OPENING OF THE MELBOURNE EXHIBITION.

Manawatu Herald, Volume III, Issue 10, 5 October 1880, Page 2

OPENING OF THE MELBOURNE EXHIBITION.

♦ The Melbourne Exhibition was opened on Friday last, October 1, with great eclat, by the Marquis of Normanby, Governor of Victoria. The following persons were included in the vice-regal party, viz., the Marquis of Normanby, and the Marchioness of Normauby, the Duke of Manchester. Lord Augustus and Lady Loftus, Sir William Robinson (Governor of Western Australia) and Lady Robin Eon, Sir Francis Smith, (actiug Governor of Tasmania) and Lady Fmich, and Commodore Wilson aud their respective suites. Form* ing- part of the procession were 500 British and 300 foreign blue jackets, besides the whole of the Melbourna and suburban volunteers, friendly societies, &c. The viceregal party entered the south door at 11 o'clock. The president of the Commission, the Imperial Commissioners, the Ministers, the vice-presidents, and members of the Executive Commission received the party, and conducted them to a handsome dais erected under the central dome. The National Anthem was then sun^ by a quaitett and chorus, with organ accompaniment ; three cheers were given for the Queen and Prince of Wales, and for the Governor and Lady Normanby; and the party then took their seats. On the dais were a number of other distinguished visitors, the various foreign Uonsuls-General,. Consuls and Vice-Consuls, Ministers, members of both Houses of Parliament, the Bishop of Melbourne, the Judges, and other public functionaries. A special inaugural cantata, composed by M. Caron, was then performed. It lasted an hour, and was a great success. There were 1000 performers, the principal being the Simonsens, Mrs Cutter, Messrs Beaumont and Verdi. The chorus was excellent. The ladies wore white dresses with blue sashes, on the right, and red sashes on the left Bide of the orchestra. At the conclusion of the cantata there was immense applause, the Governor leading. M. Caron, the composer, and leader of the orchestra, was then presented to his Excellency and congratulated. The cantata finished, the president (the Hon. W. J. Clarke) and the vice-presidents of the Commission then ascended the dais. The former read an address to the Governor. It detailed tho history of tho formation of the Exhibition, and said that, in response to their invitations, they had received large representation from Great Britain, foreign countries, and th 9 colonies, and he concluded by acknowledging their valuable as- . sis ta nee and co-operation. Lord > ormanby in his reply said the undertaking was creditable to the Victorian Commissioners, to the Executive, and to Parliament. Any fears of imperfect responses to the Commissioners' invitations to foreign countries were Boon dispelled. The display of industry and art in the building any country might be proud of, and the foresight, energy, and ability with which the details had been carried out reflected tho highest credit on the community. The lms perial Government had promptly co-operated, also foreign coumrie and the colonies, and it was now an assured fact that the present Exhibition would rank equal to its predecessors as a satisfactory exponent of the world's industries. It was his pleasing duty to convey to the Governmeuts of foreign ooun tries and the colonies, his feeling of obligation

at th* satisfaction. which the. opening, afl4sessaß pi the Commissioners expressed. ' His Excellency concluded by declaring the Exhibition opened in tbe name of Her Majesty the Queen. The Union Jack was then hoisted above the building, and ogulntea were simultaneously fired by fthe men-of-war in the harbor and the batteries on shore. The Hallelujah Chorus was then sung by the -choir, the machinery set in motion, and the fountains commenced to play. After the chorus was sung the viceregal party left the dais, and,proceeded to the various courts, where the representative Commissioners Wte'piefcqnt&d.tq hi* Excellency the Qm^tnoJks, Meanwhile the French. German, Austrian, Italian, Prussian, American, and Belgian National Aflthems were played by the orchestra, and at their conclusion the march from " The Prophet " was performed The viceregal party on reaching the, ..New* Zealand Court, were received by the Commissioners, Dr Hector, and Mr Black wood, and the secretary,' Mr Callis. Dr. Hector presented Lord Normanby with a hmd-somely-bound copy of the catalogue of the New Zealand exhibits, and with a copy of the handbook containing information regarding the products, progress, and statistics of the colony. Although this was his Excellency's first official visit, it was not the first time he had visited >he court, for he has done so on several occasions, and. has shown that he still retains a lively interest in the doings of the colony. The court presents a pleasing and attraotive appearance, although several details are still unperfected. The entries comprise 631 exhibits, which is greater than at the Sydney Exhibition, while the space allotted there to New Zealand was one half more than at Melbourne, where there are only 8000 feet. Ihe Commissioners, therefore have had considerable trouble to find space for all tbe exhibits, but have happily surmounted the difficulties, and, notwithstanding that the Court is crowded, every exhibit is displayed to the best advantage The following is an abstract of the classification of the New Zealand Exhibits : — Art, 74 ; education, apparatus processes, and the liberal arts, 93 : furniture, '62 j textiles, 32 ; raw manufactures, 77 ; machinery processes, mechanical, 44; industries, 63; alimentary, i 34; horticulture; .31 \ niining, 21. . . ".On the return of the vice regal party to the dais, the Governor despatched a telegram to the Queen, announcing the opening of tbe Exhibition in her name. . There was a very large at* jtendance of the public, and the scene at the opening ceremony was most brilliant and impressive.