Page image

H.—3l

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.

2

Log in or create a Papers Past website account

Use your Papers Past website account to correct newspaper text.

By creating and using this account you agree to our terms of use.

Log in with RealMe®

If you’ve used a RealMe login somewhere else, you can use it here too. If you don’t already have a username and password, just click Log in and you can choose to create one.


Log in again to continue your work

Your session has expired.

Log in again with RealMe®


Alert