OPENING OF THE MELBOURNE EXHIBITION.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XV, Issue 234, 2 October 1880, Page 2

OPENING OF THE MELBOURNE EXHIBITION.

[BY MEUTEB'S CA2ZE&SAMB]' v \ MEttiobiiNE, October 1. = !The Exhibition in Carltbn Gardens was opened to-day; There was a public holiday. The weather was fine, although clcpdy and windy. The various public associations and trades assembled at an early hour, and formed a monster procession, traversiug^the principal streets, and. with the various Fire .Brigades awaited in 'blinders sireet the Vice-regal party, which left the Government House at twenty minutßs past ten, when a, salute was .fire'di The.party fcbhipi-isfed the AsaWitiis,tod. La : dy Norinanby{ v the . Duke of Manchester, Lord and Lady L'bftus.j Sir Wm., 'Laity, aiad the Misses Jervois, Sir - Hercules and Lady Robmkoii,j3ir.Fra'ndis and Lady (smith', Com-, modore Wilson, and the respective suites. Th,? cortege consisted ofjwelve carriages. The 'military and l naval forces comprised 500Brifcisfi, and 800 foreignßlue Jackets, and the Provincial and Metropdlitan yoiunteer.dorp... The Volunteers previously assembie ; d, the Provincial Corps taking up position at the Exhibition, and the Metropolitan Companion preceding the Vice--regal party* As tho procession entered the 1 Gardens the bands played the' National Anthem. ' The Governor and party. .were received at the Exhibition, by the Coin-* '"misrioherß,- and we're 1 tben: coMucled fco the dais> where all the distinguished visitors, Foreign/Consuls, Ministers, members o| £ar- f Jiameht, '■-, Bishops, Judges, land ..other high « ancVnqted functionaries hacL seats. On , the .approach of the Governor; and his; party the ; large choir sang the National Anthero-, a'nxh afterwards the Cantata, tyliich was specially _eomposß,d for,_the._ occasion, waja. iJung^-Miv Cfcrke, tne President of the Exttibitidr/CqmS mission, then read an~address, to which jthe Governor replied.!. He. said the undertaking was most creditable to the Commissioners, to the Victorian Executive and Parliament. Of : such a display of industry and -art aa extii- J bited in that building any couniiry'and people might \veli he ..proud. „., The., foresight,-, energy; and ability; with whibli the Jdetails^of ( ihe undertaking had been carried out reflected ■! the highest credit on the Gonimissioners and the commuiiity^. _The Jmperial.Gojernment^! Foreign countries, and the Colonies had promptly co-operated, and £ow "were, assured of the fact that .the Exhibition would rank ' equal to it's predecessor^ as a satisfactory exponent of the World's industries. rJEe concluded by declaring the Exhibition. og|n.; in the name of the "Qiieen; .'The Eoyal Standard was hoisted On. tlie building, salutes were fired, and tlie Governor and his parfcy then proceeded round the building,* visiting, th a various courts, where the Commissioners and the representatives of the various countries! were presented to His Excellency." The . Vice-Regal party on f peaching the New Zealand Court were received by the Commissioners Dr Hector andMr Blackwood, and Mr Callis, the Secretary^ Dr. .Hector presented Lady Normanby with, a handsome catalogue of the New Zealand' exhibits, and a handbook of New Zealand... A.Uhq.ugfytbis was Lord Normanby's first; oififiiaj '"Visits/ he baa frequently visited the Court pVior.'tojthc opening dnd sho\vn that "he ;stiii. retains^ lively interest in New Zealand " affairs, The Court presents, a very pleadng'afid attractive appearance, although there are Beveral del tails still imperfect. The entries are '"greater iv number than at Sydney, but 2 the space allotted is less. Although ..the Court is crowded, every exhibit is "displayed , to. the best advantage. After vising all theCdurts the Vice regal party returned tothe.dai.s, and lord Normanby despatched- a telegram ib the Queen 'announcing .the . openiug.l They then entered the grounds andjinspected the trades the banda playing the National' Anthem. A salute was 'fired as the Vice-regal party departed. ; The whole proceedings passed off with the greatest eclat There waß:a large attendance, and the scene at the opening was brillant and impressive. Mostjof the Courts are in a for wax d state, although some are still unfinished, and the whole display promiaea'tp beexcelknj;. The streets during the ''day were 'thronged, the crowds being very orderly.. There was a" brilliant illumination in the harbor at night.