THE SYDNEY EXHIBITION.

Globe, Volume XXI, Issue 1748, 26 September 1879, Page 3

THE SYDNEY EXHIBITION.

[FEOH THE “ PRESS” COEBBSPONDBKT.J

The opening of " The Garden Palace” is an accomplished fact. During the day preceding it rained incessantly and in torrents. All work exterior to the building was at a standstill. The approaches were quagmires. There was not a sign of a break in the sky. The interior of the building was a scene of the 'direst confusion, hurry and noise. The floors were lettered with empty and full packing oases, and all the multiplied rubbish which had been used to wrap and pad the exhibits. In the nave and transept, in the galleries, and in every court, parties of men were laboring with feverish haste to reduce a general condition of chaos and apparent confusion and jumble into decent order. In ] every prominent position there were trophies, naked, gaunt, and hopelessly unfinished ; many only commenced, and were ugly skeletons of timber. Universal discontent and dispondency prevailed, and anticipations of a dismal failure on the morrow were universal. But as midnight approached the depressed rattle and drip of the rain commenced to bo intermittent, and by the time the clocks struck the “ witching hour the commissioners, assist nts and laborers still steadily and toiling to bring things to presentable condition, and the luckless correspondent burning the midnight oil in order to have something ready to send by the outgoing steamers, received an accession of energy and spirit on that the rain had altogether ceased, the horrid leaden pall of clouds rolled away, and that the stars were shining in a clear sky, and speaking hopeful auguries for the eventful morning just begun. For my own part, this auspicious and unlocked for change has its drawbacks. It has rendered requisite the suppression and destruction of a considerable bulk of “ copy,” pervaded with the gloomiest spirit, and sprinkled with moody upbraidings o£ the weather, the persons responsible for filing a premature and watery day for the opening, and, generally, of the appointed order of things. The authorities had not escaped being infected with the prevailing anticipation of failure, and, as ’is not unusual with people under the influence of a panic, were moved to contribute towards ensuring the misfortune they dreaded. Late in the afternoon a Gazette Extraordinary was issued countermanding the orders previously issued for the Volunteers to take part in the inaugural procession and relieving the detachments of seamen and marines from the war ships of different nationalities from their participation ae first arranged. In fact, no one supposed that it would bo feasible to have any procession at all.

When morning come the sun shone in a fair sky. The mugginoss of the previous day was gone, and the air was brisk and exhilarating. The worthy folks, who, unlike the weary toilers in Exhibition and study, had been to bed, could scarcely, believe their senses when they awoke to genuine holiday weather. Donning their best attire, they swarmed forth in their thousands, filled the ’bosses which rattled townwards over the fast

The new tramway, working successfully, with horae traction as yet until the steam motors can be fitted together, was fully freighted ; the ships at the wharves dressed themselves out in festoons of bunting, and over increasing crowds emerged towards the entrances to the Garden Palace. Special correspondents, waiving their right to be unutterably used-up, hurried to the centre of attraction, and proceeded to carry _ into effect half-abandoned plans for attaining points of vantage whence they could command the most extensive view possible of the preliminary pageant, and the movements of the crowd. For my own part, entering the Exhibition, I penetrated an obscure corner, threaded a labyrinth of limebesplattered beams and scaffolding, skirted yawning openings looking down into the depths, clambered up grimy ladders, and mounted upward and still up, seeking to attain the summit of one of the loftiest towers, by the sole means of access, known, I flattered myself, to mo alone. Arrived at the top I had the ineffable satisfaction of finding the parapets lined two deep with some two score persons, workmen, plumbers, and [so forth, who for reasons which became obvious, knew a great deal more of the advantages of the position and the way of access than I had over known. However, a front place was secured after a little trouble, and a magnificent panorama stretched before and around mo, extending over the whole harbor and to a horizon of ocean in one direction, and inland over the city to the Blue Mountains in the other ; the dome and other towers restricting the prospect behind me. Bight below was Macquarie street thronged with people, and the balconies of the houses occupied by parties of gaily dressed ladies. A little to the left the principle entrance to the Exhibition grounds, and to the right the Government House and domain, from the gateway, where the sentry struts backward and forward, up the avenues right to the portals of Government House. The ever-shifting crowd of people far beneath me have the appearance of ants which have learned the use of parasols and parti-colored raiment. The cabs look like some new variety of snail. The soldiers lounging at the guard-room doorway are ridiculously foreshortened, especially in the matter of legs, till they resemble the brave but unfortunate Witherington, of Chevy Chase renown, who “ fought upon • his stumps.” Now a sound of music reaches me from far on my left. I see