54 



THE. INDIA RUBBER WORLD 



[November i, 1906. 



THE RUBBER SHOW AT PERADENIYA. 



T 



^HE Ceylon Rubber Exhibition of 1906, held at Pera- 

 deniya, under government auspices September 13- 

 27, appears from all reports to have been a highly 

 successful affair. Planned in the first instance by a 

 planters' association, as a local show, to last for a day or so, 

 earlier in the 3-ear, the idea commended itself so strongly 

 to the government that it was taken in hand enthusiasti- 

 callj', its scope broadened, and a two weeks' exhibition was 

 the result. 



The exhibition was held in buildings constructed espe- 

 cially for the purpose, in the Peradeniya gardens, at the 

 public expense. Some 200 men were employed on the build- 

 ings, which were completed in good time for the opening of 

 the exhibition. The buildings were of the native Kandyan 

 type of architecture and decoration. The entrance to the 

 main building was through a portico shaped somew-hat like 

 a huge pagoda, and led to a hexagon 50 feet wide, from 

 which three wings branched off, each 60 X 36 feet. The 

 stands for exhibits in these wings were arranged on either 

 side of the room, with a third row down the center. The 

 attempt was made to render the buildings attractive inside 

 and outside. For instance, the roof of the hexagonal cen- 

 tral building was ceiled with paintings illustrating Kandyan 

 history and legend. There were a number of smaller build- 

 ings — one for instance assigned to the governor ; one used 

 as a refreshment building with the Queen's Hotel, Limited, 

 as caterers : a music stand, and separate special buildings 

 for exhibits in other interests than rubber, including a pavil- 

 ion for displaying the geological resources of Ceylon. Special 

 sheds were provided for the machinerj^ exhibits, including 

 the steam engines installed for supplying power. 



The exhibition was opened by the governor of Cej-lon, Sir 

 Henrj' A. Blake, c. c. m. g., in his official capacitj', attended 

 by a military escort. He was, besides, president of the Exhi- 

 bition. The exhibition committee was made up of the Hon. 

 Mr. J. P. Lewis (chairman) and Mr. E. B. Denham (secre- 

 tary-), of the Ceylon civil service; the Hon. Mr. E. Rosling ; 

 Messrs. T. C. Huxley, Edgar Turner, and James Ryan ; Dr. 

 J. C.Willis, director botanic gardens ; Mr. M. Kelway Bam- 

 ber, government chemist ; and Mr. Herbert Wright, control- 

 ler experiment station. 



Prizes were offered for the best samples of Para in "bis- 

 cuit, " " sheet, " " crepe, " " worm, ' ' and ' ' scrap ' ' ; Castilloa 

 and Ceara in different forms ; and. " rambong " {Ficus) rub- 

 ber — first, for Ceylon only, and secondly, open to all exhib- 

 itors. Also, the best collection of rubber other than those 

 above named, and for the best commercial sample of rubber 

 in the show. Samples not to be less than 5 pounds. The 

 official list of prizes for rubber exhibits included 24 gold 

 medals, 25 silver medals, 3 silver cups, and a silver bowl 

 worth ^15 i5.f, [=376.65]. Besides, special prizes were 

 offered, by planters' associations for example. One was for 

 the best Para rubber grown above an elevation of 3000 feet. 



Additional prizes (including 26 gold medals) were offered 

 for instruments for tapping rubber trees — Para, Castilloa, 

 Ceara, and " rambong " ; for assisting the flow of latex from 

 trees ; for storing latex ; best methods of coagulation ; for 

 dr3'ing rubbbr ; for obtaining rubber from twigs, leaves, etc.; 



best methods of packing rubber for shipment ; best rubber 

 washing machine ; models of curing house, and so on. 



The Kandj- District Planters' Association offered a prize 

 for the best implement for and method of tapping Ceara rub- 

 ber. The Kalutara association offered a prize for a model 

 rubber curing house. 



