace applied for by local manufacturers, traders, and exhibitors exceeded £4,000 should promoters of the Exhibition beyond the possibility of any The attendance on the opening day was very large-some thirty-five thousand people were estimated as being present; it was also large when any special show was held, notably so during Jubilee days a°nd on the occasions of the Annual Stock and the Agricultural Machinery Shows, held for three days, under the auspices of the National Association of Queensland. The total attendance reached over 320,000. NEW ZEALAND COURT. The snace of 8 000 square feet allotted to New Zealand was favourably situated, bordering on one of theTaL avenues Ind was exceedingly well lighted The frontage of our court was devoted machinery and general exhibits. The wall-space at the back was utilised for the display of many excellent photographs of New Zealand scenery, which, showed to great advantage, rfwlrerS admired by visitors* Attractive descriptions in conspicuous lettering drew attention to the Sent groups and the various localities of scenery represented It is satisfactory to noin out that the New Zealand Court quickly became one of the popular rendezvous of the ExhibiSn and very great interest was taken from the representations shown of New Zealand as a health and'tourilt resort, as well as for its many advantages offered, to settlers under the agricultural conditions and prospects of the colony. Notices placed in prominent positions throughout the buildings Sw attention to the fact that any information regarding exhibits, tourist routes, land, land-settle-

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ment, agriculture, &c, could be obtained at the office of the Secretary, and of this visitors took full advantage. A large number of pamphlets issued by the Public Works Department, Lands and Survey Department, and Mines Department, as well as those issued by Messrs. Cook and Son, were distributed. The fine collection of photographs from the Public Works Department and from the Lands and Survey Department were a revelation to visitors not alone for the grandeur of the scenes represented, but also on account of the artistic merit of their production. The photo-frames, made of New Zealand timbers, illustrated the beauty and utility of each kind of wood for cabinetmakers' purposes ; and attached to each photograph were full descriptions of the locality represented, and also of the various woods utilised in the frames. The series of agricultural photographs kindly lent by the Agricultural and Pastoral Association of Canterbury were of great interest to the farming community, as they represented growing crops, and live-stock in prize cattle and sheep, as well as draught-horses. Maps of the Colony of New Zealand were displayed, and were of much assistance when describing localities of settlement and the different routes and roads. Timber exhibits included a fine specimen from the Public Works Department, which took the form of an obelisk constructed out of various timbers, each band of timber representing one year, the whole made to indicate the value of New Zealand's timber export trade from the year 1880 to 1895 inclusive. The handsome mantel and over-mantel, also from the Public Works Department, a particularly fine piece of work, comprised eighteen hundred pieces of timber of thirteen varieties. This was pronounced generally to be the finest exhibit in the building. Accompanying this exhibit was a drawing describing the timbers used in its construction. The whole timber exhibit was completed by a collection of polished and unpolished blocks numbered in the order of importance which they occupy in the timber trade; also a description of their nature, where obtained, approximate quantities available, and prices. Altogether these exhibits proved very interesting, especially to those in the trade, and were a striking advertisement for our colony. Leaflets giving full details regarding New Zealand timbers were distributed, and many applications were made for them. General Exhibits, New Zealand Court. Grain, Grass-seeds, Flour, Oatmeal, So. A very comprehensive display was made by New Zealand grain and seed merchants and millers, including samples of grain and grass-seed in the sheaf. The annual demand for wheat, chaff, oats, hay, straw, &c, in Queensland depends to a great extent upon the seasons, and is regulated accordingly. Though Queensland's agricultural future is yet difficult to forecast, and all depends on its seasons, the settlers there, nevertheless, are eager for information that will help them to improve their status, and in the near future they will probably become profitable clients of the seed-growers of New Zealand, for a strong feeling prevails that it is to New Zealand Queensland will have to look for a lead in agricultural matters. On the question of agricultural machinery alone the general feeling prevails that the methods and machines used by our farmers will to a great extent be adopted by Queensland settlers; and also that New-Zealand-grown seeds, particularly grassseeds, will be much sought after by them. Samples of New-Zealand-grown grass-seeds were handed to Mr. P. McLean, of the Queensland Agricultural Department, for trial at the Government experimental farm, and to Mr. Soutter, curator of the Acclimatisation Society, reports of which from both gentlemen will hereafter come to hand. Parcels of seeds for introduction to settlers of Ipswich, Bundaberg, Laidley, and other dairy centres in Queensland, were placed largely by exhibitors at the Exhibition. Malt. The exhibits of New Zealand malt led to considerable inquiry and increased demand. This was unfortunately checked by a shortage in New Zealand supply. Importers are prejudiced in favour of the English mode of packing—viz., in iron tanks—-and should New Zealand maltsters arrange to pack in this way they will compete favourably with the English article. The opinion of leading brewers, who during the course of the Exhibition had an opportunity of brewing from New Zealand malt, is that it possesses all the characteristics most desirable for brewing, and is quite equal to English. Queensland imported last year 143,000 bushels of malt. The Queensland import duty of 4s. 6d. per bushel encouraged New-Zealanders to establish two small malthouses at Toowooinba, north of Brisbane, where they malt from imported barley, paying 9d. per bushel duty on the barley; the Queensland-grown barley not being considered good enough for malting. Besides which, owing to the short winter in Queensland, malting there can only be carried on for a few months. The present mailings in Queensland would not keep an ordinary brewery running for a year. Butter. With regard to exhibits made of New Zealand canned butter : This butter has a very high reputation among Queensland importers, and the Exhibition was the means of bringing it more prominently before them, as well as before Western Australian consumers, many of whom visited the Exhibition. Queensland Agricultural Department has followed New Zealand in the employment of Government Dairy Instructors, and the heavy duty of 3d. per pound has helped to start their factories under favourable conditions. The chief factory at Silverwood is a proprietary concern with an output of about 10 tons per week. The Queensland Government had a model dairy at work in the Exhibition, where lectures on butter- and cheese-making were delivered weekly. But, in respect to butter and cheese, Queensland will have to import for many years to come. Direct communication by steam with New Zealand would greatly facilitate an increase of business in this direction.

