THE SYDNEY EXHIBITION.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XIV, Issue 226, 4 October 1879, Page 4

THE SYDNEY EXHIBITION.

[Correspondent Christchurch " Press."] (Continued from Thursday's issue). I moat devote a word or two, however, to that group of wonderful beings seated together, of whom the majority sport a rairaouloas garb, consisting of a three-cocked hat, a molberry colored coat looped with bullion and lappetted and «ut^fith violet silk, knee breeches, blaok silk >t-ckiogs and shoes with buckles. These are the worshipful the Aldermen of Sydney, worthy publicans, butobers, and builders to a man. One or two have not assumed the official dress. One io especial fixed my delighted eye. He bas thrown his whole soul ioto the one item of gloves. He wears laven 'er kids, and I feel confident tbey must have been built to hi. order — by contract, with subletting for each finger. Ko glover ever can have conceived so wild an idea as m .king a pair of gloves that siae on the chance of finding a purchaser. There is somewhat less than an acre of kid in them, apparently. They constitute a feature in the nave •nd symbolize immensity. But I must tear my attention away from these splendid gloves, aod proceed with my description of what tbey leave room for io tbe building. A rope stretched across tbe nave forms a boundary beyond which are heaped the populace at five shillings a bead. 'Ihey extend back tv the dome, thinning somewhat io tbe farther parts. We are ail ready and waiting for the Viceregal party to come ia from their circus tour, acd commence tbe opening ceremony. There are several false alarms tbat their Excellencies approach, and the press of people behind my pen becomes intense, and its constituent members get frantio at tbe comparative void wiihtu tbe enclosure. An amiable papa lifs hia Utile girl over, tbe other victims to a system of seclusion palpitate. A Roman Catholic reporter catches sight of a priest Iqoking wistfully over tbe partition, and deferentia ly helps bim ta climb in. Another man who belongs to an Orange Lodge, and can't stand that, scrambles ov.r with pride in bis port aod defiance on his brow. 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 alatm occurs at this crisis Sweet seventeen can not restrain herself any longer. She looks at ma. Ma is in a red beat with excitement, and squeezing, and is of the same mind herself. Sweet seventeen goes for tbat partition — — . It happened that at tbat moment a bugle flourish rang through tbe building, and the Governor beiog actually arrived, tbe choir commenced singing a "verse of tbe National Anthem, while Lord Augustus performed tbe ceremony of unveiling Marshall Wood's broDze statue of the Queen, standing under tbe dome. A number of gentlemen occupying official positions had gone dowo to receive his Excellency on his entrance, and after the unveiling he came up tbe nave, accompanied by Lady Augustus, by the Marquis of Normanby, Governor of Victoria, Sir William J-.T.oi_e, Governor of Souib Australia, and Mr Weld, Governor of TasoiHuia, and escorted by the gentlemen alluded to, and ibe vice-re-jnl staffs of tbe four governors. The party bave seatel themselves ou tbdai., tbe performance of the Cautatt composed for the occasion by Signer Giorzt to poetry by Henry Kendall was commenced. I regret exceedingly tbat I cannot convey to you tbe effect of tbe music. Telephooic invention i. but a halting affair afttr all. But at any rate I can convey to you the poetry which I here append. I would especially direct tbe attention ot readers to tha first verse in Part 111. A more perfect exemplification of the prophetic inspiration which beloDga to the true poet, I defy literature, ancient or m > Jem, to b fiord. Yesterday's tempest of rain, and thi. morning's brightness are therein exactly described And the poem was entirely written, set to music, aud put in rehearsal, months ego ! CANTATA. By Henry Kendall. Part I. Songs of morning, with your breath Sing the darkness now to death — Radiant river, beaming bay, Fair aa Summer shim, to d*y — Fiying torrent, falling slope. Wear the face as bright as Hope — Wind and woodland, hill und sea, Lift your voices -sing for glee ! Greet tbe guests your fame has won — Put your brightest garments on. Lo, they come — the Lords unknown, Sons of Peace, from every zone ! See above our waves unfurled All the flips of all the world ! North anil South nnd West and East Gather in to grace our Feust. Shining nations '. let them see How like England we cau be. Mighty uaiioiis ! 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 afLime With the fires of England's fame — Heirs of those who f<_ ugtat for right When the world's wrouged face was white — Meet these guests your fi.rtuue scud., As your fathers met their friends ; Let the beauty of your race Glow like morniDg in your face. Part 11. Where now a radiant city stands, The dark oak used to ware, Tbe Elfiu harp of lonely lands Above tbe wild man's grave, Through windless woods, one clear, sweet atream (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, Tbe naked hunter taacked bis prey Ami slumbered by his fire. Within the sound of shi pleas seas

The wild rose used to blow About the feet of royal trees, A hundred years ago. Ah 1 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 tbe hills of wet, And wind, and mist, 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 be. 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 us to live for the light of Thy grace. Here, in the pause of the anthems of praise to Thee ; Master and Maker— pre-eminent friendTeach us to look to Thee— give all our dars to Thee. Now and for evermore, world without end 1 Respecting the performance, I am happy to be able to say that the composition Jand its execution were alike equal ti the occasion. Signor Giorza's work ia not likely to live aa 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 ifc. The instrumentation is superb, In distributing orchestral effects, Giorza is on a level with the greatest maestri. The verse already particularised was set for the children's vioces alone, accompanied in imitation of harps by the four pianofortes — magnificently played by the eight 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 tbe morement, 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 Reid, 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. Tbeir experience and imagination will easily supply 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. Bunton Stephens. This poet has gold, and for gold Giorza

put music to his verges, and, as I think, failed, aud deservedly so. Tbe music concluded, Lord Augustus rose, and mentioned with considersiderable amiability that the Exhibition was open. I quite agreed with him; I bad been thinking something of the same kind for several hours previous. But when bis 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-fayor 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 ?