the black and speckled crowd part and make way while a little company of the Defence Corps, headed by their band, tramp martially down the street. On they come, the music increasing to a blare of brazen sound, till they are almost directly underneath, their white helmets with the brass spike making them look now like a surprising perambulent sort of mushroom with very small tops and disproportionately big black stems, which again have collectively some affinity with a centipede. They pass on. At the gate of the Government House Domain the band wheels aside, and the detachment marches in, halts, grounds arms, and awaits events. More music. The crowd in the distance parts anew. Another hand appears and then, cavalry! artillery! No, firemen with their engines, steam and manual, the brass helmets and fittings polished to a wonderful pitch of gleaminess and shiningness. Another baud, banners, the brotherhood of something or other with white scarves. Yet again a band and banners, the associated order of something else —apparently connected with “ the most distressful counthry,” for their banners and scarves are green. More band and banner busicess, more scarves, members of the operative union of what-dye-call-urns. Next, save us! an entire cemetery’s stock of ghosts! Beg pardon, Ancient Order of Druids, in white hoods, white mantles, and white beards, extremely eerie to behold. And so on, band, banners, and scarves in monotonous succession, for after the ghost sensation what follows comes fiat. As they arrive opposite Government House gates, the processionists sucoesively wheel off in the opposite direction round a comer townwards and disappear from view, and as the last of them so disappears there is a stir at the front of Government House among the troopers assembled there as escort. The leading horsemen begin to trot down the avenue ; they escort a carriage; more horsemen, a string of carriages. The vice-regal cavalcade has fairly started. It is easy to distinguish the carriage of his Excellency Lord Augustus Loftu*. He brought it all the way from St. Petersburg. It is a state carriage, closed, and magnificent above all others. A ! gorgeous coachman in a wig and stockings sits on the hammer-cloth. Two respectable flunkies, whose powdered hair gleams white even at this distance, stand majestically behind. The liveries are crimson and gold. The soldiers dress their ranks, there is a motion of arms, the band plays "God Save the Queen,” and the cortege gives up pretending that it is bound straight for the Exhibition entrance, three hundred yards straight up the street, and whisks deliberately round the comer on the tracks of the—not the ghcs.s, which are trackless—of the fire-engines. I perceive that all three Governors —there are four in it—are going to do circus-band duty round some of the best streets before coming in, so I scramble down the ladders and bulge in my hat at a tight part of the descent, and seek a good station in the gallery of the nave, close to the dais, and find a vacancy in an enclosure roughly planked off, apparently for swine, but really for “ Gentlemen of the Press.” The gallery opposite is thronged with ladies. The sloping tiers of seats for the chorus, extending down from the organ to the level spice where the orchestra is placed, is on my left. The performer* are in their places. Some 400 adult singers, male and female, and some 250 children in pink sashes. The instrumentalists number over fifty, and among them I observe a number of first-rate artists —Signor Ortori, the violinist, who resembles Paganini in figure, face, grotesque pose when playing, and almost in command over his instrument; old Kohler, who can play upon anything, from a tin kettle upwards, but who at present plays upon his legitimate instrument, the cornet; the two flautists lately with the opera, and others of equal excellence on their respective instruments. The conductor, Signor Giorza, has his solo singers ranged in front under his eye, and behind him, on a lower stage, are four grand pianofortes, at which are seated eight ladies, of whom one is Signora Giorza, lately first pianiste at the Milan Conservatoire, and the others are young lady amateurs. Below this again is the dais, with the chairs ranged facing down the nave, backs to the orchestra. the dais on either hand are rows of chairs similarly disposed. Those on the left are occupied by the civil dignitaries of the colony; the Lieut.Governor, Sir Alfred Stephen, wearing his riband and order; the Chief Juatice, in evening dress, being on sick leave; the puisne Judges in wigs and scarlet and crimson robes ; the President and Speaker of the two Chambers of Parliament, and lesser per- | sonages. On the right the chairs are allotted to the Commissioners for Foreign States and the other colonies. I can single out Mr J. T. Casey, Victorian Commissioner, once, I have heard, a bum-bailiff in Now York, now a 0.M.G., and magnificently got up in "Windsor uniform; Mr Gresley Lukin, the Queensland Commissioner ; and Dr. Hector I can also distinguish, in evening dress; but the handsome man in gold braided uniform coat, fireman’s or dragoon’s helmet, violet breeches, and riding boots, I cannot identify ; nor can I many others. Facing these, on the floor of the nave, are the members of the New South Wales Commission and other notables, in quantity, as business men would say. I must devote a word or two, however, to that group of wonderful beings seated together, of whom the majority sport a miraculous garb, consisting of a threecocked hat, a mulberry colored coat looped