The rubber exhibits were judged by three experts sent 

 out from London for the purpose : Charles Devitt, of Lewis 

 & Peat ; Spencer Brett, of Gow, Wilson & Stanton ; and 

 C. K. Sniithett. of Wilson, Smithett & Co. 



PRIZES A WARDED FOR RUBBER. 



CEYLON ONLY. 



Para Rubber Biscuits (46 competitorsi. — Gold medal Duck- 

 wari estate ; silver medal. Katugastota ; extra silver uitdal, Duck- 

 wari (second sample) ; honorable mention, Arapolakande. Silver 

 cup to superintendent of Duckwari. 



Harii Biscuits, Smoked — Gold medal, Arapolakande. 



Para Rubber Sheet (23 competitors). — Gold medal. Syston ; 

 silver, Kondesalle ; honorable mention, Delahena. Silver cup to 

 superintendent of Syston. 



Pani Rubber Crepe or Lace (4 competitors). — Gold medal, Cul- 

 loden : silver, Healherley. 



Paru Rubber li'orni, Ftaie, Block, or Other Form (7 competi- 

 tors). — Gold medal, Gikiyanakande ; silver, CuUoden. 



Castilloa Rubber biscuits (i exhibit). — No award. 



Castilloa Rubber Sheets. —No exhibits. 



Castilloa Rubber in Any Other Form excluding Scrap (i ex- 

 hibit). — Silver medal, CuUoden. 



Ceara Rubber Biscuits (12 competitors). ^Gold medal, Rang- 

 bodde ; silver. North Matale Silver cup, superintendent of 

 Rangbodde. 



Ceara Rubber Sheet (4 competitors). — Gold medal, Kondesalle. 



Ceara Rubber in Other Forms (2 exhibits). — No award. 



CEYLON .\ND .\BRO.^D. 

 [♦Denotes Awards to Straits and Malay States Exhibitors.] 



Para Rubber Biscuits (S competitors).— Gold medal, Duckwari ; 

 silver medal, .\rapolakande ; honorable mention. Kanagastota. 



Pan'i Rubber Sheet (13 competitors). — Gold medal. Syston; 

 silver, Kondesalle ; extra silver medal, Kuala Kangsa Gardens* ; 

 honorable mention, Kamiuiing.* 



Parci Rubber Cripe or Lace ( 10 competitors). — Gold medal, Cul- 

 loden ; silver, Pataling.* 



Pari) Rubber in Other Forms. — Gold medal, Lanadron (for block 

 rubber.*; silver, Gikiyanakande; honorahle mention, CuUoden. 



Para Rubber Scrap (32 competitors). — Washed : Silver medal. 

 Vallambrosa * ; honorable mention. Jebong *. Handmade : Gold 

 medal, Heatherley ; silver, Kepitigalla ; honorable mention Kana- 

 gastota. 



Rambong Rubber (6 competitors) .— Gold medal, Golden Hope* ; 

 silver, Sungei Rengum.* 



Best Collection o/' Rubber (olher than mentioned already). — Gold 

 medal, Arapolakande; silver Gikiganakande. 



Best Commeicial Sample of Rubber in the Show.— Go\d medal, 

 Lanadron * (for block rubber); silver, Duckwari ; additional silver 

 medal. Koudesalle ; honorable mention, -Arapolakaude and Rang- 

 bodde. Siher bowl, superintendent of Lanadron * 



The first honor was taken by Lanadron estate. Johore, for 

 rubber prepared in a new form — blocks. Ordinary crepe 

 rubber is put through a vacuum dryer and pressed in a 

 screw press into blocks a foot square and weighing 25 

 pounds. This is the estate of Mr. F. Pears, of the Pears' 

 soap companv". 



The verj' extensive collection of machinery- for handling 

 crude rubber, and implements for tapping trees attracted 

 much attention. Liberal prizes were offered in this de- 

 partment, as for exhibits of crude rubber, but further at- 

 tention to them in this journal must be deferred to another 