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Cheese. The imposition of a duty of 4d. per pound by Queensland has to some extent limited the consumption of New Zealand cheese, but there can be no doubt that it is held in high esteem. A New Zealand exhibit in this class gained the highest award against all-comers. The chief local cheese-factory in Queensland is at Yangan, also a proprietary concern working on the Cheddar principle with an output of 250 tons annually. The progress of this factory is interesting, as it was conducted through its initial stage by a New Zealand expert. Agricultural Machinery. The New Zealand agricultural implements exhibits were a great credit to our colony and to the manufacturers. They included highly-finished makes for exhibition purposes of the latest patterns in chaff-cutters, ploughs, harrows, drills, windmills, pumps, &c, as well as the same machines finished for every-day work and use. Of these machines there are certain lines manufactured expressly for Queensland, notably : Disc harrows with arched steel yoke for cane and corn, drills fitted with attachment for lucerne-sowing, and chaff-cutters adapted for lucerne. It was very satisfactory, when meeting the heads of the Agricultural Department and representative settlers from Ipswich, Laidley, Bundaberg, Bunleigh, Warwick, Darling Downs, and other agricultural districts, to learn in what high esteem New Zealand farming implements were held - In fact, few other than New Zealand makes of machinery are at present in use, and on most farms are found drills, ploughs, &c, entirely of New Zealand make, they having been found more suitable than similar machines made by English, German, and American manufacturers. Woollen Goods. The New Zealand woollen goods far surpassed any others exhibited. A good trade is already being done, and capable of considerable extension. The existing duty is 25 per cent, ad valorem. Jams and Jellies. New Zealand made an excellent show in these lines; but the duty of 2s. per dozen pounds almost prohibits business. Tinned Meats, Game, and Table Delicacies. Large and varied exhibits were made by New Zealand in these lines. Although our manufactures, owing to the tariff, cannot compete with those of Queensland in canned beef and mutton, a large business in fancy lines with Brisbane resulted, and trade relations were started with several firms in Northern Queensland and in. Western Australia. Fish, such as Canned Lobster (Crayfish), Whitebait, and Mullet. Some difficulty has already been experienced by importers in getting their orders executed in these lines, the demand being large and increasing. Preserved Vegetables. Those exhibited by New Zealand were highly thought of, and a good market can be developed. Ale, Stout, Cordials, and Mineral-waters. New Zealand beer maintained its high standard of excellence in Queensland against anything locally made, and was pronounced superior to English. New-Zealand-manufactured cordials and natural mineral waters, sent by a Dunedin manufacturer, made a most prominent feature in our court, and deservedly succeeded in gaining the highest award. Here, again, with direct steam-communication, a very large trade would be assured. DEPARTMENT OE AGRICULTURE, QUEENSLAND. The display by the Hon. A. J. Thynne, Minister for Agriculture, at the court was most comprehensive, and occupied 5,400 square feet of space, including tropical and sub-tropical products, samples of grain and seeds, coffee, rice, maize, sugar-cane, spices, casts of fruits, &c, A collection of 425 specimens of polished and rough timbers was also exhibited at this Court. STOCK SHOW. The annual show of the Queensland National Association of agricultural products, machinery, and stock made a very fitting finish; it took place on the grounds and during the last week of the Exhibition. The attendance was very large, estimated at nearly forty thousand people, the occasion being similar to our Canterbury Carnival, when all settlers foregather. The show of milking stock was fair ; beef breeds, although few, were of excellent quality. In respect to sheep, with the exception of merinos, the show as a whole was not to compare to our Canterbury Agricultural and Pastoral standard. It, nevertheless, was excellent, and did much to brighten the closing hours of the Queensland International Exhibition of 1897. QUEENSLAND GOVERNMENT SUPPORT. While the Queensland Government did not vote a sum of money direct in furtherance of the object of the promoters of the Exhibition, yet the large amount of space taken by the Government, and the magnificent displays made by its Mines and Agricultural Departments, proved a great attraction to visitors, and resulted in practical help to the Exhibition in a financial point of view. The catalogued exhibits in the Queensland mining courts numbered 2,033, and occupied 8,875 square feet of space. Such a display was highly creditable to Mr. R. L. Jack, the Government Geologist, and testified to the great annual mineral output of that colony, together with