with bullion and lappetted and cuffed with violet silk, knee breeches, black silk stockings and shoes with buckles. These are the worshipful the Aldermen of Sydney, worthy publicans, butchers, and builders to a man. One or two have not assumed the official dress. One in especial fixes my delighted eye. He has thrown his whole soul into the one item of gloves. He wears lavender kids, and I feel confident they must have been built to his order—by contract, with subletting for each finger. No glover ever can have conceived so wild an idea as making a pair of gloves that size on the chance of finding, a purchaser. There is somewhat leas than a acre of kid in them, apparently. They constitute a feature in the nave, and symbolize immensity. But I must tear my away from these splendid gloves, and proceed with my description of what they leave room for in the building. A rope stretched across the nave forms a boundary beyond which are heaped the populace at five shillings a head. They extend back to the dome, thinning somewhat in the further i. We are all ready and waiting for the

tour, and commence the opening ceremony. There are several false alarms that their Excellencies approach, and the press o£_ people behind my pen becomes intense, and its constituent members got frantic at the comparative void within the enclosure. An amiable papa lifts his little girl over. The other victims to a system of exclusion palpitate, A Homan Catholic reporter catches sight of a priest looking wistfully over the partition, and deferentially helps him to climb in. Another man who belongs to an Orange lodge, and can’t stand that, scrambles over with pride in his port and defiance on his brew. Twenty ladies, of assorted ages, express by their looks that it is a shame that men should go pushing themselves into all the best places. A fresh alarm occurs at this crisis. Sweet seventeen can not restrain herself any longer. She looks at ma. Ma is in a red heat with excitement and squeezing, and is of the same mind herself. Sweet seventeen goes for that partition , It happened that at that moment a bugle flourish rang through the building, and the Governor having actually arrived, the choir oomm .ncod singing a verse of the National Anthem, while Lord Augustus performed the ceremony of unveiling Marshall Wood’s bronze statue of the Queen, standing under the dome. A number of gentlemen occupying official positions had gone down to receive his Excellency on his entrance, and after the unveiling ho came up the nave, accompanied by Lady Augustus, by the Marquis of Normanby, Governor of Victoria, Sir William Jorvoise, Governor of South Australia, and Mr Weld, Governor of Tasmania, and escorted by the gentlemen alluded to and the vice-regal staffs of the four Governors. The parly have seated themselves on the dais, the performance of the cantata composed for the occasion by Signor Giorza to poetry by Henry Kendall was commenced. I regret exceedingly that I cannot convey to yon the effect of the music. Telephonic invention is still but a halting affair after all. But at any rate I can convey to you the poetry, which I here append. I would especially direct the attention of readers to the first verse in Part 111. A more perfect exemplification of the prophetic inspiration which belongs to the true poet I defy literature, ancient or modern, to afford. Yesterday’s tempest of rain, and this morning’s brightness, are therein exactly described. And the poem was entirely written, set to music, and put in rehearsal, months ago !

CANTATA. By Henry Kendall. Part I. Songs of morning, with your breath Sing the darkness now to death— Sadiant river, beaming bay, Fair as Summer shine to-day— Flying torrent, falling slope, Wear the face as bright as HopeWind and woodland, hill and sea, Lift yonr voices—sing for glee! Greet the guests your fame has won— Pat your brightest garments on. . Lo, they come—the Cords unknown, Sons of Peace, from every zone! See above onr waves unfurled All the flags of all the world ! North and South and West and East Gather in to grace our Feast. Shining nations ! let them see How like England we can be. Mighty nations! let them view Sons of generous sires in you. By the days that sound afar, Sound, and shine like star by star; By the grand old years aflame With the fires of England’s fame— Heirs of those who fought for right When the world’s wronged face was white— Meet these guests your fortune sends. As your fathers met their friends ; Let the beauty of your race Glow like morning in your face. Part 11. Where now a radiant city stands, The dark oak used to wave, The Elfin harp of lonely lands Above the wild man’s grave. Through windless woods, one clear, sweet stream (Sing soft and very low), Stole like the river of a dream, A hundred years ago. Upon the hills that blaze to-day With splendid dome and spire. The naked hunter tracked his prey And slumbered by his fire. Within the sound of shipless seas The wild rose used to blow About the feet of royal trees, A hundred years ago. Ah! haply, on some mossy slope, Against the shining springs. In those old days the Angel Hope Sat down with folded wings ; Perhaps she touched in dreams sublime, In glory and in glow. The skirts of this resplendent time, A hundred years ago. Part 111. A gracious morning on the hills of wet, And wind, and mi it, her glittering feet has set ; The life and heat of light have chased away Australia’s dark mysterious yesterday. A great, glad glory now flows down and shines On gold green lands where waved funereal pines. And hence a fair dream goes before