The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1883-07-21 00:00:00

THE CORK EXHIBITION.

A Correspondent of The Times says that the Cork
Exhibition is row in nearly perfect order. As an
exhibition of Irish industry the features that attract
most attention are the sections devoted to woollen
and linen manufactures. These industries in a general
way may be said to represent the two extremes of the
country, the woollen manufactures being chiefly
located in Munster and the linen in Ulster. There is
a very fine display of linen goods chiefly from Belfast
houses. The progress of woollen manufacture is
Illustrated on the premises by machinery in motion
shown by the owners of the Blarney woollen mills,
and by two other Cork firms. There is als( a very
extensive display of tweeds, &c., the products of
country looms and small factories in the rural districts.
Leather also makes an important show. Cork is the
chief seat of this manufacture in Ireland and is here a
long established industry.
The display of raw materials is the largest ever
brought together at an exhibition in Ireland. It em-
braces many articles not hitherto known, at all events
generally, to exist in the country at all. Barytes form
an important feature of this collection. This article
is largely found in the west of the county Cork. Lime-
stone also forms a prominent feature in this depart-
ment. The greater part is capable of taking a high
polish and is admirably suited for building purposes.
There are also on view different other specimens of
excellent building stones found in Ireland. The exhi-
bition committee themselves are exhibitors in these
artioles. They have marked on each specimen in-
formation as to where it was quarried, the cost of
transit from the quarry to the nearest railway station,
and thence to the nearest seaport. They hope by
this means to make the resources of this country in
building materials more generally known. There
is an extensive display of Irish-made artificial manu-
factures. Whisky and tobacco are both important
articles of Irish manufacture, and several leading
firms and companies are exhibiting. Cork and
Limerick, as the principal seats of the ham and bacon
trade, contribute nearly all the exhibits of this cha-
racter on view. An Irish firm in London, Ontario, is
the only external exhibitor. The exhibits of corn,
grain, and products therefrom are singularly 'lamer
ous. Belfast has almost a monopoly in soap. It also
supplies most of the motors and contrivances for the
transmission of force. The only exhibit of railway
plant comes from the Great Southern and Western
Railway Company. One of the articles they show is
a butter waggon, specially designed for storing butter
in transit. The products and the processes of manu-
facture in two newly-established match factories in
Cork are also shown. Until the establishment of
these factories, not a single match was made in the
south of Ireland. Cork cutting by machinery is
another new industry here.
In the fine art department there is an interesting
picture gallery. Among those who have lent pictures
for the occasion are Lord Powerscourt, the Duke of
Leinster, Mr. A. H. Smith Barry, and Mr. Bagwell,
Clonmell. The South Kensington Loan Collection
consists of six cases, and embraces specimens of
tapestry work, Japanese leather work, metal work,
porcelain, and china, &e.
The needlework department contains a very large
number of exhibits collected by a committee of ladies
under the presidency of the Countess of Bandon. It
includes very fine specimens of Limerick and Youghal
lace. The towns of Kenmare and Kinsale are also
large contributors, and the convent schools of the
country are very largely represented in this depart-
ment.
The agricultural population are greatly interested
in the model dairy which is daily shown at work in the
exhibition. Specimens of peat litter have been brought
from Germany, and machinery will shortly be erected
in the exhibition for converting Irish peat into litter,
whereupon the Irish and German articles will be
placed in comparison. The exhibition has been very
well patronised since its opening.

THE PRIMATE ON RELIGIOUS
INSTRUCTION.

The eighth Canterbury Diocesan Conference was
held at Lambeth Palace on Tuesday, the Archbishop of
Canterbury in the chair. His Grace, in opening the
proceedings, said of all subjects now presting on the
Church, that which outweighed all others was that of
religious instruction. A well.kno wn Italian gentle-
man had said to him, speaking of the war between
corrupt Christianity and agnosticism, that if some-
thing was not done in regard to religious education in
20 years time Christianity would be unknown in his
country. This illustrated what must happen if ever
the Church was turned into a political party. The
duty of the Church was to continue constant in its
work of extension and improvement.