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The" space disposed of to exhibitors in various classes, representing fees amounting to £612, is as follows:— Sq. ft. Clothing and textile goods ... ... ... ... ... 2,124 Food-stuffs ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 1,996 Furnishings ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 1,278 Bicycles 1,163 Educational appliances ... ... ... ... ... ... 976 Cooking appliances ... ... ... ... ... ... 678 Carriages ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 600 Agricultural implements... ... ... ... ... ... 560 Sanitation and brass work ... ... ... ... ... 470 Machinery ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 384 Pottery ' .. ... ... ... ... ... ... 340 Cooperage and wood ware ... ... ... ... ... 315 Seeds... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 260 Photography ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 162 Perambulators ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 162 Basket-work ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 150 Hat-work 114 Coal ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 72 Saddlers' work ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 63 Jewellery ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 60 Unclassified ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 3,732 15,659 The space occupied is divided among 208 exhibitors, classified as follows, according to number: Agricultural implements and appliances, 6; aerated waters, 4 ; ammunition, 1; baking-powders, 4; ■ bicycles, 8 ; brewing, 1 ; brushware, 1; biscuits, 1; brasswork, 1; clothing, 13 ; cooperage, 1; confectionery, 2 ; cider, 2; coffee and spices, 2 ; minerals, 4 ; copper-work, 1; chemical manures, 3; cements, 2; clocks, 1; dairy appliances, 5 ; dental appliances, 1; electrical appliances, 2; furniture, 10 ; flour, 4; hats, 2 ; household appliances, 9; ironwork, 4; leather-work, 8; machinery, 3 ; musical instruments, 2 ; pottery, 4 ; provisions, 7 ; pumps, 2 ; paper, 2 ; preserves and pickles, 8 ; plumbers' work, 2 ; photography, 8 ; printing, 7; rope-work, 3 ; soap and candles, 5; miscellaneous, 52 : total, 208. The most striking display in the Exhibition is that in the Food-supply and Produce Department, which occupies the whole of the main drillshed building, and also a number of detached areas in the annex. In former Exhibitions, and particularly when the exposition of our resources was an intercolonial one, this section has for various reasons been rather weakly represented. On this occasion, however, there is abundant evidence of keen competition and resulting perfection. Every branch of the great industry of converting and preserving animal and vegetable products is thoroughly well represented, proving that capital is largely embarked under skilled, scientific, and practical management in this important branch of our industries. The large and local public companies, such as the Canterbury Frozen Meat and Dairy Produce Export Company and the Christchurch Meat Company, made very imposing displays to illustrate the great variety of animal products and by-products, which they are able to place on the market. Their greatest production, frozen meat, is necessarily absent; but of preserved animal food, such as bacon, hams, and tinned meats, there is great variety. The last-mentioned company, which has its extensive works at Islington, has a special exhibit of even whole pigs preserved by a special mechanical and chemical process, by which the meat is perfectly cured and ready for the market in a much shorter time than has been effected previously, and, it is claimed, with a better conservation of its nutritive properties. The Belfast Company, by their by-products, such as artificial manures, affords a cheering reassurance that nothing is allowed to go to waste as in former years, and that the restoration to the soil of the greater part of the fixed salts essential to plant growth, which are removed by the present system of exporting the whole carcase of the grazing animals, may be in part at least effected at a moderate cost. The Gear Company's exhibit is confined to tinned meats from their ordinary stock, which, as is well known, deservedly commands a ready market in all parts of the world. The private firms that exhibit in this section have shown much enterprise. Mr. Kincaid and Messrs. Wardell Brothers especially excel in the display of hams, bacon, cheese, and preserved meac. I was invited to inspect Messrs. Wardell's establishment at Eiccarton, where the pig-rearing is carried on on a most perfectly organized system, the animals being carefully selected in the first instance, and their nurture scrupulously provided for, so as to secure pure diet and cleanliness. The curing is done at the firms' extensive establishment in Christchurch, where they have refrigerating-chambers and smoking-compartments constructed on the most advanced models. The process of curing they adopt is that of " dry-salting." Soap is largely represented in the produce department, the Silkstone Soap Company having taken special pains to make their exhibits acquire the prominence they so well deserve. A very attractive point in the Exhibition is the imitation of the Jenolan Caves with soda crystals, which is illuminated by coloured electric lamps. The perfection in the pickles and conserves, and the skilled and tasteful manner in which they are now got up for the market in New Zealand, is one of the features of the Exhibition, particularly by the display of Messrs. Heyward Brothers. The only difference from the English article is a slight dullness in colour; but it is not improbable that this is duejto the New Zealand vinegar being less adulterated.

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