our gaze, And lifts the skirts of the hereafter days. And sees afar, as dreams alone can see. The splendid marvel of the years to bo. Part IV. Father, All Bountiful, humbly we bend to Thee; Heads are uncovered in sight of Thy face. Here in the flow of the Psalms that ascend to Thee, Teach ns to live for the light of Thy grace. Here, in the pause of the anthems of praise to Thee, Master and Maker —pre-eminent friend— Teach ns to look to Thee—give all onr days to Thee, Now and for evermore, world without end ! Respecting the performance, I am happy to be able to say that the composition and its execution were alike equal to the occasion. Signor Giorza’s work is not likely to live as one of the great master-pieces; but it is melodious, effective, and worthy of being remembered by those who had the good fortune to hear it. The instrumentation is superb. In distributing orchestral effects, Giorza is an a level with the greatest maestri. The verse already particularised was set for the children’s voices alone, accompanied in imitation of harps by the four pianofortes—magnificently played by the eighty ladies - and by the flutes and softer-toned instruments. The force of the contrast, the perfection of the treatment of the accompaniment, and the intrinsic beauty of the movement, marvellously well rendered by the children, made a profound impression, and a torrent of acclamation, upsetting every other consideration of occasion, time, and so forth, compelled a repetition. The solos were for the most part indifferently sung, Vernon Eeid, the tenor, being the exception. The cantata over, the President of the Commission read an address, and Lord Augustus replied. I will not trouble readers of the Press with either of these effusions. Their experience.and imagination will easily snpply both. The Hallelujah chorus, from the “Messiah,” and an Australian anthem, composed by Giorza, to sickly words by a young man named Haviland, who is a poet, not in the same sense as Harry Kendall or J. Brunton Stephens. This poet has gold, and for gold Giorza put music to his verses, and, ns I think, failed, and deservedly so. The music concluded, Lord Augustus rose, and mentioned with considerable amiability, that the Exhibition was open. I quite agreed with him ; I had been thinking something of the same kind for several hours previous. But when his Excellency mentioned the fact, people cheered, and cannon were let off, and bells rung. By the way, Burt’s big bell, cast in New Zealand, was not rung; but three ill-disposed intrusive Austrian bells, one of them bigger than Burt’s, broke loose, and made a tremendous din, while Burt’s was ignominiously tolled as a signal for closing, an allotment of duty which brought disrepute and ill-favor upon the New Zealand bell, and occasioned persons to curse it and otherwise regard it with contumely. Couldn’t Sir George Grey be induced to make a national affair of this, and hang out another session on a popular war policy ? The assemblage now disperses over the building, but I must ask the reader to step back into the beginning of the week. According to advertisement the Bingarooma, first steamer for New Zealand, was appointed to sail at noon on the 17th, the day of opening. It became requisite therefore to prepiro as much descriptive matter as possible in advance of the opening. What immediately follows was accordingly so prepared yesterday and the previous day, which wore partly devoted to successive inspections and partly to writing up the observations made. The remarks which immediately follow were written under these circumstances. The _ Bingarooma stands now advertised to sail to-morrow at noon. In the twenty-two hours which have intervened between the conclusion of the opening ceremonies the hour of the

me to accomplish several things. First, to make a fresh and complete reinspection of every court and department in the whole building—that is to say, to roam over a minutely subdivided and partitioned area of four and a half acres, besides 1200 yards of galleries, to observe and note if any, and what additions have been made to the exhibits which were ready on the last occasion. I was round in each court and space to observe what is the influence of the additions upon the general aspect of affairs ; to find out all about every fresh item, without any catalogues whatever; and, these feats being accomplished, to sit down and write an accurate and graphic description of everything. Ido not mention sleep. That indulgence is an agreeable process invented for the benefit of church-goers and Civil servants. It is precisely—l like to be precise, and hare referred to my watch, which is as reliable a timepiece as was Captain Cuttle’s. It is, I say, at this moment precisely five o’clock to-morrow morning. That doesn’t seem straight somehow. Anyhow it is five o’clock one morning, and I am sure it is not yesterday morning, for I have worked continuously all to-day and—confound it, I got the days mixed up again. I begin to suspect it must be this morning that it is now five minutes past five o’clock of. After the opening ceremony I did pervade that four and a half acres of flooring, and speedily discovered that during the preceding night the whole face of the place had been altered. Covers had been removed, screens and partitions knocked away, show cases filled up, exhibits put on their pedestals or hung on their nails, trophies completed, rubbish cleared away, covered over with flags or thrust out of sight. The incomprehensible had become comprehensible and coherent, chaos had melted into order.

