THE EXHIBITION.

Globe, Volume XXIV, Issue 2501, 13 April 1882, Page 4

THE EXHIBITION.

The fine weather ot yesterday resulted in a marked improvement in the-attendanee of the public, between 4000 and 3000 paying for' admission, in addition -to which a large number -of season ticket holders and exhibitors swelled the numbers. The visitors to the Art-Gallery mustered a strong f oroo.end «t both the afternoon -end evening performance Of the Austrian Band, the concert room was W«2l filled. Communication was established between the bazaar and the space dovoted to Mr Wocdroffe’s glass - blowing exhibit, the result being that ho wasdargely patronised. Doors "were also fixed 'in the main avenues of the building to the -luncheon rooms in the quadrangle, so that ths-diffiml-taes of Monday -and Tuesday in gaining Admittance thereto is now obviated. iln the bay allotted to Mr Jubal Fleming there ■S a very interesting addition in the shape of • wix-roomed T-shaped cottage, constructed -entirely of cigarettes, a work which reflects the greatest possible credit on the constructor And designer, Mr A. Lamb. .Jest opposite Ito Mr Fleming’s bay, Mr Oppenheimer. of Auckland, has been allotted space, and exhibits a very fine case of kauri gum. Here "the gum >s shown in all stages, from the first discovery and digging out of the earth to the marketable article. The case is surmounted by the head of a Maori chief appropriately tattooed, carved out of a single block of kanri gum. The exhibit as a. whole is well worthy of impaction, the more so as the export of kauri gum forms a very large item in the trade of the North Island.

To-night, in connection with the Exhibition, one of the greatest gatherings yet seen in Christchurch is anticipated, in the shape ot the Mayor’s ball. This will take place in the art gallery, and it is anticipated that something like 700 persons will be present. As will be soon by advertisement elsewhere, a special tram service has been arranged for the occasion, the advantage of which no doubt will be eagerly availed of by the guests, os the cab service will be very severely taxed on the occasion.

In the hurry of the opening notice of the Exhibition on Tuesday, the ferns exhibited in the octagon were stated as haying been Bent by W. A. Abbott, whereas the exhibitor was Mr A. J. Abbott, of Woolston. ■JUDGING AND ATTABD3 COMMITTEE. The first meeting) of the committee of judging and awards of the International Exhibition of 1882 took place in the reception room at the Exhibition yesterday, at 11.30 a.m. Present—His Worship the Mayor of Christchurch (Mr J. G. Ruddenklau) president j the Chairman of the Canterbury Domain Board (Mr L. Harper), the President of the Industrial Association (Mr J. P. Jameson), tho Director of the Canterbury Museum (Professor Dr. von Essst), the President of the Chamber of Commerce (Mr W. Obrystall), tho Chairman of the Agricultural and Pastoral Association (Mr W. Henderson), and one of the promoters (Mr Twopeny). The Mayor having taken the chair, Mr Twopeny addressed the committee ns follows:

Mr President and Gentlemen, —I think you will agree with me that, in order to do the fullest justice to exhibitors and to tho public in the matter of judging and awards, there are three chief points to be aimed at—impartiality, promptitude, and efficiency in judging. The mere fact that the complete control of tho judging and awards is in the hands of gentlemen of your standing, should, we think, give exhibitors and the public the fullest confidence in the impartiality of the judging. It is with this object that our regulations prescribe that the nomination of jurors by exhibitors must bo confirmed by you ] that the appointment of one juror to every two nominated by tho exhibitors is left in yonr hands ; that the jurors’ awards are made subject to your approval ; and that you are constituted a committee of appeal. Only second in importance to impartiality would we place promptitude in judging and making known the awards. Exhibitors have a right to demand the direct call of public attention to their merits, and the prominent advertisement given to their productions by attaching to them cards setting forth the awards obtained, together with the comments of the jurors. To the pnblio the educational value of the Exhibition is greatly enhanced if they are enabled to view the exhibits by the light of the criticisms of competent judges. With this view we would propose the prompt publication in the Press of awards as soon as confirmed by you, and the setting the juries to work at the earliest possible date. Efficiency in judging is necessary if the awards are to have any value at all. The laying bare of the merits and demerits of exhibits should stimulate the successful as well as the unsuccessful to the attainment of a higher degree of merit, and with this view we would propose that the jurors be instructed to state in their reports the reasons (or each award. Other essentials are a due arrangement of znles and means for the action of the jurors and tho fixing of principles on which the awards are to be based, in order to secure uniformity in their value, and these rules we shall be glad if you will fix to-day. Apart from the difficulty in a small community like thin of obtaining thoroughly competent judges in every department, the beet jurors are liable to make mistakes, and hence wo have established you as a Court of Appeal, and published rules under which it will act, together with the forms to be observed by the appellant. I cannot conclude without thanking you for the trouble you will have to undergo in assisting us in this work. It is our earnest desire that the awards at this Exhibition should bo as just and as liberal as those of the Paris Exhibition j that the exhibitors, on the one band, may not think us ungrateful for the support they have afforded us, and the expense they have undergone in preparing their exhibits, and bringing them here, in many cases from far distant countries; and that the public may feel confident that the merits of the various exhibits have teen judged with perfect impartiality and as large a measure of efficiency as circumstances permit of. _ The classification of exhibits was then revised for the purposes of judging, end divided into the following sections I.—Classes 1,2, 3, 4—Coal and coke, stones, clays, gravels, ores, and miscellaneous minerals.

