Auckland Industrial and Mining Exhibition 1898 pt II

Last post we looked at Auckland Exhibition of 1898 and Ed Bartley's role on some of the organising committees. Here we consider the closing stages of that event and ask: what was the result?

In mid January an interactive display was held over two nights in the Choral Hall.
Here the public had the opportunity of seeing experiments in electro/magnetism and other aspects of physics provided by the University College. For many this was their first exposure to the potenial uses of electricity.
Edward Bartley and other members of the Auckland Microscopic Club were on hand with the largest collection of microscopes ever seen in the region. There were 100 laid out with specimens which the public were invited to view.1 Edward was a founder member of the organisation, which was formed in 1885, and included fellow Auckland Institute members J A Pond and Josiah Martin.
This educational focus on innovation in science, technology and research was key to the Exhibition.

A Portrait Image c 1900 BFA

The push to establish a full time technical school in Auckland was also advanced by the exhibition. Edward was one of the founders of the Auckland Technical Association which had been campaigning for technical training in Auckland. By 1895 evening classes were available but there was still no  daytime programme for school leavers. Wellington already had such a school run by the Education Board on the South Kensington School curriculum.

Only two months after the exhibition the Education Board was making enquiries about a site in Wellesley St to be a combined teacher and technical training facility. Despite the support of the University College for pre-tertiary technical training, it was the Auckland association that provided a day school. The Auckland Technical School opened in 1903.

The exhibition also measurably advanced educational opportunities for the blind. Dr Purchas' braille printing machine was both invented in Auckland and first exhibited at this Auckland event. It allowed for a semi-mechanised production of braille type by impress on a copper drum- a huge improvement on the hand punching method then in use.2

Buoyed by their local success some Auckland exhibitors were already looking to London and to the proposed Paris Exposition Universelle, the international celebration of the new century of commercial opportunity. This was a world fair due to open on 14 April 1900. The Greater Britain section had provision for New Zealand exhibits.

The Auckland exhibition was visited by Hon L L Smith of Victoria - a member of the executive committee for Greater Britain representation. In an open letter to the press he expressed the view, with regard to Paris: 'you have here the nucleus...of a first class New Zealand exhibition.'3

Northern businessmen were keen to make their own arrangements. For example the Thames Machinery Company made offers to their counterparts in Victoria and Queensland to mount a joint display of cyanide extraction techniques.4

In late January the Governor's office advised the premises would be required on the 1 March.

NZH 18 Jan 1899

There was earlier such an outcry at a suggested closing date of 18 February that the exhibition remained open until the last available day -28th February. Not only did the event run at a profit, it was held to have fulfilled the intentions of the Auckland Chamber of Commerce in that it performed 'all that was expected of it as a public educator and an advertising medium for the products of the colony.'5 

The buildings were purchased by the industrialist JJ Craig of Auckland.

The Exhibitor award medals for the exhibition. Image AWMM

For those interested in the history of exhibitions and world fairs we recommend a visit here
You may enjoy a rare film archive of Exposition Universelle Paris 1900 here


1. NZH 18 Jan 1899- 20 Jan 1899
2. Ibid 14 Jan 1899. For Dr Purchas' biography see here
3. Ibid 30 Jan 1899
4. Ibid 16 Mar 1899
5. Ibid  28 Feb 1899

Frederick Adolphus Bartley

 

An informal family photo of Fred Bartley abt 1893

Frederick was the second child of Edward Bartley and Elizabeth Hannken. He was born 16 February 1862 at Union St in Auckland. 

When he was aged about 8 the family moved to Devonport, where Frederick attended the local public school. Later he worked with his father, becoming a draughtsman. Frederick shared his father’s interests in science, music and the arts. 

two images taken by Fred on one of his last outings with the Photographic Club, abt 1892, site unknown

With his Hannken cousins and brother Alf, Fred formed a string band which was very popular for functions and musical evenings in Devonport. The whole family were active members in the Devonport Musical Society as well as participating in musical events further afield.

Observer 30 April 1887 Fundraising concert for Devonport Tennis Club featuring Fred and Alf Bartley

Waitemata Minstrels - the Bartley/Hannken Band Observer 9 May 1885

On 26 November 1890 Frederick married Janet Shearer. The ceremony took place at the Shearer home in St Georges Bay Rd, Parnell. Janet was born in Edinburgh and christened there on 5 April 1861. She had an elder sister Alison. Her father John was a joiner by trade and he was born at Keith in Banffshire. He had married Janet Johnston of Haddington at Tranent in 1856. The family had come to Auckland about 1862.

Observer 26 July 1890. The engagement notice of three Bartley siblings

Three years after their marriage Janet died of heart disease on 2 February 1893. It was a very difficult time for Frederick. Along with this personal tragedy financial conditions were very tight in Auckland at this time and he could find little employment with his father.

 Later in 1893 he left Auckland for Australia. This decision was made in a climate of excitement generated in the press concerning the potential of the Queensland gold fields. Many single men had already left New Zealand during the previous two years, spurred on by success stories such as these reports from across the Tasman:

Thames Star 17 April 1890

ies

Thames Star 14 December 1892

Alf had made the trip to Sydney with him but decided to return home. Fred went on traveling towards the Queensland gold fields. 

From his letters home it is clear that he had a good deal of trouble finding work there. He kept himself in funds by playing his violin when there was no other employment.

 While he was staying at Croyden he met Katherine Bergin. She worked for Mr & Mrs Morgan there. For some reason Kate used the pseudonym Mirrigan on her marriage certificate. She may have gone under this name with the Morgan’s as well. They were married by the Anglican vicar at the Morgan home on 5 July 1896.

Soon after this Frederick went further north to Thornborough where he knew there would be work. From there it was his intention to send money back to Kate so that she could join him there. While he was away their son George was born on 19 February 1897 at Harp of Erin, Croydon, probably at the Morgan home where Kate was still living. Two years later Fred was killed in an explosion at the General Grant Mine in Thornborough on 26 June 1899.

George and Kate came to New Zealand and lived at Devonport.

An informal family photo of George Frederick Bartley at his grandfather's house in Devonport