But still not a catalogue, and scarcely a label anywhere. Such additional observations as could’ be hurriedly made I have noted. My note-book lies before me, dismally hieroglyphicol, and with its help I shall proceed to elaborate additional descriptions. But first I tender what had been already prepared. I regret to say that there is no possibility of sending a concise and at the same time comprehensive description of this big show of ours. The reason is identical with that which in “ The Rehearsal ” was alleged as making it difficult to obtain a view of the Spanish fleet. In that case the intervening trouble was because the Spanish fleet was not yet in sight. So with the Exhibition. Even now, two days before the opening, the show is hulldown. In the interests of the Christchurch Peess I have roamed over it several days in succession. All this morning I have been bustling round the principal floor and pacing the galleries, note-book in hand. Elsewhere it would have been futile to go. The recent rains destroyed the last prospect of the auxiliary buildings being even approximately ready or fitted with their contents. The pavilion for the fine arts exhibits is defined as yet by the stumps which are to support it. The basement floor of the Garden Palace itself is a wilderness variegated with packing cases and disjointed portions of heavy goods intended for exhibition. On the main floor itself, to which I have, under the circumstances, confined my attention, things are considerably further advanced than when I last wrote, but nevertheless when it is considered that the official opening takes place two days hence the are partitions must be regarded as frightfully jaekward. Queensland alone will bo perfectly ready by any possibility, and even in Queensland a formidable labor in petty final details, such as labelling exhibits with their catalogued numbers remains to be done during the coming thirty-six hours. The British court is fairly shipshape, in consequence of exhibitors having been allotted their respective floor spaces by the London commission, and having show cases exactly occupying those spaces. Almost all these cases are in their places, but as before some are yet void of contents, and others which have been filled since I last wrote have been carefully and aggravatingly covered over with close screens so that their contents will not be visible till the opening day. Others have no name yet attached, and where there are attendants these are as a rule in such a condition of perspiring red hot scramble to complete their preparations that not a word of explanation or information can be extracted from them. The American Court is not even so far advanced as the British. Here and there are show cases with their contents com plete, ready in every particular, some screened and some visible. But around them are blank spaces and groves of packing cases and litter ; and the air resounds with a clatter of tongues and hammers as though Babel were being rebuilt, and as if in the -confusion of tongues most of the new languages had a nasal twang. The Continental courts are even worse than the American in several instances. Italy, for which there is no commissioner, the State having declined to incur any expense, is struggling hopelessly behind-hand, France, with fatigue” parties from “Le Rhine” constantly at work, is a trifle better. Germany is nearly on a level. How bad is the case of the Frenchmen may be gathered from the following. I managed to elude the vigilance of a brace of undersized man-of-war’s men posted at the entrance of the court as guards to prevent the intrusion of strangers, by whom progress had been sensibly impeded, and penetrating into the heart of the court I made the acquaintance of a desolated civilian whose behaviour would have been equally creditable to his heart and his head had he but spoken his confounded language a trifle slower. I could comprehend this much : that he was the distracted proprietor of a considerable floor space, which he indicated by excitedly prancing round its boundaries, and that he had been totally unable to discover anything whatever of the four or five tons of extremely notable and recherche goods intended to be displayed thereon. Austria is fairly well advanced, but vigorously screened. Belgian and the Netherlands ditto. Victoria is about half ready, and a brilliant appearance oven so. South Australia half ready, and not a brilliant appearance. Tasmania reasonably forward. New South Wales not half ready. Fiji and the Straits Settlements not so backward, but incomprehensible for lack of labels. Japan still littered with haybands of an immorally outlandish description, and otherwise principally broken out in the direction of crockeryware. Lastly, Now Zealand, about two-thirds are half ready on this floor, and like all the rest, nowhere in all other departments. I described the contents of nave and transept in my last. The progress and alterations mode since then have rendered that description incomplete and inexact. I could start afresh, and describe those parts of the building all over again, with copious additions ; but in a week hence that later description would bo juet as inexact as its predecessor. Fresh trophies and so forth are constantly being erected in the vacant spaces. Many additional ones will be ready by Wednesday, but there will be yet others to come. On consideration, therefore, I resolve to wait awhile, and possess my soul in patience until I can really send a complete and comprehensive description of the tout ensemble. I believe some enterprising gentlemen of the Press have in preparation very clever anticipatory and prophetic complete descriptions of the Exhibition in its perfected condition. I have a share of the imaginative faculty myself, and believe I could enter the inventive lists with a reasonable prospect of coming out well in the competition, but I judge that the conductors of the Punas will prefer facts, and that its readers will, on consideration, place more value upon a faithful picture of what is actually to be seen in the Garden Palace, even though they have to wait till there is something to depict, than upon a fancy sketch baaed upon the representations of intending exhibitors, and elaborated with ingenious inventiveness. It must be understood that, to add to the agreeable facilities for description which the actual condition of affairs presents, there is not a catalogue in existence except for the Queensland Court, the catalogue for which was ready yesterday. New Zealand, respecting catalogues, may bo ready by the opening day. The M.S. has been some time compiled and in the hands of the Government printer here, but the proofs are only reaching Dr. Hector in driblets, which is but one of the many worries that gentleman has to contend with. Ho complains bitterly, and with much apparent reason, that his preparations are embarrassed and impeded by the constant arrival of exhibits in cases, sacks, and all kinds of happy-go-lucky packages, which he is expected to display, but which are unaccompanied with any show cases whatever. Not only so, but until he has unpacked them, he is unable to form any idea of the fashion in which it will bo requisite to arrange and provide for them. The exhibitors have not deigned to send, either in advance, or even accompanying, any particulars of bulk, arrangement, or, in fact, any limit which would have enabled the harrassed commiesioner to provide for such exhibits before