ll.—Classes 11,12 —Machinery, agricultural and otherwise.

111. Classes 13, 15. 16, 23, 25, 45—Iron and steel manufactures, models, tools, nails, &c., apparatus for lighting, heating and washing, filters, arms and ammunition. IV. Classes 5, 64, 65, 66—Paints and Tarnishes, oils, glues, manures, and paste, chemical and pharmaceutical preparations, soap, tallow, caudles, and perfumery. V. —Class 21—Pottery and glass. VI. —Classes 22, 24, 44, and 6—Furniture and upholstery, brnshware, toys, cricket and tennis ware, timber and woodworks.

VII. —Class 26—Sewing machines. VIII. Classes 31, 32, 33, 35—Olothing and cloths, millinery, costumes, lace, woollens, cottons, calicoes, silks and silk. IX. —Classes 41, 42—Heather, boots and shoes, saddlery and harness, X. —Class 43 —Jewellery and silverware. XI. —Classes 51 and 62—Cereals and seeds.

Xll.—Classes 52, 63, 54, 55—Biscuits and cakes, confectionery, produce and preserved meats, condiments.

Xlll.—Classes 56, 67, 58, 69, 67—Cordials, aerated waters, ales and Stunts, wines, spirits, tobacco and cigars.

XIV. —Classes 63, 34, 61—Flax, rof ftn( j tarnau ins, wool. XV. Classes 71, 72, 73, 74, 75- --printing and publications, bookbinding, Jlbograpby and engraving, dies and stamp economical devices, stationery. XVI—OI isses 76,81,82, 83, k S4,Bs—Photography, drawings, paintings of aU kinds, aculuturo, carvings, fine or' ,9 -generally. XVII —Class 77 —Seif ,ft!tiific apparatus. XVIII. Claes 78— AffiMical instruments. XIX. —Class 14—ferriages. XX —Ladioa’ and, jrnvonilo courts, XXl.—Mifcallar.p.^tj. It was resolved ! chat in sections 11., 111., IV, and XIII,, there should be five jurors apiece, three appointed by the exhibitors, and I two by the conurntteo. la the other secticuc 1 there will, be thtroo jurors apiece, two elected I by the exhibitor's, and one appointed by the \ committee.

The Bppyhrtmont by the promoters of Monday, April 17th, at'9-SO a.m., in the Concert Hall, f«r the election of jurors fcy exhitors was -confirmed ; one juror to be elected by the visiting British, Australian and Foreign,), and one by New Zealand -exhibitors, in each section in which competition arose between th'jm ; and two by either of them where only foreign or only New Zealand exhibits competed. Exhibitors wore advised to agree amongst themselves beforehand as to the jurors to b« elected. The following regulations were passed for the guidance cff'jarors : 1. The secretary shall poet to jurors notice of the first meeting of each jury at least two and . a half days before those meetings take place. The nuries shall themselves arrange the dates of their subsequent meetings. 2. Notice -of the times of meeting of the

juries will ‘be given in the “ Official Programme ” ot least days in advance. Bxhibitcas are invited to attend the meetings of the juries in their class; and if they are not at their cases when the jurors visit them they must suffer the consequences of any want of explanation. 3. Each jury will send in to the committee a signed report commenting on each of the exhibits they have examined, and dividing the exhibits worthy of recognition into three orders of merit, with full reasons for their award in each case. They shall also recommend to the committee what exhibits, if any, in the first order of merit, they consider worthy of gold medals, and what eligible for the Industrial Prize.

4. In making their awards the juries shall not take into consideration the country in which the exhibit ia produced.

5. The chief points of merit shall be held to bo workmanship, design, inventiveness, quality, price, value, importance, and general Display ; but this outline shall not prevent juries from taking into consideration any other meritorious points they may notice in an exhibit.

6. The awards shall bo classificatory—as indicated by the term “ Order of Merit ” rather than strictly competitive.