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its future possibilities from undeveloped resources. Bulk samples and cabinet specimens were shown of gold, silver, copper, lead, zinc, &c, from all the leading mining districts of Queensland. Columns and obelisks representing total gold and silver outputs from each of the chief mining centres were conspicuously and advantageously displayed. The alluvial and retorted gold shown in the courts was estimated in value at over £50,000. The collection and variety of gems and crystals were extensive and brilliant, and included many exhibited at the Melbourne Centennial Exhibition of 1888. Interesting exhibits of diamond-drill cores determining the strata met with at a depth of over 1,200 ft., and showing in several instances free gold. A special catalogue was issued by the Queensland Mines Department, with handbooks descriptive of its various mineral fields. A beautiful and instructive series of enlarged photographs marking the development of artesian-water basins of the Northern and Central Districts of Queensland, were displayed to advantage. The Exhibition, in my opinion, proved a great advertisement for New Zealand products and manufactures; and an increase of New Zealand trade with both Queensland and Western Australia would quickly result if good direct steam-services were arranged, thus avoiding delays of transhipment and consequent depreciation of goods and produce unavoidable with transhipment. The necessity for a direct steam-service in connection with tourist traffic alone is too apparent to need comment to those who know Queensland and New Zealand. LIST OF NEW ZEALAND PBODUCE AND MANUFACTUBES EXHIBITED. Agricultural Machinery. —Chaff-cutters (portable and non-portable), grain- and seed-drills, lucerne-drills, disc-harrows, chain-harrows, spading-harrows, cane-cultivators, corn-cultivators, double- and single-furrow ploughs, pumps and windmills, retorts and fire-clay goods. Goal, Ac. —Coke, fireclay and grit, annealed and malleable iron forgings and castings. Cereals, dx. —Wheat, oats, barley, grass-seeds, grain and grass-seed in sheaf, flour, oatmeal, wheat-meal, semolina, pearl barley, hams, cheese and butter. Canned Provisions. —Meats, game, fish, vegetables, herbs, meat pastes, fish pastes, jams, jellies, conserved fruits, sauces, honey. Wines, etc. —Cordials, fruit juices and essences, mineral-waters, malt vinegar, cider, grape wines, malt, stout and ale, in bulk and bottle. Fruits, &c. —Apples, oranges, lemons, potatoes, nuts, pears, quinces. Miscellaneous. —Manufactured woollen goods, lithographic maps and charts, photographic views, perambulators, furniture, picture-frames, ship and bridge models, kauri-gum, needlework and lace, oil-paintings. LIST OF NEW ZEALAND EXHIBITOBS WHO GAINED HIGHEST AWARDS. Class. 7. Photographs ... ... The Lands and Survey Department. 23. Furniture ... ... The Public Works Department. 34. Fire-clay goods ... ... The Greymouth-Point Elizabeth Coal Company (Limited). 49. Textile fabrics ... ... Mosgiel Woollen Company (Limited). 58. Flour ... ... ... Evans and Co. (Limited). 58. Oatmeal ... ... Fleming and Gilkinson. 58. Grass-seeds ... ... Kaye and Carter. 59. Malt ... .. ... Wigram Brothers. 60. Jams and jellies ... ... A. and J. McFarlane. 60. Meats and game (canned) ... Irvine and Stevenson. 60. Fish ... ... ... The Zealandia Canning Company. 61. Stout and ale ... ... Speight and Co. 61. Champagne cider ... ... Fletcher, Humphries, and Co. 61. Cordials ... ... Thompson and Co. 62. Mineral-waters ... ... Thompson and Co. 93. Perambulators ... ... Smith and Co. 119. Windmills ... ... Booth and McDonald. 143. Spading harrows ... ... Booth and McDonald. 143. Grain-drill ... ... Beid and Gray. 143. Double-furrow plough ... Beid and Gray. 143. Disc-harrow ... ... Beid and Gray. 144. Chaff-cutters ... ... Andrews and Bevan. 146. Butter (tinned) ... ... Newton King. 146. Cheese ... ... Otara Dairy Company. I have, &c, W. J. M. Laenach, The Hon. the Colonial Secretary, Wellington. Commissioner.

Approximate Cost of Paper— Preparation, not givun; printing (1,400 copies), £ 2 9s. fld.

By Authority: John Mackay, Government Printer, Wellington.—lß97.

Price, 3d.]