hand, or to assort and arrange them with any facility on their reaching his hands. As fast as he gets, apparently, his dispositions fairly settled, some seemingly inessential package comes to hand, and being opened is found to contain something which require*) half a dozen earlier exhibits to be shifted, fresh combinations to be hit out so as to preserve the general symmetry of the court, and a special form of show stand or case devised. One reason why the British court is so orderly already is that not only was each exhibitor required to provide a suitable show case for his goods, and to fit the space allotted to him, but in the majority of instances, as I have observed when watching the operation of fitting up in progress, the entire contents of the show cases were fitted in at homo, they and their places on the shelves marked and numbered, and, to finish off ,a photograph of the whole concern taken, to assist the people to arrange everything with facility hero at the other side of the globe. The absence of similar foresight has militated against the forwardness of the New Zealand court, and although it is more advanced than when last 1 wrote, and every hour will bring some improvement, it is scarcely likely that, after all, it will be, even on this floor, more than just presentable at the opening. Dr. Hector most obligingly placed at my disposal one of the throe proof copies of those parts of his catalogue, which have up to this time reached him from the printer. Even with such helps, I have found myself much at a loss. The sheets are only of a fraction of the entire catalogue, and while many of the exhibits already in their appointed places- are not in these “ proofs,” on the other hand an equal proportion of the articles which appear in the fragmentary catalogue are not discoverable among the exhibits on view at present. Anattendant engaged among the timber and cabinet-ware took me in hand, and afforded me soma serviceable information, which is embodied in what follows ; but your vigilant Commissioner catching a glimpse of the situation swooped down upon us and bundled my cicerone back to his pressing duties with a flea of considerable magnitude in his ear. Indeed, I would not have been so thoughtless as to countenance his quitting his occupation had I not been under the impression that he was-not an employe but an exhibitor. Shonld I mention afresh any of the items which were referred to in my former instalment of description, the reader will make allowances, inasmuch as since I then wrote things have been shifted about and re-arranged l a good deal. THE BBIIISH OOUET. Among the most attractive of the- displays in this court, the Staffordshire wares-take high rank. The legacies of antiquity and the inventive ingenuity and taste of modern days have equally been drawn upon to furnish models of form and details of design. Half-a-dozen manufacturers from Hanley, in Staffordshire, exhibit side by side, or at least are so grouped together that their displays constitute one extensive exhibition. On the same principle which causes the oak to strike the beholder before the exquisite beauties of the violets at its base are perceived, attention is first attracted by some gigantic specimens of ware, shown by Brown, Westhead, Moore and Obi Chief among these is a tremendous candelabrum of blue and white ware, quite seven feet in height from its six-footed base to tho- top of the six equal branches into which its pillar divides. Vases of corresponding dimensions flank it, and at intervals the extensive show stand of this firm is dominated by articles of similar proportions of designs so various as to defy brief description. One group representing two tigers couchant, about a third natural size, is distinguished for the fidelity of its coloring, the artistic grouping, and the felicity of poie. But these things astonish. The grandeur of the oak excites less pleasurable feeling than the minute elegance of the violet. It is among the smaller articles that one finds the grace and refined beauty which delight. To describe the endless variety of form which presents itself is impracticable, without calling into requisition the pencil of the artist. That pencil, together with its sister the brush, has been liberally employed in decorating the wares. Here a vase has pourtrayed on its swelling side an ardent group whose twining limbs flushed with the tints of youth seem to move ; there a school of cupids are outlined in blue and white. Half hidden among wares for vulgar uses of every day are encaustic tiles, upon which are pictures of landscapes bathed in limpid light, or glowing with radiant hues. Others are interspersed, a series beating black-letter mottoes in old NormanFrench, and embellished with quaint and diverting illustrations of the themes, in angular pro-Eaphaelite style. It needs the motto “ Honi soit qui mal y pense” to enable the visitor to preserve due decorum when face to face with the comely damozel who has elevated her dress to adjust the unmentionable appliances with which, that motto is associated, • II y a tonjours un qui aime et I’autre qui se laisso aimer,” and “ II y a toujours un qui laisse et un qui donno la moue,” are other mottos which have pictorial illustrations quaintly humorous. In addition to these articles of vertu, are quantities of goods in majolica, and services for every day use, singularly taking in ornamentation. These services of plate are embellished with designs which are new and charming. Rabbits are tho dominant feature. Babbits protruding innocent looking heads through the bars of their hutch in the endeavor to reach that blushing peach which hangs on its twig almost within reach ; a rabbit peeping from behind a cucumber; a rabbit nibbling at a showy peacock’s feather; a rabbit sniffing the fragrance of a little open basket of fruita rabbit making for a solitary red round radish which seems really to lie on the plate. Then another series illustrate incidents, very realistic, in the chequered life of chanticleer and his kin.

