THE EXHIBITION.

Globe, Volume XXIV, Issue 2570, 3 July 1882, Page 4

THE EXHIBITION.

Tho official visit ef the memhors on Saturday to tho Exhibition attracted a very large mimbnr of visitors, nearly three thousand persona paving for admission up to 4 p.m. Blondin gave In's performance in the quad tangle during tho afternoon. In tho evening there waa a tramondous crush of visiters, fully 6000 attending. The tramway resources were fully taxed to convey tho very largo number of passengers, but under the able superiuteudenes o£ Mr Patorkin everything went off without a hitch, and the passengers were conveyed to and from the Exhibition with commendable rapidity. In the quadrangle tho Now Zealand Blondin went through his clever feats amidst a perfect blaze of fireworks, which were ex cellently managed, and had a splendid effect. The oleotrio light was also displayed. Tho art gallery was used as a concert hall, and was crowded to excess. The concert, under the direction of Signor Morley, was a very good one indeed, the singing of the Misses sJponsley, Madame Morley, Signor Morley, a-d the other ladies and gentlemen taking part in tho concerted musio, and the rendering of tho solos, being .highly appreciated. During an interval of the concert, M. Joubert ascended the dais, accompanied by Mr Morris, the New Zealand Blondin, and after speaking in high terms of commendation of the pluck and proficiency of Mr Morris as a tight-ropo performer, presented him, on behalf of the promoters, with a gold medal and a puraa of forty sovereigns. The medal bears tho inscription, “ Presented to Mr Morris, tho New Zealand Blondin, by tho promoters of the N.Z.1.8. Christchurch, July, 1882,” The recipient was loudly cheered. In tho concert hall a most diverting and capitally worked shadow pantomime was performed, eliciting roars of laughter from a packed audience. Tho'electric light was displayed hero also very successful.y under tho superintendence of Mr Meddinga. In tho New Zealand annexe the Artillery band, under Mr A. Hamilton, performed a very excellent selection of musio.

Those who have followed since the 10th of April the almost kaleidoscopic changes tho promoters of the Exhibition havo resorted to, with a view to keep up a constant and staady attendance from day to day, will acknowledge that they are well up in such matters. Tho official visit of the Houses of Parliament and the fast approaching end of tho Exhibition have acted as a fresh incentive and stimulated the inventive genius of those gentlemen. Saturday was a fiijld day, and yet everything wont off without a hitoh. The various changes which the whola building had to undergo wore carried out imperceptibly. The fine art gallery in the morning, converted with electric rapidity into a banquet hall at 2 p.m., and again into a well appointed concert room between 5 and 7 p.m., show what a well trained staff and a good head can manage to accomplish oven in Christchurch. All this, however, sinks into perfect insignificance as compared with tho wonderful work which has been performed and completed between tho late hours of yesternight and this morning. Messrs Joubert and Twopeny sent last week a gang of men beyond Oxford, and by late train waggon loads of the most exquisite ferns, plants, mosses, and evergreens reached Hagley Park. These, under the planning and supervision of Mr Mudd, Mr R, Walton, M.* Joubert, and Professor Bickerton, have been arranged in the conce t hall in such a manner as to transform it into a perfect picture of greenery and elegant “massif” of the choicest plants and flowers, which will bn lit up this evening by electric light. The public visiting the exhibition during this day will have an opportunity to see this wonderful floral display, and in tho evening the gal try will permit a peep at the effect of the electric light upon it. To day tho members visit the School of Agriculture at Lincoln, leaving by special train at 11 am, and to-night they will attend the citizens’ ball, which will bo held in the art gallery.