Passing a step or two to the next stall, the “ Old Hall Company ” displays two vases, absolute " chefs d’ce-uvras.” Their form is the perfection of grace, but their supreme charm lies in the exquisite work of pietorial art which occupies their bodies —shaped like inverted pears. On one vase is a marine piece, stately ships and picturesque Dutch craft with hulls of ruddy browns, heaving upon a disturbed sea of waves so limpid and translucent as proves the work of no ordinary brush. On another fine vase flowers are wreathed; form and color mock nature without burlesquing it, and tho high relief lends its aid to deceive the eye, so real appear the lovely delusions. On another vase, sister to the one first mentioned, are depicted fruits, most delicately colored. Here, there, and everywhere _ the plainer wares, or those which owe their_ attractions mainly to elegance of form, are interspersed with salvers and dishes bearing copies of masterpieces by Landseer, Stanafield, and other great English artists, who, if they were alive and present, could scarcely complain that injustice has been done to their creations. The mist in the recess among the hills forming the background for that noble stag, for instance, is aerial in its shades as mist need be. Joseph Roth, of London, has essayed a different Hue. His pottery has been moulded into statuettes. Tho human form divine is the most difficult of all to imitate. Or, rather tho human face divine adds difficulty to the form. Who shall attempt tol shape out a representation of tho soul ? Now the shadow, the brightness, the presence, of soul, plays upon every human face. Mr Roth is consequently not so successful os those of his fellows, who have been satisfied with humbler flights. Yet, although most of his figures in which facial expressson and flesh tints have been attempted, are commonplace, there is one which grapples tho attention. It is one of a pair, and I will describe its fellow first. A brawny, maesive-limbed barbarian, terrible in a panoply of a bull’s untanned hide, with the horns disposed over his frowning forehead, and flowing yellow hair, wields a tremendous club, ana strains every tense muscle to bring down a crushing blow. The pose is striking and spirited. Now for tho other. A man of medium size, close-knit and active. Ho covers his body with the oblong shield, his head is protected with the open helmet, and his sinewy arm and hand protrude tho short Jstraight sword of tho Roman legionary. But his face is the triumph. Despite the sickly failure of the attempt to imitate natural paleness in porcelain, the expression of the while face stirs the imagination. So fixed, so resolute, so unflinching is it. Unconsciously you forget the china, and hold your breath for tho _ man. And you reckon his chances with his gigantic adversary, and feel that against such concentrated will, brute force will avail little. Wo find ourselves in the centre of tho court. The air is redolent with perfumery. Bight in front of us stands an elegant little temple or mosque. Its roof of cerulean blue is of Oriental or Moorish design and is supported by four upright oblong structures of plate glass framed in white and gold. One of these is at each corner, between each is a counter,

and in the cez&fe, under the apex- of tJw roof, is a space an affable and benign person presides. TJfis is the shrine of Piesffe and Lubin, and She transparent cow gf oblong show cases which support the roof display artificial flowers, artificially scented with their' natural odours, perfumed valentines, and* infinite variety of articles for the toilet and boudoir. Oh one side a shapely structure, surmounted with a crowned orb represents the Crown Perfumery Company. Rimmel has a graceful case, with gilt angels as supporters, on the other side, and grouped around are the show caces of Bush, who makes an effect .with crystal bottles of uniform appearance, with cylinders" of brilliant colors in powders; of Richardson and Co., who exhibit great cubes, bars, and elegant cakes of every conceivable description of scented and medicated soap ; of Mactuy, of Edinburgh, with perfumes in every kind of natty little decanter; and of Grosncll, who has the most “catching” exhibit, a pair of gigantic hair brushes, such as might bo serviceable in Brobdignag, and labelled mysteriously “ Trichosaron,” being ■ suspended in the upper part of the case, while in each corner a oryslal flask of perfumed spirit, of corresponding dimensiocs; serves ns flankers to the central object, a vast | porcelain' model pot of that cherry tooth paste wliich has conferred lustre upon the name of Gosnell, and upon the teeth of civilised mankind. The size of the model suggests the idea that it is intended to grace the toilet of an elephant vain of its fine set of tusks. A little further on we are in a different region, where, however, wo will not linger long.- Of the shop, shoppy, is this region of starches, and blues, and gelatines, and chocolates. The cases are handsome, and the brilliant lino of the blue, in powder, in cubes, in balls, and in the familiar thumbed shape, relieves the somewhat prosaic character of the surroundings. Beckett, Leopold, Stubel, Harvey, and Neville, shine in the blue and starch line. Nelson, Dale and 00. miss their opportunity with gelatine, which surely could be wrought up into elegant transparencies, or exhibited in tinted crystal moulds. They show only a shoppy lot of packets. Fry with his cocoa is as bad ; but the Chocolate Menier Company has exerted some ingenuity, and built up its name in great slabs and tablets of its product. Batty sends a pyramid of pickles, which look pretty enough. From the shop we step into the publichouse, and find ourselves in a department of celebrated, world-renowned, famous, and other spirituous liquors. In a magnificent show case of a wood like teak, Greenlees’ “ Lome” whiskey is displayed with a great show of varnished oaken casks with gilded hoops, and ends covered with white enamel. Dunville’s Irish whiskey is “iligantly” forced upon notice by means, besides the inevitable pyramids of bottles, of a varnished oak cask hooped and tapped with, apparently, sterling silver. A less brilliant display is made by the " Encore” blend.

An interesting exhibit in this court is by Thomas, of Redditch, who has a complete and handsome case, some eight feet high, the design—a common one I observe—being an oblong, rising perpendicularly from the centre of a lot of sloping counters facing four ways. In this case the contents are simply—no, complicatedly—needles, j Needles of every imaginable description, and some of descriptions such as I never imagined existed. The counters are fitted with one large card to each, on whieh are arranged, I should think, every kind of machine needle used in the world. There are here needles for all the machines I have ever heard or read tho name of; straight needles long, straight needles short, needles slightly bent, and needles with a double sharp curve. Needles an inch long and needles four inches long and as-thick as a penholder, all for machines, and all tastefully arranged in stars or other designs. In the upper panels are shown in the same fashion needles for hand use, from the most delicate needle for cambric- to a three-foot-long stiletto of a needle apparently for pushing through thick mattrasses. Another case has a show of corsets, very nice indeed, very protrusive where protrusion is a beauty, very retrusive about the waist, and so particularly intrusive in the swan-bill portion,, that that might almost be the bill of the swan that Leda undertook to protect from an eagle. Then another case (Deane, Stanley and Oo.’s) contains nothing but towels, from plain little huckabacks to Turkish towels like young carpets. Ooates and Brooks, the rival cottonthread manufacturers, have cases side by side. Coates’ is a sort of double-barrelled case, with a balloon made of skeins and reels suspended in one, and a pyramid, of the same materials in the other. Brooks has a gracefully designed case with a domed Moorish sort of roof, It has long been ready, but has been so jealously shrouded with, blinds that I have never been able to discover precisely -what form the internal structure takes, or . more than that it is built up, like Coates’, of reels. I suppose it was without blinds yesterday, but I missed it in my run round. ; A case of tortoiseshell and horn hair-combs of all descriptions comes from Aberdeen. Perry and 00. show the infinite variety of pens, paper-clips, penholders, and notions, which they manufacture, and which they advertise so well that their exhibits fall rather stale. Another penmaker, D. Leonardt, who, despite his foreign- name, is in the British court, has a telling exhibit of his wares, catching the passer's attention by some gigantic gilt models of special makes, while all sorts and sizes are arranged attractively in the case. In the hardware line, Orownshaw and Chapman, of Sheffield, have a grand case, prominent in which is an immense circular saw, highly burnished, with the peculiar effect that the diverging rays of light from the axis to- the circumference appear as you approach to shoot out straight to your eyes, as rays are drawn in some styles of engraving. Every sorb of measuring rules is-shown by Rabone, and Newbould, of Sheffield, shows eaws and files, some of the latter very odd and unusual. A case containing only different makes of canvass from light duck, through stout material for shoes and portmanteaus to navy sail canvas and heavy stuff for machinery belts. The material is of all hues, and of none, if black and white be no colors. A maker named Arrowsmith exhibits a flooring of parqueterie, labelled as identical with some laid down for Her Majesty. The woods employed are chiefly oak and others allied in dulness of tint, and the parquet cannot bear a moment’s comparison in point of beauty with that shown by Guthrie and Larnach among the New Zealand manufactures.